The South Australia city of Mount Gambier lies on the slopes of the volcanic (now dormant) Mount Gambier, some 280 miles south-east of the state capital Adelaide. It is named after Lord James Gambier, Admiral of the Fleet of HMS Lord Nelson, from where the top of Mount Gambier was spotted in 1800. Today it is a densely populated city numbering over 29,000 inhabitants, and its racecourse is extremely popular and well-supported. Racing is administered by the Mount Gambier Racing Club, organising 10 meetings annually. Its principal race is the Mount Gambier Gold Cup which is contested during the 2 day Carnival held each May. The inaugural ‘regular’ meeting commenced on Friday 26th September 1862 on Mr A Mitchell’s Cave Paddock. At least 600 people enjoyed fine weather and good sport, the card opening with the Mount Gambier Town Plate over 2 miles.
Friday 26th September 1862
Mount Gambier Town Plate (50 sovereigns) over 2 miles
1. Phyrrus owned by Mr John Robertson
2. Naughty Boy owned by Dr Graham
3. Whalebone owned by Mr Dugald Livingstone
Mount Gambier Steeplechase (40 sovereigns) over 3 miles
1. In
Ivanhoe owned by Mr Hobbs walked over
The next year races were staged on Mr Blakesley’s paddocks, 3 miles from town, on Tuesday 5th May 1863 The feature of the programme was the Border Steeplechase over a 3 mile country course.
Border Handicap Steeplechase (100 sovereigns) over 3 miles
1. Modesty owned by Mr A Blakesley and ridden by Gordon
2. Longbow owned by Mr J C James and ridden by Trainor
3. Rarey owned by Mr T Cawker and ridden by Gorrie
Such was the popularity of the mixed nature of the races that in 1864 the meeting was billed as ‘Border Steeplechase and Mount Gambier Races’ and took place on Wednesday 27th July 1864. The steeplechase course made an entire circuit of the town, and the many standpoints commanded a good view of the course, thronged by a very large group of spectators.
Wednesday 27th July 1864
Border Handicap Steeplechase (100 sovereigns) over 4 miles of country
1. Inglesides owned and ridden by Mr R Learmouth
2. Longbow owned by Mr J C James and ridden by Trainor
3. Modesty owned and ridden by Mr L Gordon
By the turn of the century by far the most important race was the Mount Gambier Cup over 1 ¼ miles. Results from the first 3 years of the century are shown below, although all other winners are available on application:-
1900 The Mount Gambier Cup, held on Wednesday 27th June 1900, was won by Warranook, beating Stockman and Rely
1901 The Mount Gambier Cup, held on Wednesday 26th June 1901, was won by Light Joy, beating Little Martin and Stockman
1902 The Mount Gambier Cup, held on Thursday 26th June 1902, was won by Rapid Pilgrim, beating Reindeer and Telemachus
Currently the course is closed for an ambitious $3.3 million redevelopment programme to be carried out. This programme began after the December 2017 meeting and is due to be completed in time for the May 2019 Gold Cup Carnival.
At the end of the 2017 season the Mount Gambier Gold Cup was staged on Monday 4th December, resulting in a third consecutive win for Survived. The full result is shown below:-
Mount Gambier Gold Cup ($31,500) over 2400 metres
1. Survived (7/2) trained by Archie Alexander and ridden by Declan Bates
2. Bling Dynasty trained by Paul Preusker and ridden by Holly McKechnie
3. Cheners trained by Sue Laensch and ridden by Emily Finnegan
10 ran
Mount Gambier Gold Cup winners
2012 The Gold Cup ($25,000) over 2400 metres was won by Swooper (11/1) trained by Darryl Dodson and ridden by Justin Potter, beating Evenmoreaction and Rikbat 11 ran
2013 The Gold Cup ($25,000) over 2400 metres was won by Mickiem (5/1) trained by Ron Daniel and ridden by Dom Tourneur, beating Gatalistic and Val Mondo 14 ran
2014 The Gold Cup ($25,000) over 2400 metres was won by Luckzat (7/1) trained by Wayne Walters and ridden by Kate Walters, beating Mickiem and Nishiazabu 12 ran
2015 The Gold Cup was abandoned as the ground was unsafe
2016 The Gold Cup ($32,000) over 2400 metres was won by Survived (7/1) trained by Archie Alexander and ridden by Josh Cartwright, beating Bring Back and Rich River 12 ran
2017 (May) The Gold Cup ($32,000) over 2400 metres was won by Survived trained by Archie Alexander, beating Mr Journeyman and Castle Hackett
2017 (Dec) The Gold Cup ($31,500) over 2400 metres was won by Survived (7/2) trained by Archie Alexander and ridden by Declan Bates 10 ran
