Perth Racecourse

Richard Gauthier Collection Perth Racecourse

	The earliest evidence of racing in the vicinity of Perth was in 1613, during the reign of James VI of Scotland, when a Silver Bell was contested annually at South Inch, but it was a further one hundred and seventy years before Perth was mentioned again. Amazingly, Bonnie Prince Charlie benefitted from Perth races because his supporters allegedly gathered there prior to the Jacobite uprising. The Perth Hunt Club organised a series of Flat races at North Inch, on a piece of land donated by the 8th Earl of Kinnoull, and in 1791 the Royal Caledonian Hunt Club paid a visit to Perth for the first time. They must have liked what they saw because they introduced the Caledonian Gold Cup in 1818; increased the number of race days at Perth, and organised meetings on a regular basis until 1890, when a final meeting was staged in December. By the early part of the 20th century there was concern that drunken behaviour was spoiling the race meetings and in 1906 a move, led by the Earl of Mansfield, sought to transfer the meetings to a more favourable location. The first two day meeting to take place on the Earl of Mansfield's Scone Palace Park was on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September 1908, and it has remained Perth’s home ever since.


	The opening race at the inaugural meeting was the Cramock Handicap Steeplechase, won by Loch Sloy. The most celebrated meeting at the track is the Perth Festival of racing held each April, while the principal race is the historical Perth Gold Cup over 3 miles, usually contested each June, but reinvented by the Provost Mike O’Malley in 1999. Full results of the race since the revival are shown below. Currently hosts 16 fixtures annually. Wednesday 23rd September 1908 The Cramock Handicap Steeplechase over 2 miles 1. Loch Sloy (5/1), owned by Mr A Coats and ridden by R Cowe 2. Tommy Daw (4/1), owned by Mr J Meleady and ridden by T Lynch 3. General Moon (Evens fav), owned by Mr W Wilson and ridden by J Hamilton

	2000 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Macs Supreme (4/1), trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Adrian Maguire 13 ran 2001 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Water Font (5/1), trained by Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by Richard Johnson 18 ran 2002 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Aegean (14/1), trained by Mrs S Smith and ridden by Warren Marston 11 ran 2003 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Dominikus (15/2), trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Davy Russell 8 ran

	2004 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Montreal (3/1), trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Timmy Murphy 9 ran 2005 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Osiris (9/4), trained by Evan Williams and ridden by Christian Williams 6 ran 2006 The Perth Gold Cup was won by King Barry (14/1), trained by Miss P Robson and ridden by Richie McGrath 15 ran 2007 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Tamarinbleu (12/1), trained by David Pipe and ridden by Andrew Glastonbury 16 ran

	2008 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Brooklyn Brownie (22/1), trained by J M Jefferson and ridden by Phil Kinsella 18 ran 2009 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Backstage (3/1), trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jason Maguire 13 ran 2010 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Ollie Magern (14/1), trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by Paddy Brennan 12 ran 2011 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Sonny Mullen (4/1), trained by Kim Bailey and ridden by Jason Maguire 9 ran

	2012 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Mumbles Head (4/1), trained by Peter Bowen and ridden by T J O’Brien 17 ran 2013 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Problematic (15/2), trained by David Pipe and ridden by Tom Scudamore 13 ran 2014 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Guess Again (4/1), trained by David Pipe and ridden by Tom Scudamore 8 ran 2015 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Kilbree Kid (7/2), trained by Tom George and ridden by Paddy Brennan 8 ran 2016 The Perth Gold Cup was won by Gold Futures (7/2), trained by Nicky Richards and ridden by Brian Harding 5 ran