The New South Wales city of Grafton lies in the Northern Rivers region of the state. It is situated on the Clarence River some 500 kilometres north-east of Sydney and boasts its own racecourse, with racing administered by the Grafton Race Club which oversees 40 meetings annually. However, the Clarence River Jockey Club, which was founded in 1861, also stages 25 race meetings at the track annually, and caters for all tastes by hosting meetings during the week and at the weekend. The races receive good news coverage, with the Northern River Press group providing the public with race details and a full set of results. The highlights of the Clarence River Jockey Club’s programme are the Grafton Cup over 2350 metres in July and the Ramornie Handicap, a sprint race over 1200 metres which is a listed race. Although the track is used throughout the year, two of the busiest and most popular meets are the July Racing Carnival and the Jacaranda Festival which takes place in October and November.
Although the first Grafton Cup was held in 1910, racing was staged at Graton prior to that date.The first £200 Handicap at the present day Grafton Racecourse in the 1870s was won by Banagher bred by George Sparke and ridden by George Foote. In those early days there were two £200 Handicaps at the track, known as the ‘Grafton Double’, and in that first year Banagher completed the double. Two years later Excelsior also completed the double in the hands of Joe Woods.
The inaugural Grafton Cup took place on Thursday 21st July 1910 when Gosine won by a comfortable 2 lengths, completing the 1 ¼ miles in 2 minutes 10 seconds, defeating Ariki and Norin in second and third. On the same day the Barnes Handicap and July Handicap were both won by Demos. The Tenterfield Intercolonial Courier and Fairfield and Wallangarra Advocate reported that the winner started at 8/1.
1910 The Grafton Cup was won by Gosine (8/1) trained by S J Gay and ridden by Stone
1911 The Grafton Cup was won by George Gunn (4/1) owned by Mr A B Stacey, trained by A Foran and ridden by Kuhn
Thursday 20th July 1911
Grafton Cup (250 Sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles
1. George Gunn by Machine Gunn, 8st 5lbs owned by A B Stacey and ridden by Kuhn
2. Black Prince owned by H R Munro
3. Amberina owned by F S Anderson
16 Ran
Betting:- 5/2 Black Prince, 4/1 George Gunn, 8/1 Hope Royal, 10/1 Amberina
1912 The Grafton Cup was won by Othone (5/1) owned by Mr T C Tranwein, trained by W Gullum and ridden by Phillips
1913 The Grafton Cup was won by Barlow (3/1) trained by W Gullum and ridden by W T Manning
1914 The Grafton Cup was won by Miss Minona (10/1) owned by Mr S Gay, trained by Walsh and ridden by Hefferman
1915 The Grafton Cup was won by La Balfour (5/2) trained by C O’Rourke and ridden by Connell 11 Ran
1916 The Grafton Cup was won by Norbury (3/1) trained by A Maxwell and ridden by H Curran 10 Ran
1917 The Grafton Cup was won by Cruzot (4/1) trained by E Foley and ridden by W T Manning
1918 The Grafton Cup was won by Lord Marajax (7/1) trained by R Carlill and ridden by R Orrell
1919 The Grafton Cup was won by Longwy (6/1) trained by T Callinan and ridden by W Callinan
1920 The Grafton Cup was won by Longwy (5/1) trained by T Callinan and ridden by W Callinan
1921 The Grafton Cup was won by Fair Desmond (5/2) owned by Mr A Young, trained by A Young and ridden by C J Russell
Thursday 21st July 1921
Grafton Cup (£500) over 1 ¼ miles and 100 yards
1. Fair Desmond owned by Mr A Young and ridden by C J Russell
2. Malurys owned by Mr A T Brown and ridden by A C Lyons
3. Cousin owned by Mr R Kerry and ridden by C Roberts
Betting:- 2/1 Malurys, 5/2 Fair Desmond, 7/1 Overlap
9 Ran
1922 The Grafton Cup was won by Hossier (5/1) trained by T Callinan and ridden by McCabe
1923 The Grafton Cup was won by Hosier (4/7 fav) trained by T Callinan and ridden by R Orrell
1924 The Grafton Cup was won by Hosier (4/6 fav) trained by T Callinan and ridden by J Pike
1925 The Grafton Cup was won by Eaton Boy (3/1) trained by Kingsley and H Mears
1926 The Grafton Cup was won by Cyllene Laddie (9/4) trained by F C Pennington and ridden by T Farthing
1927 The Grafton Cup was won by Coolgong (3/1) trained by W J Bryaus and ridden by M McCarten
1928 The Grafton Cup was won by Sharp Son (5/2) trained by N Dewsbury and ridden by C J Findlay
1929 The Grafton Cup was won by Chipwood (33/1) trained by R McKay and ridden by McCabe
1930 The Grafton Cup was won by Garrula (4/1) trained by J C Smith and ridden by A Goddard
1931 The Grafton Cup was won by Verdonia (8/1) trained by W Atkins and ridden by A Atkins
1932 The Grafton Cup was won by Kelberg (8/1) trained by G Morrow and ridden by A Knox
1933 The Grafton Cup was won by Barren Corn (6/1) trained by N M McKinnon and ridden by J Carmont
1934 The Grafton Cup was won by Mr Kerry (2/1) trained by G P Nailon and ridden by J Pratt
1935 The Grafton Cup was won by Thalwyn (5/1) trained by A Clarke and ridden by T Spencer
1936 The Grafton Cup was won by Osculum (3/1) trained by G P Nailon and ridden by H Hanley
1937 The Grafton Cup was won by Milantheon (8/1) trained by N Taylor and ridden by A Knox
1938 The Grafton Cup was won by Buzalong (9/4) trained by A Leftwich and ridden by D Munro
1939 The Grafton Cup was won by Fearless (7/2) trained by D Stephen and ridden by F Hickey
1940 The Grafton Cup was won by Hendra Lad (16/1) trained by W Hennessy and ridden by K Lee
The photo above is the finish of the 1936 Grafton Cup and is shown courtesy of the Sydney mail Wednesday 22nd July 1936
1941 The Grafton Cup was won by Aralys (7/2) trained by A G Anderson and ridden by N McGrowdie
1942 The Grafton Cup was not contested due to World War II
1943 The Grafton Cup was not contested due to World War II
1944 The Grafton Cup was not contested due to World War II
1945 The Grafton Cup was not contested due to World War II
1946 The Grafton Cup was won by Spearex (7/2) trained by G P Nailon and ridden by W Cook
1947 The Grafton Cup was won by Kiaree (6/1) trained by N McCarten and ridden by N McGrowdie
1948 The Grafton Cup was won by Coalition (7/2) trained by A Morrisey and ridden by J Thompson
1949 The Grafton Cup was won by Phos (5/1) trained by N O’Brien and ridden by A Seymour
1950 The Grafton Cup was won by Au Secour (6/4 fav) trained by T Black and ridden by W Briscoe
1951 The Grafton Cup was won by Bonny Romance (10/1) trained by B Gallagher and ridden by K Grady
1952 The Grafton Cup was won by Northern Warrior (9/2) trained by J Brotherson and ridden by N McGrowdie
1953 The Grafton Cup was won by Alinga (7/4 fav) trained by P Graham and ridden by M Maynard
1954 The Grafton Cup was won by True Bill (12/1) trained by J Griffiths and ridden by B Freeman
1955 The Grafton Cup was won by Pembroke (4/1) trained by L Govers and ridden by N McGrowdie
1956 The Grafton Cup was won by Dashing Lucie (7/2) trained by G Shelley and ridden by F Reys
1957 The Grafton Cup was won by Electric Glance (6/4 fav) trained by J Nichols and ridden by B Wakefield
1958 The Grafton Cup was won by Dail Eiraenn (3/1) trained by J Denham and ridden by D Weir
1959 The Grafton Cup was won by Flash Hero (8/1) trained by J Walsh and ridden by R Williams
1960 The Grafton Cup was won by Castle Burn (6/4 fav) trained by M Anderson and ridden by Neil Sellwood
1961 The Grafton Cup was won by Prince Rezan (5/1) trained by E O’Sullivan and ridden by G Cook
1962 The Grafton Cup was won by Golden Seaman (6/4 fav) trained by M Anderson and ridden by R Grieves
1963 The Grafton Cup was won by Home James (5/1) trained by F Dalton and ridden by J Appleyard
1964 The Grafton Cup was won by Home James (4/6 fav) trained by F Dalton and ridden by J Thompson
1965 The Grafton Cup was won by Patient Polly (2/1) trained by C Franklin and ridden by R McCarthy
1966 The Grafton Cup was won by Carnival (7/2) trained by J Green and ridden by A Lister
1967 The Grafton Cup was won by Sky Sailor (7/4 fav) trained by Arthur Cox and ridden by W Wade
1968 The Grafton Cup was won by Merry Jack (7/1) trained by A Gore and ridden by B Goddard
1969 The Grafton Cup was won by Jupiter (7/1) trained by J Green and ridden by M Schumacher
1970 The Grafton Cup was won by What’s Brewing (5/1) trained by R Maund and ridden by P Gumbleton
1971 The Grafton Cup was won by Barrylyn’s Idol (12/1) trained by S Henry and ridden by T Finger
1972 The Grafton Cup was won by Bug Butch (7/4 fav) trained by J Hall and ridden by D Lake
1973 The Grafton Cup was won by Jardel (7/1) trained by A Gore and ridden by K Moses
1974 The Grafton Cup was won by Jardel (6/4 fav) trained by S Brown and ridden by L Olsen
1975 The Grafton Cup was won by Wave King (7/2) trained by J Hely and ridden by L Olsen
1976 The Grafton Cup was won by Ontonic (20/1) trained by R Hinton and ridden by G Challen
1977 The Grafton Cup was won by Sweet Aroma (10/1) trained by K Marshall and ridden by G Palmer
1978 The Grafton Cup was won by Zamazaan Lass (2/1) trained by K Hayes and ridden by G Cook
1979 The Grafton Cup was won by French Command (5/2) trained by J Roach and ridden by K Banks
1980 The Grafton Cup was won by Under Orders (10/1) trained by C Throsby and ridden by G Duffy
1981 The Grafton Cup was won by My Star Sapphire (3/1) trained by H Thompson and ridden by R Thompson
1982 The Grafton Cup was won by Osmiridium (5/1) trained by N Begg and ridden by K Moses
1983 The Grafton Cup was won by Ward’s Mistake (50/1) trained by R Gosling and ridden by J Hutchings
1984 The Grafton Cup was won by Riverdale (5/1) trained by D Taylor and ridden by G Duffy
1985 The Grafton Cup was won by Rushcutter (11/4) trained by G Rogerson and ridden by P Cook
1986 The Grafton Cup was won by Les’ Choice (11/4) trained by A Choice and ridden by C Symons
1987 The Grafton Cup was won by Kensei (5/2) trained by L Bridge and ridden by L Olsen
1988 The Grafton Cup was won by Sasha Bijou (10/1) trained by L Edwards and ridden by D McClune
1989 The Grafton Cup was won by Shuzohra (2/1 fav) trained by E Skelton and ridden by L Olsen
1990 The Grafton Cup was won by Stirring (10/1) trained by A Ford and ridden by L Cassidy
1991 The Grafton Cup was won by Rural Prince (16/1) trained by G Sanders and ridden by L Cassidy
1992 The Grafton Cup was won by Cross Swords (5/2) trained by V Thompson and ridden by L Olsen
1993 The Grafton Cup was won by Abstraction (25/1) trained by N Stewart and ridden by G Birney
1994 The Grafton Cup was won by Oppressor (12/1) trained by G Mance and ridden by S Scriven
1995 The Grafton Cup was won by Oppressor (9/1) trained by G Mance and ridden by S Scriven
1996 The Grafton Cup was won by Praise Indeed (11/4) trained by N McBurney and ridden by L Cassidy
1997 The Grafton Cup was won by Akwazoff (7/1) trained by M Corliss and ridden by George Baker
1998 The Grafton Cup was won by Catapult (5/1) trained by K Moore and ridden by S Seamer
1999 The Grafton Cup was won by Count Scenario (7/2) trained by B Murray and ridden by C Munce
2000 The Grafton Cup was won by Simigan (7/1) trained by B Smith and ridden by A Robinson
2001 The Grafton Cup was won by Desk Top Lover (40/1) trained by B Mitchell and ridden by M Cahill
2002 The Grafton Cup was won by Master Pom (50/1) trained by S Quintano and ridden by N Cumberland
2003 The Grafton Cup was won by Belus (3/1 fav) trained by R Smerdon and ridden by M Zahra
2004 The Grafton Cup was won by Pacific Dancer (13/8 fav) trained by S Dwyer and ridden by M Rodd
2005 The Grafton Cup was won by Storm Hill (5/2) trained by Tim Martin and ridden by C Munce
2006 The Grafton Cup was won by Rocking On (NZ) (6/1) trained by G Waterhouse and ridden by J Innes
2007 The Grafton Cup was won by Ashraf (9/1) trained by S Phegan and ridden by D Spriggs
2008 The Grafton Cup was won by Art Success (NZ) (14/1) trained by J Collins and ridden by J Lloyd
2009 The Grafton Cup was won by Castle Heights (NZ) (9/1) trained by D Logan and ridden by S Katsidis
2010 The Grafton Cup was won by Twin Wing (NZ) (10/1) trained by G Walter and ridden by J Ford
2011 The Grafton Cup was won by Warrior Within (25/1) trained by B W Hill and ridden by P Hammersley
2012 The Grafton Cup was won by Shamardashing (9/4) trained by J P Thompson and ridden by J Lloyd
2013 The Grafton Cup was won by Mr O’Ceirin (NZ) (4/1) trained by C Maher and ridden by B Shinn
2014 The Grafton Cup was won by Queenstown (11/4) trained by G Waterhouse and ridden by Tony Clark
2015 The Grafton Cup was won by Bonfire (GB) (4/1) trained by G Waterhouse and ridden by B Shinn
2016 The Grafton Cup was won by Rednav (25/1) trained by S Taylor and ridden by P Graham
2017 The Grafton Cup was won by Supply and Demand (2/1) trained by G Waterhouse and A Bott and ridden by J Parr
