JERSEY JOCKEYS AND GUERNSEY GALLOPERS

A History of Channel Islands Horseracing

Graham Sharpe, John Henwood

As of 2025, there are 59 racecourses operating in Britain, from Perth in Scotland to Newton Abbot in Devon, and another 28 in Ireland. Almost all of them have had a book written about their history, as have many more historic, now defunct, tracks.

However, there are two racecourses, both in British Crown Dependencies, which do not have a book dedicated to their history. This is a notably odd omission as the islands they are on have enjoyed properly organised racing for almost 200 years - both reportedly began the sport in 1832 - hosting leading jockeys, trainers, owners and runners over the decades.

Graham Sharpe and John Henwood's comprehensive and engaging Jersey Jockeys and Guernsey Gallopers: A History of Channel Islands Horse-Racing corrects this ridiculous racing omission. It explores how the tracks in the two Channel Islands - currently Les Landes in Jersey and L'Ancresse in Guernsey - developed and flourished over the years, although the ongoing future of the latter is seriously under threat.

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''Like riding round the wall of death' - but now the fog has been lifted on racing in the Channel...
- Peter Thomas, The Racing Post 

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Jersey Jockeys and Guernsey Gallopers on ITV news