The New South Wales town of Scone lies in the Upper Hunter Shire of the state some 270 kilometres north of the state capital Sydney. The region was originally inhabited by the Aboriginal people of the Woonarua and Gamilaroi tribes prior to the first European settlers arriving in 1824. The surveyor Henry Dangar passed through the area in 1824, although it was 7 years later that Scone was named by Jason Kent Troth, an Australian whose family roots were in the Scone, Perth and Kinross area of Scotland. Today Scone has a population of almost 4,700 inhabitants and is proud of its own racecourse which was opened in 1994. However, racing was certainly being staged in the town 150 years before this, when placards were posted on trees in mid-June 1842 announcing that ‘Mine Host’ of the White Swan Inn hoped to give variety to the dull monotony of Scone life by organising a race meeting. The event was scheduled for Wednesday 15th June 1842 and consisted of a £50 match between Mountain Maid owned by Mr Northy, and Miss Scratch owned by a gentleman from ‘down the river’. In the event the 2 ½ mile race was won by Miss Scratch in a canter.
Wednesday 15th June 1842
Scone Sweepstake of £10
1. Snowball owned by Mr Atkinson
2. Bugler owned by Mr Ellis
3. Brandy owned by Mr Wilkie
Scone Second Sweepstake of £5
1. Bugler owned by Mr Ellis
2. Jacky owned by Mr Button
3. St Andrew owned by Mr Thomas Dangar
4. Welshman owned by Mr Martin
Meetings continued on a regular basis on the St Aubin’s course, extending to a three day meeting from Tuesday 26th to Thursday 28th December 1848. A good crowd attended, although races were also taking place at Lower Hunter which diminished the size of the crowd at Scone. Furthermore, racing on the first day was poop and uncompetitive. The main results from each day are shown below.
Tuesday 26th December 1848
Scone Town Plate £20 twice round
1. Death owned by Mr Ledge walked-over
Wednesday 27th December 1848
Stockman’s Purse £10 once round
1. Ginger owned by Mr Jas Hordan
2. Radical owned by Mr Jas Moor
3. Fidget owned by Mr William Dangar
Thursday 28th December 1848
Publican’s Purse £15 twice round
1. Death owned by Mr Ledge
2. Repealer owned by Mr Ferguson
Moving forward almost exactly a century, on Wednesday 7th May 1947 the Scone Jockey Club conducted its inaugural meeting on its new racecourse. The Newcastle bookmaker Phil Jenkins owned Precise, who won the prestigious Scone Cup, although it proved to be a bitter-sweet victory because he laid the horse to lose £600.
Wednesday 7th May 1947
Scone Cup (£400) over 7 ¼ furlongs
1. Precise (9/2) owned by Mr Phil Jenkins and ridden by L Duncombe
2. Smart Alick (5/2 fav) ridden by R James
3. Wearie (10/1) ridden by R Donnelly
16 ran
Early post-War Scone Cup winners
(A full list of winners is available on request)
1947 Scone Cup (£400) over 7 ¼ furlongs was won by Precise (9/2) owned by Mr Phil Jenkins and ridden by L Duncombe, beating Smart Alick and Wearie 16 ran
1948 Scone Cup (£400) over 1 mile was won by Brekko (20/1) ridden by R Pritchard, beating Gold Valley (2/1 fav) and Kywarra (20/1) 12 ran
1949 Scone Cup over 1 mile 100 yards was won by Piccadilly Lad (6/1) ridden by J Thompson, beating Bright Bay (5/1) and May Day (9/2) 10 ran
Today the racecourse hosts some of the most prestigious races in the calendar, notably the Scone Cup over 1600 metres, the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres and the most valuable of them all, the Inglis 3YO Guineas over 1400 metres. All three of the principal races are staged at a two day meeting on Friday and Saturday in mid to late May.
Winners of the Scone Cup
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2000 Scone Cup over 1600 metres was won by Brave Prince
2001 Scone Cup over 1600 metres was won by Brave Prince
2002 Scone Cup over 1600 metres was won by Huge Demand
2003 Scone Cup over 1600 metres was won by Full On Magic
2004 Scone Cup over 1600 metres was won by Jeremiad
2005 Scone Cup over 1600 metres was won by Impaler
2006 Scone Cup over 1600 metres was won by Fighting Fund
2007 Scone Cup over 1600 metres was won by Spy Ziam
2008 Scone Cup over 1600 metres was won by Newton’s Rings
2009 Scone Cup ($71,500) over 1600 metres was won by Obvious Choice (20/1) trained by Paul Messara and ridden by Dale Spriggs, beating My Sweet Cookie and Soiled 13 ran
2010 Scone Cup ($78,000) over 1600 metres was won by Keepin’ The Dream (9/1) trained by Jim and Greg Lee and ridden by Jim Cassidy, beating Snow Alert and Taqus 16 ran
2011 Scone Cup ($113,750) over 1600 metres was won by Dysphonia (10/1) trained by Peter Snowden and ridden by Christian Reith, beating Willy Jimmy and Mr Unforgettable 15 ran
2012 Scone Cup ($108,000) over 1600 metres was won by Raspberries (8/1) trained by Peter Snowden and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, beating Izababe and Lightinthenite 12 ran
2013 Scone Cup ($120,000) over 1600 metres was won by Speediness (12/1) trained by Colin Scott and ridden by Christian Reith, beating Mouro and Kaypers 16 ran
2014 Scone Cup ($120,000) over 1600 metres was won by Cameo (20/1) trained by John O’Shea and ridden by Sam Clipperton, beating Full of Spirit and Loaded 14 ran
2015 Scone Cup ($120,000) over 1600 metres was won by Tales of Grimm (7/1) trained by Sam Kavanagh and ridden by Craig Williams, beating Frespanol and San Diego 16 ran
2016 Scone Cup ($120,000) over 1600 metres was won by Pajaro (20/1) trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and ridden by Tim Clark, beating Amovatio and Malice 16 ran
2017 Scone Cup ($115,000) over 1600 metres was won by Duca Valentinois (9/1) trained by Darren Beadmon and ridden by Michael Dee, beating God’s In Him and Pajaro 15 ran
Winners of the Inglis 3YO Guineas
(Full details of all winners is available on request)
2010 3YO Guineas ($50,000) over 1600 metres was won by Star of Octagonal (13/8 fav) trained by Todd Howlett and ridden by Glen Boss, beating Slapstick and Widden Valley 16 ran
2011 3YO Guineas ($150,000) over 1600 metres was won by Sincero (8/15 fav) trained by Stephen Farley and ridden by Chris O’Brien, beating Speediness and Tigress Lily 8 ran
2012 3YO Guineas ($300,000) over 1400 metres was won by Pampelonne (5/4 fav) trained by Tim Martin and ridden by Hugh Bowman, beating Flying Fiji and Colorado Claire 15 ran
2013 3YO Guineas ($300,000) over 1400 metres was won by Taxmeifyoucan (20/1) trained by Gregory Hickman and ridden by Blake Shinn, beating Lunar Rise and Chewychop 16 ran
2014 3YO Guineas ($240,950) over 1400 metres was won by Cosmic Endeavour (5/2) trained by Gai Waterhouse and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, beating Liberty’s Choice and Ryker 16 ran
2015 3YO Guineas ($240,950) over 1400 metres was won by Loved Up (13/2) trained by Brett Cavanough and ridden by Richard Bensley, beating Nayeli and Heavens Above 16 ran
2016 3YO Guineas ($240,950) over 1400 metres was won by Serene Majesty (4/1) trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, beating Spill The Beans and Kimberley Star 9 ran
2017 3YO Guineas ($230,000) over 1400 metres was won by Encouraging (15/1) trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and ridden by Tye Angland, beating Prized Icon and Spright 14 ran
Winners of the Dark Jewel Classic
(Full details of all winners are available on request)
1996 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Tripping
1997 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Timeless Winds
1998 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Amber
1999 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Little Pattie
2000 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Stella Marie
2001 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Nanny Maroon
2002 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Hot Riff
2003 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Chuckle
2004 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Romare
2005 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Kosta Nothin
2006 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Really Flying
2007 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Rosa’s Spur
2008 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Sung
2009 Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 metres was won Rio Osa
2010 Dark Jewel Classic ($71,500) over 1400 metres was won by So Anyway (12/1) trained by John Thompson and ridden by P Robl, beating Purrpurrlena and Melpomene 12 ran
2011 Dark Jewel Classic ($113,750) over 1400 metres was won Shannara (9/1) trained by Peter Snowden and ridden by Christian Reith, beating Dane Julia and Pontiana 14 ran
2012 Dark Jewel Classic ($120,000) over 1400 metres was won Upon This Rock (14/1) trained by Gai Waterhouse and ridden by Kathy O’Hara, beating Shannara and Rose of Peace 14 ran
2013 Dark Jewel Classic ($120,000) over 1400 metres was won Arctic Flight (10/1) trained by Anthony Cummings and ridden by P Robl, beating Pipette and Miss Stellabelle 16 ran
2014 Dark Jewel Classic ($120,000) over 1400 metres was won Seaside (5/1) trained by John O’Shea and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, beating Aerobatics and Myamira 10 ran
2015 Dark Jewel Classic ($120,000) over 1400 metres was won Divertire (30/1) trained by Joseph Pride and ridden by Danny Beasley, beating Calming Influence and Bound for Earth 14 ran
2016 Dark Jewel Classic ($120,000) over 1400 metres was won Danish Twist (11/4) trained by Kris Lees and ridden by Tim Clark, beating Onemorezeta and Press Report 15 ran
2017 Dark Jewel Classic ($115,000) over 1400 metres was won Daysee Doom (11/4) trained by Ron Quinton and ridden by Andrew Adkins, beating Prompt Response and Serene Majesty 15 ran
