The New South Wales town of Quirindi lies in the Liverpool Plains Shire of the state and enjoys good transport links with the rest of the state, being close to the New England Highway and Kamilaroi Highway. Prior to European settlers arriving in the mid-years of the 19th century the region was inhabited by the Gamilaroi people. Today the small town has a population of about 2,700 inhabitants and enjoys its own racecourse, on Wallabadah Roda, where racing is organised by the Quirindi Jockey Club who stage a number of race meetings annually, the principal races being the Quirindi Cup over 1600 metres on a Friday in Late February, and Murrurundi Cup over 2000 metres on Boxing Day. Racing was first reported in Quirindi in 1859 when a two day meeting took place on 13th and 14th January under the direction of the Steward Mr W Wightman, with Mr George Gurton acting as Treasurer. The main races in those very early days were the Quirindi Purse (£20), the Maiden Plate (£15), the Stockman’s Purse (£10) and the Publican’s Purse (£20). Racing was held on an annual basis thereafter, often with more than one meeting a year. |
| Local Patrons |
Quirindi Jockey Club |
| Principal Races |
Quirindi Cup, Murrurundi Cup, Quirindi Handicap |
By 1880 a new course was used for the first time at a meeting on Monday 31st May to celebrate the Queen’s Birthday. The course was owned by Mr Alfred Cook, directly opposite his ‘Who’d-have-thought-it’ Hotel at Quirindi Gap. The course was described as being, ‘as smooth as a billiard table’, the meeting opening with a Maiden Plate won by Landsman owned by Mr White, beating Islington owned by Mr Smith, and Tin Tag owned by Mr H Levien. The unquestioned highlight of the meeting was the Quirindi Handicap (£20) won by the ever popular Mr Hogan’s Tarpot. |
By 1892 the Quirindi Jockey Club were regularly administering the meetings, including a two-day meeting on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th May. The principal results from this meeting were:-
Wednesday 18th May 1892
Publican’s Purse:- Morpeth owned by Mr A Tory beat Zoedone and Adgedona
Sovereign Stakes:-Glendon beat JJ and Lily Agnes
Steward’s Mile:-Free Gift beat Lynx and Nestor
Thursday 19th May 1892
Flying Handicap:-Bridgement beat Slowboy and Love Not
Quirindi Jockey Club Handicap:-Morpeth, owned by Mr A Tory, beat Mentor and Adgedona |
Moving on almost half a century, the two-day meeting on 11th and 12th February 1931 marked the anniversary of the opening of the new course and featured the Quirindi Turf Club Handicap over 1 ¼ miles, and the Anniversary Handicap also over 1 ¼ miles. A condition of the meeting was that all horses taken to the meeting received a rebate on their original nomination fee. |
After the War a meeting was held in 1946 to mark the re-emergence of the Quirindi Jockey Club. |
Recent Quirindi Cup winners
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2009 Quirindi Cup ($16,250) over 1600 metres was won by Mynedi Mine (10/1) trained by Rodney Ollerton and ridden by Scott Thurlow, beating Regal Celeb and Annjolino 9 ran
2010 Quirindi Cup ($13,000) over 1600 metres was won by All Again (8/1) trained by Lesley Jefriess and ridden by Ms L Menser, beating Kwilas Law and Straw Vote 14 ran
2011 Quirindi Cup ($16,250) over 1600 metres was won by Prussian Secret (6/1) trained by Leon Davies and ridden by B Moffat, beating Zattero and Leunig 10 ran
2012 Quirindi Cup ($16,250) over 1600 metres was won by El Sonador (20/1) trained by Luke Lawler and ridden by Blake Spriggs, beating Tippoff and Prior Baron 12 ran
2013 Quirindi Cup ($20,510) over 1600 metres was won by Sandrio (20/1) trained by Robert Davies and ridden by Leanne Henry, beating Okane and Pitt Street 13 ran
2014 Quirindi Cup ($20,510) over 1600 metres was won by Brave Ali (7/1) trained by Craig Martin and ridden by Kody Nestor, beating Al’s Gold and Lancelot 14 ran
2015 Quirindi Cup ($20,510) over 1600 metres was won by Latitat (12/1) trained by Stafford Wain and ridden by Leanne Henry, beating Collar and Rod’s Bid 14 ran
2016 Quirindi Cup ($20,510) over 1600 metres was won by Egyptian Ruler (5/2) trained by Ken Lantry and ridden by Greg Ryan, beating Kurtley and Pippi’s Pride 13 ran
2017 Quirindi Cup ($22,200) over 1600 metres was won by Secret Web (3/1) trained by Paul Perry and ridden by Rachel King, beating Adaboy Ross and Bayview Emperor 12 ran
2018 Quirindi Cup ($27,460) over 1600 metres was won by Evangelist (30/1) trained by Lea Selby and ridden by Miki Nakao, beating Loud Enough and Egyptian Ruler 11 ran |
Recent Murrurundi Cup winners
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2009 Murrurundi Cup ($2,800) over 2000 metres was won by So Cheeky (4/1) trained by Lewis Seib and ridden by Ms S Bigg, beating The Captain’s Wife and Go Go Anna 8 ran
2010 Murrurundi Cup ($2,800) over 2000 metres was won by Selkrig (5/2) trained by Shane Everson and ridden by Tim Bell, beating Integrand and Star of Universe 9 ran
2011 Murrurundi Cup ($2,800) over 2000 metres was won by Jaal Spirit (3/1) trained by Sue Grills and ridden by P K Lo, beating Kay Tee Dee and Durham County 6 ran
2012 Murrurundi Cup ($4,080) over 2000 metres was won by Flash Attack (7/2) trained by Scott Thompson and ridden by Courtney Van Der Werf, beating Exotic Fever and Fantastic Blaze 6 ran
2013 Murrurundi Cup ($4,080) over 2000 metres was won by So Cheeky (4/1) trained by Lewis Seib and ridden by Ms S Bigg, beating The Captain’s Wife and Go Go Anna 8 ran
2014 Murrurundi Cup ($4,080) over 2000 metres was won by Spaghetti Junction (5/2) trained by Theresa Stair and ridden by Glenn Lynch, beating Deshaa and Classic Attitude 8 ran
2015 Murrurundi Cup ($4,080) over 2000 metres was won by Sandy Waters (4/7 fav) trained by George Woodward and ridden by Alena Skerritt, beating Stoush and Wylinga 4 ran
2016 Murrurundi Cup ($3,980) over 2000 metres was won by Dubali (5/4 fav) trained by Ian Symons and ridden by Rachael Murray, beating Leica Boot and All The Way 7 ran
2017 Murrurundi Cup ($3,935) over 2000 metres was won by Packen (11/10 fav) trained by Brian Jenkinson and ridden by Josh Oliver, beating Evangelist and Macmissile 6 ran |
| Course today |
The racecourse continues to operate very successfully. |
| If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com |
