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My Uncle Eric transported the bandstand to Crawley town centre on a low loader with a police escort. It used to be in front of the old Queensway store but I think they have moved it again.
Meant to say that somewhere online there is a plan of the airport with the racecourse map overlaid on it, or might be the other way round.
Yer tiz - https://www.grand-national-guide.co.uk/articles/gatwick
Good stuff there, blackbarn. My dad was only 13 years old when Poethlyn won in 1917 and again in 1919 but always rated him the best ever despite later seeing Golden Miller and Arkle!
You can see here the bandstand being reconstructed in Crawley between 2018 and 2019, along with a bit of info. (No mention of Eric though).
//iansapps.co.uk/oldbritain/crawley/band.html#:~:text=Built%20in%201891%2C%20Crawley%20Bandstand,swallowed%20up%20by%20Gatwick%20Airport.
//iansapps.co.uk/oldbritain/crawley/band.html#:~:text=Built%20in%201891%2C%20Crawley%20Bandstand,swallowed%20up%20by%20Gatwick%20Airport.
Thanks Blackbarn for the link. I now know why it keeps getting quoted that Poethlyn won in 1917 and 1919 when I believe he won in 1918 (Gatwick) and 1919. Difficult to think of Poethlyn better than Arkle but he did carry 12st 7lb in his 1919 win (the last to do that I believe) so a special horse definitely.
This was how Poethlyn's prospects for the 1919 race were previewed on the day of the race...
"For many years it was an article of faith that no horse would win with as much as 12st on his back. Three exceptional animals, Cloister, Manifesto, and Jerry M., most effectually contradicted this theory by carrying victoriously 12st 7lb., the burden allotted to Poethlyn this afternoon. He has an excellent jockey in Piggott, the rider of Jerry M., and his admirers are persuaded that he will add a fourth to the famous three. Probably Poethlyn is the best steeplechaser in existence, but it remains to be seen how he contrives to jump these formidable obstacles at a first attempt. When he ran lately at Gatwick I noted that his performance at the first two fences was not satisfactory. After he had settled down to his work, however, his jumping was irreproachable. But Gatwick is not Aintree. He will doubtless be skilfully handled, but, at any rate, his position in the market is absurd. (The night before the race he was 100/30, with 10s bar. He went off 11/4). The price offered against winning does not represent fair odds against successful completion of the two circuits of the course. Nevertheless, I am fully prepared to see him win, for, in the ordinary way, he jumps well, and if he escapes mishap I think he will give the weight to his opponents."
The going was described as 'quite good' by a rider who rode in the Stanley Steeplechase the day before 'except through a piece of plough after landing over Becher's Brook, and an expanse of something like swamp into which horses sank deeply as they approached the last fence but two'. The race was delayed as a blizzard hit the course just as 'they charged the water in front of the stand', and the runners had to return to the paddock. I presume this means the water jump was taken first.
In the race, Poethlyn was always going easily, jumped well, and won by an easy 8 lengths. Shaun Spadah finished 5th (he won 2 years later with 5lb more), Sergeant Murphy finished 7th (he won 4 years later with 10lb more, as a 13yo). Ally Sloper was 9th (he'd won in 1915). Other previous winners, Vermouth and Sunloch, failed to complete.
Poethly went for the hat-trick in 1920, sent off 3/1 fav, again with 12-7, but fell at the first.
"For many years it was an article of faith that no horse would win with as much as 12st on his back. Three exceptional animals, Cloister, Manifesto, and Jerry M., most effectually contradicted this theory by carrying victoriously 12st 7lb., the burden allotted to Poethlyn this afternoon. He has an excellent jockey in Piggott, the rider of Jerry M., and his admirers are persuaded that he will add a fourth to the famous three. Probably Poethlyn is the best steeplechaser in existence, but it remains to be seen how he contrives to jump these formidable obstacles at a first attempt. When he ran lately at Gatwick I noted that his performance at the first two fences was not satisfactory. After he had settled down to his work, however, his jumping was irreproachable. But Gatwick is not Aintree. He will doubtless be skilfully handled, but, at any rate, his position in the market is absurd. (The night before the race he was 100/30, with 10s bar. He went off 11/4). The price offered against winning does not represent fair odds against successful completion of the two circuits of the course. Nevertheless, I am fully prepared to see him win, for, in the ordinary way, he jumps well, and if he escapes mishap I think he will give the weight to his opponents."
The going was described as 'quite good' by a rider who rode in the Stanley Steeplechase the day before 'except through a piece of plough after landing over Becher's Brook, and an expanse of something like swamp into which horses sank deeply as they approached the last fence but two'. The race was delayed as a blizzard hit the course just as 'they charged the water in front of the stand', and the runners had to return to the paddock. I presume this means the water jump was taken first.
In the race, Poethlyn was always going easily, jumped well, and won by an easy 8 lengths. Shaun Spadah finished 5th (he won 2 years later with 5lb more), Sergeant Murphy finished 7th (he won 4 years later with 10lb more, as a 13yo). Ally Sloper was 9th (he'd won in 1915). Other previous winners, Vermouth and Sunloch, failed to complete.
Poethly went for the hat-trick in 1920, sent off 3/1 fav, again with 12-7, but fell at the first.
Was wondering what references the airport would have to the racecourse, and see Wetherspoon's at South Terminal is called The Flying Horse...hedging their bets there 
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