The New South Wales town of Trangie lies on the Mitchell Highway in the Orana region of the state. It is located about 300 miles north-west of the state capital Sydney, and 23 miles north-west of Narromine, and currently has a population of about 1200. It has its own picturesque racecourse at the Trangie Showground which hosts racing in March and December. The Trangie Jockey Club administer racing traditionally on the third Saturday in March when the feature race is the Trangie Gold Cup, while its sister Club, the Macquarie Picnic Race Club, holds its meeting on 29th December which features the Macquarie Picnic Race Cup. However, both Clubs have a rich history, for the earliest record of races organised by the Macquarie Picnic Race Club was on Friday 29th April 1887 when the races were held at Dubbo racecourse. |
Racing is always full of highs and lows, and never was this truer than in the early years of Macquarie Picnic races. At their earliest recorded meeting in April 1887 the feature Picnic Race Club Cup resulted in a dead-heat between Observer and Darkie ridden by Mr L M Keogh. Three years later the Club once again held their meeting at Dubbo on Friday 27th April 1890 when Mr L M Keogh, again aboard Darkie in the Nevertire Handicap, fell off his horse for no apparent reason and fractured his skull. He lingered in and out of consciousness for 7 hours until 11pm when he died. |
Leading up to the start of the Second World War the Picnic Cup remained the highlight of the racing season. The results of the meetings leading up to the outbreak of War are shown below:-
1935 Macquarie Picnic Race Club Cup over 1 mile was won by Fortify (5/2) owned by Mr T L Bailleu and ridden by Mr G Kurtz, beating Bomena (Evens fav) and Deviate (6/1) 4 ran
1936 Macquarie Picnic Race Club Cup over 1 mile was won by Cantaloupe (Evens joint fav) owned by Mr A Kelburn Scott and ridden by Mr R Moore, beating Captain Rado (Evens joint fav) and Sandy Marsh (6/1) 4 ran
1937 Macquarie Picnic Race Club Cup over 1 mile was won by Busy Man (7/1) owned by Mr W G Williamson and ridden by Mr Spence, beating Captain Gore (7/4) and Son of Israel (7/4) 6 ran
1938 Macquarie Picnic Race Club Cup was not contested because the Race Club committee decided reluctantly that owing to the extremely adverse season and difficult times experienced by members that it would be inadvisable to hold the meeting. |
Recent Macquarie Picnic Cup winners
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2008 Macquarie Picnic Cup ($2,450) over 1400 metres was won by Mr Music (100/30) trained by Terry Fahey and ridden by Mr J Mills, beating Veedoubleyou and Sheikh It Up 6 ran
2009 Macquarie Picnic Cup was not contested
2010 Macquarie Picnic Cup ($2,450) over 1400 metres was won by Written Habit (13/2) trained by Bill Hayes and ridden by Stuart Brown, beating Search ‘N’ Seek and Carry the Dance 5 ran
2011 Macquarie Picnic Cup ($2,450) over 1400 metres was won by Orbit (100/30) trained by Joseph Hodgson and ridden by Jenny Duggan, beating Star of Universe and Igora Royal
2012 Macquarie Picnic Cup ($3,150) over 1400 metres was won by Orbit (5/2) trained by Joseph Hodgson and ridden by Mr B Ryan, beating Platinum Touch and Rockbuster 5 ran
2013 Macquarie Picnic Cup ($3,150) over 1400 metres was won by Bureato (6/1) trained by Robert Lane and ridden by Stuart Brown, beating Port Solitare and Dr Remlap 7 ran
2014 Macquarie Picnic Cup ($3,150) over 1400 metres was won by Southern Road trained by Garry Lunn and ridden by Mr R McCabe, beating Louis The Tonne and Bluey’s Bolt 7 ran
2015 Macquarie Picnic Cup ($3,150) over 1400 metres was won by Poker Pro (9/2) trained by Andrew Molloy and ridden by Maddison Wright, beating Financial Gain and Centabeel 6 ran
2016 Macquarie Picnic Cup ($3,105) over 1400 metres was won by Dalhero (9/4) trained by Neil Smart and ridden by Samara Johnson, beating Sergeant Bilko and Just As Dapper 4 ran
2017 Macquarie Picnic Cup ($3,060) over 1400 metres was won by Austin (2/1 fav) trained by Rodney Robb and ridden by Maddison Wright, beating Zaphard and Kinda Tangy 6 ran |
