The South Australian town of Lock is located some 188 miles south west of Port Augusta in the Eyre Peninsula region of the state. Its main industry is farming, being one of the state’s main cereal producing areas. Although many towns in this locality can boast a long history, early settlers did not grasp the full benefits of Locks grazing land and it was not until 1861 that land settlement occurred. Even today the town only has a population of around 300, but still manages to support its own racecourse at McLachlan Park. It held its inaugural meeting on its current course in 1955 and remains a well-supported course to this day, with racing administered by Lock Racing Club. However, prior to this the town had organised successful Picnic Race meetings on land owned by Mr S G Burrows, a President of the Lock Racing Club. One of the earliest records shows that a meeting, consisting of 5 races, took place on 29th October 1927. Lock Picnic Races were very popular in the 1930s, where the two principal races were the McLachlan Handicap and the Lock Stakes. Results from three such meetings are shown below.

Saturday 29th February 1936
McLachlan Stakes
1. Prince Whittier owned by Mr A E O’Connor and ridden by Hereen
2. Pari Pasu ridden by King
3. Airdrick ridden by Kadoff
7 ran
Lock Stakes
1. Bier Gun ridden by Krogdahl
2. Prince Whittier ridden by Smale
3. Scoran ridden by Kelsh
The programme also included a Hurdle Race in which Scoran, ridden by Kelsh, beat Brown ridden by Berry, and a Lady’s Bracelet when Kirkalla defeated St Storm. After racing the Lock Hotel provided a crayfish supper, while the Cleve Orchestra, led by Mr Arnold Simmons, provided evening entertainment.

Saturday 27th February 1937
McLachlan Stakes
1. Alluvial ridden by Adams
2. Prince Whittier ridden by Hereen
3. Gold Pistol
Lock Stakes
1. Presson
2. Hiking Girl
3. Little Gun

Tuesday 11th February 1939
McLachlan Handicap
1. Pimpeau owned by Mr A Sach
2. Southern Star owned by Mr Huppatz and Mr May
3. Endley Lass owned by Mr A E O’Connor
Lock Stakes
1. Miss Sabrem owned by Mr A Sach
2. Gold Ray owned by Mr Huppatz and Mr May
3. Crimson Sash

Currently the Club holds two race meetings per year, in October and February, with the principal race, the Lock Cup over 1900 metres being staged in February. One of the recent winners of the Cup was Rooboy trained by Darryl Carrison, with the full result shown below:-
Sunday 11th February 2018
Lock Cup ($10,000) over 1900 metres
1. Rooboy (6/5) trained by Darryl Carrison and ridden by Phillip Crich
2. Eye The World trained by Ryan Dawson and ridden by Alice Lindsay
3. Zipalong trained by April Cornell and ridden by Eran Boyd
5 ran

Lock Cup Winners
2009 The Lock Cup ($4,550) over 1900 metres was won by Thornton (7/1) trained by Julie Branford and ridden by Phillip Crich, beating Sea Accountant and Idelargo 4 ran
2010 The Lock Cup ($5,070) over 1900 metres was won by Yarterbery (2/1) trained by Darryl Carrison and ridden by Trpy Baker, beating Roll On Royce and Sea Factor 8 ran
2011 The Lock Cup ($5,400) over 1900 metres was won by Miss Aberdeen (7/2) trained by B Cozamanis and ridden by Phillip Crich, beating Yarterbery and Woofnoof 6 ran
2012 The Lock Cup ($6,700) over 1900 metres was won by World Ruler (6/1) trained by Mick White and ridden by Dale Evans, beating Generous Huka and Yarterbery 7 ran
2013 The Lock Cup ($6,700) over 1900 metres was won by Street Related (5/2) trained by Brian Lear and ridden by Jordan Frew, beating Miss Aberdeen and Tresette 7 ran
2014 The Lock Cup ($7,400) over 1900 metres was won by Primal Instinct (100/30) trained by Angela Forster and ridden by Peter Roff, beating Corduroy and Meadows Storm 6 ran
2015 The Lock Cup ($8,000) over 1900 metres was won by Montalto (5/1) trained by Angela Forster and ridden by Ashley Doyle, beating Testate and Emmooki’s Dash 7 ran
2016 The Lock Cup ($10,000) over 1900 metres was won by Moon Dveli (13/2) trained by Angela Forster and ridden by Brandon Griffiths, beating Montalto and Hard At It 9 ran
2017 The Lock Cup ($10,000) over 1900 metres was won by Montalto (13/2) trained by Angela Forster and ridden by Justin Huxtable, beating Devon and Rooboy 8 ran
2018 The Lock Cup ($10,000) over 1900 metres was won by Rooboy (6/5) trained by Darryl Carrison and ridden by Phillip Crich, beating Eye The World and Zipalong 5 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