NAMBUCCA RIVER RACECOURSE

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The New South Wales town of Bowraville is the location of the racecourse where the Nambucca River Jockey Club stage their meetings. Although the racecourse sits in beautiful countryside to the west of the Nambucca Shire, it is considered to be one of the poorest areas in Australia, yet despite this it stages 5 highly successful meetings annually, with the principal race being the Bowraville Cup over 1370 metres staged in September. The Nambucca River Jockey Club enjoys a rich history, but racing did cease for a considerable period before the Club was relaunched in 1975, and has gone from strength to strength ever since. As well as the Bowraville Cup, the racecourse also stages the Bellingen Cup in June, the Macksville Cup in December, and the Phillip Hughes Memorial Cup on Boxing Day.

Local Patrons Nambucca River Jockey Club

Race meetings organised by the Bowra Jockey Club and Bowraville Jockey Club were held in the latter part of the 19th century. Records show that a meeting took place on Tuesday 17th March 1891, and a further meeting was scheduled for St Patrick’s Day 1892, although excessive rain threatened it and it was re-scheduled to Thursday 24th March 1892. Races, under the auspices of the Bowra Club, were held on the local racecourse on Friday 17th March 1893 when the principal race was the Bowraville Handicap:-
Thursday 17th March 1893
Bowraville Handicap

1. Cock Robin carrying 8st 11 lbs
2. Kilaloe carrying 8st
3. Heek carrying 8st 2lbs
7 ran

On Wednesday 21st March 1894 a meeting organised by the Honorary Secretary Mr Julian was staged, featuring the Bowraville Handicap which was won by Sunlight, defeating Flirt and Harbor Boy. After racing a ball was held in Bowra Hall in the evening. A further meeting on Friday 18th November 1896 was administered by the Bowra Jockey Club.

At the very start of the 20th century the Bowra Jockey Club moved to their new racecourse in Bowra, the meeting taking place in August when all 3 principal races were won by Beau Saint, a horse from Macleay River. During the early years of the century Pony race meetings were staged, with the programme continuing into the 1920s. Newspaper reports suggested that Bowraville Jockey Club held its inaugural meeting in August 1939.

Recent winners of the Bowraville Cup are shown below:-
2011 The Bowraville Cup ($20,000) was won by Bondit (5/1) trained by J A Janiak and ridden by R Spokes, beating Clan McClymont and Rare Diamond
2012 The Bowraville Cup ($25,000) was won by Cuban Dancer (3/1) trained by K Faulds and ridden by B Looker, beating Hackers and Lanmix
2013 The Bowraville Cup ($25,000) was won by Cuban Dancer (7/1) trained by K Faulds and ridden by P Graham, defeating Lotsa Lobban and Whispering Gap
2014 The Bowraville Cup ($25,000) was won by Road To Summer (4/5 fav) trained by M Harrison and ridden by M Dolendo, beating Jack The Ringer and Lotsa Lobban
2015 The Bowraville Cup ($25,000) was won by Power Receiver trained by Andrew Parramore, beating Sprite Zah and Malleable
2016 The Bowraville Cup ($25,000) was won by Shazza’s Bubbles (6/1) trained by M Stitt and ridden by J Murphy, beating Gold Torque and Jack The Ringer
2017 The Bowraville Cup ($25,000) was won by Splinter (6/4 fav) trained by H Kilner and ridden by P Graham, defeating San Sabarto and Dixie Lad

Course today The racecourse continues to operate successfully today.
If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com
     

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

Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent.
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