RICHMOND RIVER RACECOURSE

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The New South Wales coastal town of Casino lies on the banks of the River Richmond some 450 miles north of the state capital of Sydney and approximately 140 miles south of Brisbane. As one would expect from its name, the town enjoys a gamble and has its own racecourse, where the principal race is the Casino Gold Cup over 7 furlongs, although it has been run over 1 mile in the past. It boasts a rich racing history, believed to date from 1854 when it staged races on a former course close to the old Railway Station under the auspices of Richmond River Club. Other racecourses were reported to be about 3 miles north of the town, and then on the Round Swamp before settling on its present day course in 1881.

Local Patrons Casino Race Club, Richmond River Race Club

One of the earliest records of racing in Casino was a two day meeting from Thursday 16th to Friday 17th September 1854 when the opening Maiden Plate saw Absolutely Jack, owned by Mr Burns, beat Iron Duke ridden by George Brown, nicknamed Bird’s-eye Jack. The next year a further two day meeting was staged on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th September 1855 under the direction of the Richmond River Races Club where the feature races were the Richmond River Plate (30 sovereigns) and the Ladies Purse (20 sovereigns).

In 1856 a three day meeting was held at Casino when races were, once again, overseen by the Richmond River Club on 10th-12th September 1856. The result of the opening race on the first day is shown below:-
Wednesday 10th September 1856
Richmond River Plate (50 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles

1. Venison, 5 year old bay gelding owned by Mr Beale and ridden by Pratt 2 1 1
2. Risk, 6 year old bay gelding owned by MacKellar 1 2 2

Later in the day the Maiden Plate was won by Mr MacKellar’s Molly Bawn, and the Ladies Purse went to Mr MacKellar’s Euclid.

In 1920 the Casino Jockey Club set a record for a country meeting by staging 5 consecutive days of racing, starting on Tuesday 2nd August 1920 with an unregistered North Casino Club meeting, reaching a crescendo in mid-week with the Casino Cup which was won by Kerwaka, and finishing on Saturday 7th August 1920.

1921 The Casino Cup (£200) was won by Underlap (3/1) owned by Mr Alex Foran and ridden by A H Pollack, defeating Woorinyan (2/1 fav) owned by Mr A F Brown and ridden by W Clarkson, with Nellie Dera owned by Mr Fitzpatrick and ridden by J L Brown in third 11 ran
1922 The Casino Cup (9 furlongs) was won by Rathluba (5/1) ridden by Phillips, defeating Burren ridden by Pyers and Just Fcep ridden by Pringle 8 ran
In 1923 the races were overseen by the Richmond River Turf Club when the principal race, the Casino Cup (£150) was won by Belgium Waif.
1923 The Casino Cup (9 furlongs) was won by Belgium Waif (5/1) owned by J Gleeson and ridden by Simpson, defeating Longfast (4/1) owned by Mr O M Kelly and ridden by Phillips, with Turrawan (12/1) owned by Mr W J Fletcher and ridden by Caine in third 12 ran
1924 The Casino Wallace Cup (1 mile) was won by Burren (8/1) defeating Laurel Boy and My Jibe 7 ran
1925 The Sexton Casino Cup (1 mile) was won by Kathleen Tressady (4/1) owned by Mrs S Fletcher and ridden by Brown, defeating Unumgar (7/2) owned by Mr N Russell and ridden by J Reynolds and Dijon (7/1) ridden by J Connolly 9 ran
1926 The Casino Cup (1 mile) was won by Umungar (2/1 fav) owned by Mr N Russell and ridden by J Reynolds, beating Sir Honor (4/1) owned by Mr L L Garry and ridden by J Connolly, with Antagonist (3/1) owned by Mr C A Russell and ridden by C Whalan in third 7 ran
1927 The Casino Cup (7 furlongs) was won by Maltese (Evens fav) owned by Mr L Jurd and ridden by Goddard, defeating Toniolite (10/1) ridden by Smith, and Lisdoon (6/1) ridden by Britnell 5 ran
1928 The Casino Cup (1 mile) was won by Splenda (6/4 fav) owned by Mr E G Clark and ridden by A Atkins, defeating Bill Fresco and Unumgar owned by Mr N Russell
1929 The Casino Cup (1 mile) produced a dead-heat between Prince Seremond (4/1) ridden by Robinson and Newbold Boy (5/2) ridden by Atkins, with Hydronite in third 6 ran
1930 The Casino Cup (7 furlongs) was won by Alla Phast owned by Mr McDonald and ridden by Pringle, beating Masher and Mangamuka

Course today The course continues to operate successfully today.
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
     

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses

Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent.
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