The New South Wales town of Barraba lies in the north of the state in the New England district. Today it boasts a population in excess of 1,200 inhabitants and has its own successful racecourse. Although racing in the vicinity of the town took place as early as 1862 when a two day meeting was held in September (results shown below), racing at the current racecourse first took place in 1946 and today it hosts one meeting annually on its dirt track, traditionally in the final week of September with the feature race being the Barraba Cup over 1400 metres.

The earliest record of a meeting in Barraba was a two day event held on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th September 1862. There were a whole host of festivities in the township during the week. Two days of racing were supplemented with a cricket match and a visit to Pablo Franque’s circus. The second days racing opened with a Maiden Plate over 1 ½ miles, followed by the feature race, the Barraba Town Plate.
Saturday 20th September 1862
Barraba Maiden Plate (£12) over 1 ½ miles
1. Empress owned by Mr G Cross
2. Risk owned by Mr J Rose
3. Bronzewing owned by Mr W Crowley
Barraba Town Plate (£18) over a mile
1. Browney owned by Mr Newton
2. Insolvent owned by Mr Rose
3. Cavalier owned by Mr Smith

By the turn of the century the principal races at the May 1900 meeting were the Jockey Club Handicap and the Queen’s Birthday Handicap.

In 1921 the Barraba Amateur Picnic races were staged on Saturday 30th April 1921 when the President’s Cup over 6 furlongs was won by Smart Reply (2/1 fav) ridden by J Dixon, beating the 2/5 fav Papingo and Scott Moss. In 1922 at the Ellalong racecourse the Cup over 5 furlongs was won by Winona owned by Mr O Smith, defeating Miss Bowlyn and Tommy II.

In 1921 the Barraba Amateur Picnic races were staged on Saturday 30th April 1921 when the President’s Cup over 6 furlongs was won by Smart Reply (2/1 fav) ridden by J Dixon, beating the 2/5 fav Papingo and Scott Moss. In 1922 at the Ellalong racecourse the Cup over 5 furlongs was won by Winona owned by Mr O Smith, defeating Miss Bowlyn and Tommy II.

Racing lapsed for a while in the 20th century, but racing returned to its current racecourse in 1946, and by 1947 the Barraba Cup was won by Poinciana owned by Mr V J Byrnes and ridden by E Musk.

Recent Barraba Cup Winners
2003 The Barraba Cup over 1400 metres was won by McSporty trained by Debbie Wilson, beating Mougi and Gallant Fighter
2008 The Barraba Cup ($5,600) over 1400 metres was won by Mr Humerus (4/1) trained by Bill Thompson and ridden by Tracy O’Hara, beating Draw the Line and Miss Sarah Jane 7 ran
2009 The Barraba Cup ($5,600) over 1400 metres was won by Mr Mumbles (100/30) trained by Ruth Cooper and ridden by W Wheatley, beating The Aviator and Mr Humerus 8 ran
2010 The Barraba Cup ($5,600) over 1400 metres was won by Sam The Flirt ridden by Wayne Oakenfull, beating Alta Ravier and Bulging 7 ran
2011 The Barraba Cup ($5,600) over 1400 metres was won by Slammed (6/1) trained by Lesley Jeffriess and ridden by Darren Jones, beating Gold Buckle and The Aviator 10 ran
2012 The Barraba Cup ($7,420) over 1400 metres was won by Emotional Outburst (2/1) trained by Mark Mason and ridden by Melissa Brown, beating Rhens and The Tap Dancer 9 ran
2013 The Barraba Cup ($7,420) over 1400 metres was won by Emotional Outburst (11/8 fav) trained by Mark Mason and ridden by Leanne Henry, beating Prior Baron and Tara Brave 9 ran
2014 The Barraba Cup ($7,420) over 1400 metres was won by Sambora (5/1) trained by Karen Fox and ridden by Melissa Brown, beating Jedak and Emotional Outburst 10 ran
2015 The Barraba Cup ($7,420) over 1400 metres was won by Sambora (7/4) trained by Karen Fox and ridden by Melissa Brown, beating Some Boy and Minimos 7 ran
2016 The Barraba Cup was cancelled due to heavy rain.
2017 The Barraba Cup ($7,400) over 1400 metres was won by Present Sense (11/10 fav) trained by Craig Martin and ridden by Daniel Northey, beating Our Boy Danny and Kyrgios 8 ran

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