The New South Wales city of Bathurst is located in the Central Tablelands region of the state, some 120 miles north-west of the state capital Sydney. It lays claim to being the oldest inland settlement in the country, developed during the time of the gold rush in the 1800s. It has a vibrant racecourse, situated at Tyers Park, which serves its population of 35,000 inhabitants, hosting at least 14 meetings annually, with racing administered by the Bathurst Turf Club. The highlight of the racing year is the Bathurst Cup over 1800 metres which is staged each February. However, racing has been staged in the city for at least 180 years, with an early steeplechase being run over 4 miles of sporting country on the outskirts of the city in November 1835.

By 1836 the races were a regular feature of the social calendar, taking place on Captain John Piper’s racecourse, beautifully situated in a large meadow on the borders of the Macquarie River at Alloway Bank. The spot was admirably chosen both for its excellent racing ground and its agreeable location as a central spot within easy ride, drive or walk of the town. A two day meeting was held at the racecourse on Wednesday 4th and Friday 6th May 1836 when the feature races were the Bathurst Plate and Publican’s Purse.
Bathurst Plate £25 over 2 miles
1. Lachlan owned by Mr John Piper
2. Pacha owned by Mr Rodd
3. Abdallah owned by Mr John Piper
Publican’s Purse £25 was a walk over for Captain Piper’s Lachlan

The next year the two day meeting was moved to June, and the nature of future cards was beginning to take shape, with the Bathurst Plate, Publican’s Purse and Bathurst Hurdle Race all being staged.
Monday 5th June 1837
Bathurst Plate over 2 ¼ miles
1. Romeo owned by Mr John Piper
2. Alexandria owned by Dalmsahoy Campbell
3. Discovery owned by Mr William Collins
Tuesday 6th June 1837
Publican’s Purse over 2 ¼ miles
1. Romeo owned by Mr John Piper
2. Theorem owned by Mr W H Sutton
3. Discovery owned by Mr W Collins
Hurdle Race over 3 miles and 9 leaps
1. Abdallah owned by Mr John Piper
2. Block owned by Mr Dalmsahoy Campbell
3. Rowson owned by Mr W Lawson

This pattern of feature races continued into 1838, although by now, such was the popularity and success of the meeting that it stretched to 3 days and was moved to April.
Tuesday 3rd April 1838
Bathurst Plate £75 over 2 ¼ miles
1. Flirt owned by Mr John Noble and ridden by Roberts
2. Zohrab owned by Mr John Wriggle
3. Theorem owned by Mr John Piper
Wednesday 4th April 1838
Bathurst Hurdle Race £50 over 3 miles and 9 leaps
1. Peacock owned by Mr Tipper and ridden by J Piper jnr
2. Dr Syntax owned by Mr Waddy and ridden by Whiting
3. Block owned by Mr Gisborne and ridden by D Campbell
Thursday 5th April 1838
Publican’s Purse £70 over 2 ¼ miles
1. Dachlan owned by Mr G Fifewell and ridden by J Piper jnr
2. Theorem owned by Mr J Piper and ridden by W H Sutton
3. Ragman owned by Mr Danver and ridden by Danver

In 1886 the Turf Club Handicap over 1 ½ miles had a first prize of £100 and a Gold Cup. It was won by Bonnie Bee ridden by J Phipps, beating Comus and Pearl
1887 The Bathurst Cup (£141 10s) over 1 mile 3 furlongs was won by Kathleen owned by Mr H E Lord, beating Maid of the Lake
1888 The Bathurst Cup (200 sovereigns and a Silver Cup presented by Mr John Wood, over 1 mile 3 furlongs was won by Harold owned by Mr A Coulson and ridden by F Flanagan, beating Democrat and Glen Elgin
1889 The Bathurst Cup (£300) over 1 mile 3 furlongs was won by Minstrel Boy (1/2 fav) owned by Mr F Hatche and ridden by Gough, beating Grandcourt (6/1) and Orange Blossom (3/1)
1890 The Bathurst Cup (£300) over 1 mile 3 furlongs was won by Ethel (10/1) owned by Mr E C Cousin and ridden by Freeland, beating Fernandez (5/4 fav) and Trojan (6/1)
1891 The Bathurst Cup (200 sovereigns) over 1 mile 3 furlongs was won by Volney owned by Mr S Robinson and ridden by Callaghan, beating Tiranna and Southerly Buster
1892 The 1892 running of the Bathurst Cup (200 sovereigns) over 1 mile 3 furlongs caused controversy. In the first running Studbook beat Sertum only for the owner of Sertum to object, claiming it was a false start. The claim was upheld by the Stewards and they forced the race to be rerun. In the rerun Rover, owned by Mr J Fielder, beat Studbook and Sertum.
Note full results of Bathurst Cup winners are available on request.

Recent Bathurst Cup Winners
2009 The Bathurst Cup ($19,500) over 2000 metres was won by Canterdown (8/1) trained by J Lundholm and ridden by Kacie Chater, defeating Nampara Bullet and Mr Latar 10 ran
2010 The Bathurst Cup ($6,300) over 1410 metres was won by  Lay Down Sally (4/1) trained by Connie Greig and ridden by Clare Pettigrew, defeating Love The View and Top Occasion 14 ran
2011 The Bathurst Cup ($13,000) over 2000 metres was won by Spence (12/1) trained by Lisa Cohen and Oldrich Jiricka and ridden by L Moloney, beating Zafaaf and Mossurmi 10 ran
2012 The Bathurst Cup ($13,000) over 2000 metres was won by Reigning (7/4) trained by Con Karakatsanis and ridden by Grant Buckley, beating So Light and Prestidigitate 10 ran
2013 The Bathurst Cup ($14,410) over 2000 metres was won by Jimmy Fortunes (5/2) trained by Michael Clout and ridden by Greg Ryan, defeating Haut Normandie and Minh Khai 10 ran
2014 The Bathurst Cup ($14,410) over 1800 metres was won by Scottish Border (8/11 fav) trained by Garry Frazer and ridden by Hugh Bowman, defeating Supreme Laird and Al Ahmar 8 ran
2015 The Bathurst Cup ($14,410), held in March, over 1800 metres was won by Cardiff Prince (9/2) trained by Darren Hyde and ridden by Mathew Cahill, beating Platinum Jack and Spirit Mania 14 ran
2016 The Bathurst Cup ($14,410) over 1800 metres was won by Set Piece (7/1) trained by Lisa Cohen and Oldrich Jiricka and ridden by Blaike McDougall, beating Big On Fame and Any Blinkin’ Day 11 ran
2017 The Bathurst Cup ($27,750), run in January, over 1800 metres was won by Murraguldrie (2/1 fav) trained by Rob Potter and ridden by Mathew Cahill, beating Red Dubawi and Uncle Sugar 8 ran
2018 The Bathurst Cup ($27,460), held on Sunday 11th February over 1800 metres was won by Hirokin (5/1) trained by Jarrod Austin and ridden by Mitchell Bell, beating Subway Surfer and Illyrian 9 ran

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774 former courses

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