Early
Sydney Racing
The officers of the
73rd Regiment, together with many of the “better
class” of people in Governor Macquarie's reign,
were evidently keen on racing, for they announced in
the "Gazette" that the Sydney races were to
take place in October 1810 for three fifty-guinea plates.
A track was prepared on what is now
known as Hyde Park. The stand was placed close by the
junction of Market and Elizabeth Streets, the straight
being along the latter thoroughfare from Park Street.
The attendance was the largest ever collected in the
colony.
The winners were:
Subscribers' Plate of fifty guineas - Chase
Ladies' Cup, fifty guineas - Chase
Magistrate's Purse, fifty guineas - Scratch
The second Sydney race meeting occupied
August I 2th, 14th and 16th, 1811, on the Hyde Park
track.
On the first day the Subscription Plate
of fifty guineas was won by Mr. Bent's ch. g. Matchem,
while Captain Ritchie's Cheviot won the Two-year-old
Sweepstakes.
Here
we have the interesting fact of thoroughbreds being
produced, yet not a word as to their sires or dams.
On the second day the Ladies' Cup of
fifty guineas was won by Colonel O'Connel's Carlo and
the presentation to the winner was made by Mrs. Macquarie.
A pony race was won by Mrs. James Cox's Fidget.
On the third day the Magistrate's Plate
was won by Mr. William's Strawberry.
Just a year elapsed before the third
meeting took place. It extended over four days, August
17, 19, 21 and 22. On the opening day Colonel O'Connel's
black horse Carlo won the Subscription Purse of fifty
guineas, and Mr. Williams's Strawberry took the Ladies'
Cup on the second day.
Mr. Birch's Cheviot won the Subscription
Purse of fifty guineas on the third day. The sporting
people also subscribed fifty guineas for a three mile
race, in which Mr. Kearns' b.m. Creeping Jenny outdistanced
her two opponents.
On the fourth day a sweepstake of fifteen
guineas for gentlemen riders was won by Mr. R. Campbell's
Tallboy, and a match for twenty guineas between Captain
Cameron's Miss Portly and Captain Crane's Erin was won
by the former.
The fourth race meeting was held on
August 16, 18 and 19 (1813), when Little Pickles won
a 50-guinea Plate; Carlo won the Ladies' Cup and Plate;
Purse, Mulberry.
It was not until May 31, I 819, that
a race meeting was held, when a programme of three events
was run off. A Silver Cup (two-mile heats) was won by
Mr. Emmett's Rob Roy, beating Commissary and five others.
A Silver Bowl for three-year-olds went to Mr. Cribb's
Sly Boots, who beat Haphazard and three others.
The third race was for a saddle and
bridle, which were easily appropriated by Mr. R. Campbell's
Speedy.
In 1820 there was a race meeting which
extended over two days. It was a poor affair. A Subscription
Cup (three-mile heats) was run, in which Mr. Frank's
Rob Roy beat Mr. Fisher's Pickles. On the second day
Mr. Walker's Haphazard won a Subscription Purse, and
Mr. Campbell's Speedy won a prize of £20, while
Mulberry collected a Silver Bowl, Cover and Saddle.
There was a three-days' meeting on August
14, 15 and 16, 1821 , when the winning horses were Rob
Roy, Captain Dandy, Deceit, Bray and Lead Beater. The
event which created most interest was the Subscription
Purse of 50 guineas, presented by the ladies of the
colony for three-year-olds carrying
7 stone, two-mile heats. It was won by Mr. Walker's
blk. f. Miss Nettleton, after three heats, of which
Mr. Cooker's Random won the first.
The year 1822, and the two following
years, are entirely bare of sporting news, and not until
1825 did turf affairs improve. During the month of March
a new turf club was formed, with the Governor, Sir Thomas
Brisbane, as patron.
A race club was also instituted at Parramatta,
and an impromptu meeting held on a new course four miles
outside Sydney, on March 17. At first it was resolved
to limit the members of the new turf club to sixty,
but this was considered too exclusive.
Sir
John Jamieson was elected president, and the first race
meeting was held at Hyde Park on April 25 and 26, 1825.
At this meeting the afterwards celebrated Junius made
a victorious appearance by securing first place in the
Town Plates of 50 sovereigns (heats). He was owned by
Mr. Nash, and for some time after was termed the champion
horse of the colony.
At
this meeting he also secured the Magistrate's Plate,
and at the second meeting of the Sydney Turf Club, held
on September 23, 24 and 25, Junius won two events. At
this meeting there a Handicap Stakes of five guineas
each, with ten guineas added, won by Mr. Nichol's Captain,
7st. 21b.
This
is the first mention of a handicap run on the Australian
turf.
There was also a six furlong race for
two-year-olds, won by Australian.
