The New South Wales town of Bombala is located in the south-east region of the state in the Monaro region. It lies about 300 miles south of the state capital Sydney and is named after the Aboriginal term meaning a place where the waters meet. The town saw its first European settlers in 1833 when Captain Ronald Campbell built a large property in the area and named it Bombalo. It grew during the next 10 years, its population being boosted by more European settlers in the early 1840s. Today the town has about 1,400 inhabitants and runs its own successful racecourse, staging one meeting annually on a Saturday in late October when the feature race is the Bombala Cup over 1200 metres. |
One of the earliest records of racing in Bombala was in April 1868 when the principal race was the Bombala Town Plate over 3 miles, and worth £25, was won by Mr Brook’s Swindler ridden by Freebody, beating Mr Eyrie’s Patch. The next year the meeting was held on Tuesday 13th April 1869 when the feature race was the Bombala Town Plate over 2 miles.
Bombala Town Plate over 2 miles
1. Jimboy (5/1) owned by Mr W Coulter and ridden by Millington
2. Bronzewing (5/1) owned by Mr R Wilson
3, Swindler (1/2 fav) owned by Mr W Freebody |
After the 1875 meeting had taken place on Wednesday 3rd March the newspaper reporter visiting the race commented, ‘The racecourse offers a splendid view of the entire race but has not yet been classified as a recreation ground. The Bombala Jockey Club is in the process of fencing it, and building a new grandstand as the current makeshift stand is ‘not at all ornamental’.’
Wednesday 3rd March 1875
Bombala Tattersall’s Cup (100 sovereigns) over 2 miles
1. Starfish owned by Mr Thompson and ridden by Linegar
2. Emerald owned by Mr Shanley and ridden by Treeve
3. Beda owned by Mr A J Joseph and ridden by McGrade
Thursday 4th March 1875
Bombala Town Plate Handicap (50 sovereigns)
1. Banker (4/1) owned by Mr Brookes and ridden by Hurley
2. Starfish (3/1) owned by Mr Thompson and ridden by Treeve
3. Priam (2/1) owned by Mr A J Joseph
4. Stockman (10/1) owned by Mr Reed
5. King Tom (2/1) owned by Mr Thompson |
Recent Winners of the Bombala Cup
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2008 The Bombala Cup ($5,600) over 1200 metres was won by Strike Me Happy (9/4) trained by Rado Boljun and ridden by Ms L Wray, beating Brenna and Waterfront Lass 5 ran
2009 The Bombala Cup ($5,600) over 1200 metres was won by Kiss My Fuji (11/10) trained by Rado Boljun and ridden by Ms L Wray, beating Follow The Command and Urban Gypsy 4 ran
2010 The Bombala Cup ($5,600) over 1200 metres was won by Sebony (Evens fav) trained by Chris Strickland and ridden by Ms L Wray, beating Millisin and Follow The Command 6 ran
2011 The Bombala Cup ($5,600) over 1200 metres was won by Back To Zero (2/1) trained by Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones and ridden by Jason Collins, beating Strike Me Happy and Gelderbelle 6 ran
2012 The Bombala Cup ($7,100) over 1200 metres was won by Outside (100/30) trained by Rado Boljun and ridden by Kevin Sweeney, beating Trescorpioni and Back To Zero 6 ran
2013 The Bombala Cup ($7,100) over 1200 metres was won by Back To Zero (9/4) trained by Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones and ridden by Koby Jennings, beating Sebony and Mineral Deposit 6 ran
2014 The Bombala Cup ($7,100) over 1200 metres was won by Ultimate Chance (5/2) trained by Scott Collings and ridden by Roly Saxton, beating Baldovino and Fair Call 6 ran
2015 The Bombala Cup ($7,100) over 1200 metres was won by Ultimate Chance (5/2) trained by Scott Collings and ridden by Kayla Nisbet, beating Extreme Shot and Redentes Edge 6 ran
2016 The Bombala Cup ($7,180) over 1200 metres was won by Patagonia Belle (7/1) trained by Ron Weston and John Nisbet and ridden by Aaron Sweeney, beating Malizia and Chasing Charlie 9 ran
2017 The Bombala Cup ($7,085) over 1200 metres was won by Black Dragon (6/1) trained by Aaron Clarke and ridden by Alena Skerritt, beating Girls Own and The Inflamer 7 ran |
