Ely racecourse was opened in 1855 and was a major horseracing and sporting venue prior to its closure on 27 April 1939. Known in earlier periods as Cardiff Racecourse, it hosted the Welsh Grand National in 1895. By the late-nineteenth century, grandstands had been constructed and survived until the inter-war period when they were gradually removed. In 1953, much of the site was converted into a recreation centre and the remained given over to housing. Other sporting features to have been laid out on this site are the rifle range (marked on 1st edition O/S and subsequent editions) which fell out of use by the end of the nineteenth century and tennis courts and croquet lawns (marked on 3rd edition O/S). These were removed prior to the closure of the course in 1939.

Daryl Leeworthy, RCAHMW, 16 March 2012.