The Central West town of Mudgee, located in the fertile valley of the Cudgegong River in New South Wales, lies 162 miles north-west of the state capital Sydney. It was originally inhabited by the Wiradjuri people and its name comes from the Aboriginal word ‘mou-gee’ which translates as ‘Nest in the Hills’. The first European settlers began arriving in 1821 when James Blackman crossed the Cudgegong River and discovered the area. Shortly afterwards Lieutenant William Lawson followed and acquired 6,000 acres to farm in the region. The town now has a population in excess of 11,000 inhabitants and enjoys its own racecourse, often hosting 9 meetings annually, where racing is still administered by the Mudgee Race Club, just as it has been doing since 1841 and where the principal race is the Mudgee Cup over 1600 metres traditionally contested on the first Friday in December.

In mid-May 1841 the settlers in Mudgee resolved to establish a race meeting and acquired a splendid silver-chaised cup of colonial workmanship by Mr M M Cohen. The rose, shamrock and thistle were all displayed on the Cup, alongside an engraving of a racecourse. Valued at 50 sovereigns, it formed the main prize at subsequent race meetings. The inaugural 3 day race meeting was held from Tuesday 15th to Thursday 17th June 1841 when the Stewards were Mr Henry Hayly, Mr Graham Hunter, Mr Robert Lowe, Mr Richard Dunn and Lieutenant Colonel E Beckham. Princiapl race results from that early meeting are shown below:-
Tuesday 15th June 1841
Mudgee Silver Cup (50 sovereigns) over 2 miles
1. Eclipse owned by Mr Henry Hayly and ridden by Hassall
2. Nebuchadnezzar owned and ridden by Mr C Hayly
3. Jim Crow owned by Mr Purdy and ridden by Robert Lowe
On Wednesday 16th June 1841 the Waterloo Hurdle Race for £30 over 3 miles and 9 leaps was won by Mr Hassall’s mare, beating the selections of Mr C Hayly and Mr Graham Hunter.
Thursday 17th June 1841
Mudgee Town Plate (50 sovereigns) over 2 miles
1. Eclipse owned by Mr Henry Hayly and ridden by Hassall
2. Euclid owned by Mr Nelson Lawson

The next year the meeting began on Tuesday 17th May 1842 and proved more popular than ever, drawing a crowd of 1500 people.
Tuesday 17th May 1842
Mudgee Town Plate (£50) twice round
1. Jorrocks owned by Mr Rouse
2. Eclipse owned by Mr Nelson Lawson
Mudgee St Leger Stakes (25 guineas)
1. Princess owned by Mr Graham Hunter
2. Lady Clifton owned by Mr Henry and ridden by Bayly
Thursday 19th May 1842
Mudgee Settlers’ Plate (£50) twice round
1. Jorrocks owned by Mr Rouse
2. Grimaldi owned by Mr Bayly
3. Laurel owned by Mr Rouse
Innkeeper’s Plate (50 guineas) once round
1. Jorrocks owned by Mr Rouse
2. Princess owned by Mr Graham Hunter
3. Tranby owned by Mr Nelson Lawson

Post-First World War Mudgee Cup winners
(A full list of winners is available on request)
1919 Mudgee Cup over 1 ¼ miles was won by Rex Chief (6/4 fav) beating Medley and Flaveworth
1920 Mudgee Cup over 1 ¼ miles was won by Pantomime (Evens fav) owned by Mr A H Oliver and ridden by F Hood, beating Medley and Cherokee 7 ran
1921 Mudgee Cup over 1 ¼ miles was won by Capcyllene (4/1) ridden by Willis, beating Exquararian and Scythian 6 ran
1922 Mudgee Cup over 1 ¼ miles was won by Lady Ken (2/1) ridden by Wood, beating Narwee and Rapid
1923 Mudgee Cup over 1 mile was won by Capcyllene (1/3 fav) ridden by Logue, beating Charlemoree (4/1) and Account (3/1)

Recent winners of the Mudgee Cup
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2009 Mudgee Cup ($13,000) over 1600 metres was won by Tora Tora Tora (7/1) trained by T W Mulholland and ridden by Jon Grisedale, beating Flapdoodle and Slick Sniper 11 ran
2010 Mudgee Cup was abandoned due to waterlogging
2011 Mudgee Cup ($13,000) over 1600 metres was won San Zaim (100/30) trained by Tracey Bartley and ridden by Jeff Penza, beating Fashion Statement and Kaypers 12 ran
2012 Mudgee Cup ($14,410) over 1600 metres was won San Zaim (13/8 fav) trained by Tracey Bartley and ridden by Nigel Seymour, beating Kwilas Law and I’m In The Money 9 ran
2013 Mudgee Cup ($17,460) over 1600 metres was won Ward (5/1) trained by David Vandyke and ridden by Jay Ford, beating Brave Ali and Prior Baron 8 ran
2014 Mudgee Cup ($20,510) over 1600 metres was won First Class Ticket (5/2) trained by Allan Denham and ridden by Jeff Penza, beating Slivovitz and Harnel 6 ran
2015 Mudgee Cup ($20,510) over 1600 metres was won Fox Solid (25/1) trained by Garry McCarney and ridden by Andrew Banks, beating Topmast and Wild And Proud 13 ran
2016 Mudgee Cup ($27,750) over 1600 metres was won Burning Energy (4/1) trained by Bjorn Baker and ridden by Chad Lever, beating Can I Have and Exemption 11 ran
2017 Mudgee Cup ($27,460) over 1600 metres was won Tahsin (4/1) trained by John Thompson and ridden by Jeff Penza, beating Schedule and Saravejo 11 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