The New South Wales town of Gilgandra lies on the Castlereagh River in the Central West region of the state, and is ideally placed at the junction of the Oxley, Castlereagh and Newell Highways, some 270 miles from the state capital Sydney. Its name is derived from the Aboriginal word meaning ‘long waterhole’. European settlers arrived in the area in the middle of the 19th century, although it was only declared a town in 1888. Today the town has a population in excess of 2,600 and has its own racecourse, where racing is administered by the Gilgandra Jockey Club. The highlight of the meeting, traditionally held on the first Sunday in January, is the Gilgandra Cup over 1600 metres. However, the idea of holding meetings in the town was first mooted in November 1887 when a Gilgandra race meeting was registered with the Australian Jockey Club. The next year a two day meeting was staged on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 31st May 1888. By the start of the 20th century the Gilgandra Amateur Race Club held a meeting on Friday 12th April 1901 when a series of Handicaps formed the majority of the card. The Opening Handicap was won by Orphan Girl owned by Mr J Barnes, beating Acetylene and Opal, while the Federal Handicap went to Ossiferous, also owned by Mr J Barnes, who defeated Ada and Fitzroy. Arguably the main race of the day, the Gilgandra Club Handicap, was won by Mr Mudie’s Opal, beating Mystery and Orphan Girl.

During the War years, and immediately afterwards, the Gilgandra Jockey Club administered the meetings, and by this time the Cup had already been launched.
1914 Gilgandra Jockey Club Cup over 1 mile was won by Green Flag (4/1) ridden by Griffith, beating Phil and Penniless 12 ran
1915 Gilgandra Silver Cup, donated by Mr H M Levy, was won by Sunny Park (8/1) owned by Mr H Oliver and ridden by Quinn, beating Mybank and Lord Skopos 8 ran
1916 Gilgandra Cup over 1 mile was won by Dowdy (4/1) ridden by Griffiths, beating Zens and Arch Murello 9 ran
1917 Gilgandra Cup over 1 mile was won by Lass O’Gowrie (4/5 fav) ridden by Pratt, beating Camballa and Blue Pet 5 ran
1918 Gilgandra Cup over 1 mile was won by Mundoola (4/5 fav) owned by Mr J Fitzsimmons and ridden by Reid, beating Charleville and Moriarty
1919 Gilgandra Cup over 1 mile was won by Lass O’Gowrie (4/1) ridden by Walker, beating Far West and Flaveworth 6 ran

Recent Gilgandra Cup winners
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2009 Gilgandra Cup ($17,500) over 1600 metres was won by Tige (11/1) trained by Darryn Wicks and ridden by Michael Travers, beating Slick Sniper and Fuji Girl 11 ran
2010 Gilgandra Cup ($14,300) over 1600 metres was won by Tora Tora Tora (11/10 fav) trained by T W Mulholland and ridden by Jon Grisedale, beating Nikkirina and Boomerang 5 ran
2011 Gilgandra Cup ($14,300) over 1600 metres was won by General’s Sniper (8/11 fav) trained by Tracey Bartley and ridden by Greg Ryan, beating Cullen Castle and Nikkirina 9 ran
2012 Gilgandra Cup ($14,300) over 1600 metres was won by Dreamwinner (5/1) trained by Max Crockett and ridden by Mathew Cahill, beating Convent Hill and Dusty’s Felt 11 ran
2013 Gilgandra Cup ($15,630) over 1600 metres was won by Freton (13/8 fav) trained by Troy Hall and ridden by Greg Ryan, beating Prior Baron and Orbit 11 ran
2014 Gilgandra Cup ($17,460) over 1600 metres was won by Lancelot (5/1) trained by Max Crockett and ridden by Anthony Cavallo, beating Leicester Square and Prior Baron 8 ran
2015 Gilgandra Cup ($17,460) over 1600 metres was won by Devilgate Road (3/1) trained by Craig Martin and ridden by Eleanor Webster-Hawes, beating Yes Zariz and Jellybean Jack 9 ran
2016 Gilgandra Cup ($17,460) over 1600 metres was won by Tuliman (12/1) trained by Peter Nestor and ridden by Daniel Northey, beating Fox Solid and Cardiff Prince 12 ran
2017 Gilgandra Cup ($19,750) over 1600 metres was won by Lancelot (8/1) trained by Max Crockett and ridden by Mathew Cahill, beating Pippa’s Pride and Top Magic 12 ran
2018 Gilgandra Cup ($19,555) over 1600 metres was won by Artistic Beauty (6/4 fav) trained by Cameron Crockett and ridden by Greg Ryan, beating Try ‘n’ Run a Muck and Nissile 9 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