The New South Wales city of Shoalhaven lies in the South-Eastern Coastal region of the state about 120 miles south of the state capital Sydney. The area was originally inhabited by the Tharaway people prior to the first European settlers arriving in the region in 1797. Today the city enjoys excellent transport links with the rest of the state, with access to the South Coast railway line and the Princes Highway. The city has a population of almost 100,000 inhabitants and benefits from its own Archer Racecourse on Albatross Road (Nowra) where racing is overseen by the Shoalhaven City Turf Club. Racing was first staged in Shoalhaven in 1852, with the inaugural meeting taking place on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th April. The racecourse, on the south bank of the Shoalhaven River, was on some cleared ground owned by Mr Alexander Berry. It was amazing that there was only a short period of 10 days between launching the idea and the meeting taking place, yet despite this many people volunteered subscriptions. The course, 1 ¼ miles around was half a mile from the township.

Monday 12th April 1852
Shoalhaven Plate (15 sovereigns) over 2 ½ miles
1. Tam O’Shanter owned by Mr Thomas and ridden by C Thomas
2. Switcher owned by Mr A De Mestre
3. Callender owned by Mr George Reilly
Farmers’ Purse (10 sovereigns) over 3 ¾ miles
1. Don Juan owned by Mr Allen and ridden by P Ryan
2. Why Not owned by Mr J Smith
3. Fire Rail owned by Mr Stapleton
Tuesday 13th April 1852
Harkaway Stakes (15 sovereigns) over 3 ¾ miles
1. Don Juan owned by Mr Allen and ridden by P Ryan
2. Tam O’Shanter owned by Mr Thomas
3. Pirus owned by Mr A De Mestre

Races were not held all that regularly in the early days. Indeed, in February 1864 a public meeting was called at Mr David Hyam’s Commercial Hotel, Shoalhaven, to initiate annual races. The Chairman was Mr Michael Ryan, while Mr H Moss was elected as the Honorary Secretary. At the end of the meeting the secretary was instructed to apply to Mr D Berry for the use of his race ground for the meeting. Clearly this proved to be successful because a three day meeting was held in May 1864, with feature race results shown below.
Wednesday 25th May 1864
Shoalhaven Plate (30 sovereigns) over 2 miles
1. Maid of Erin owned by Mr G K Waldron
2. Haidoe owned by Mr A De Mestre
3. Jamberoo owned by Mr Woods
Thursday 26th May 1864
Prince of Wales Stakes (20 sovereigns) over 1 ¾ miles
1. Jamberoo owned by Mr G Woods and ridden by Donnelly
2. Curry owned by Mr W Gollan
3. Bawley owned by Mr A De Mestre
Friday 27th May 1864
Shoalhaven Turf Club Handicap (20 sovereigns)
1. Maid of Erin owned by Mr G K Waldron and ridden by Donnelly
2. Jamberoo owned by Mr G Woods
3. Curry owned by Mr W Gollan
After racing on the Friday evening a free Ball was held, while the next day prizes were presented and bets settled at the Sir Walter Scott Hotel.

As the new century dawned the Shoalhaven Turf Club was re-launched and held a meeting at Nowra on Wednesday 21st February 1900 when 300 people witnessed the Shoalhaven Turf Club Handicap go to St Stuart owned by Mr E Mansfield.

Today the principal race is the Mollymook Cup over 1200 metres traditionally contested on the third Sunday in October.
Recent winners of the Mollymook Cup
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2009 Mollymook Cup ($7,800) over 1200 metres was won by Richart (11/1) trained by Amanda Turner and Mauro Poletti and ridden by Tommy Berry, beating Ilringya and Miraculist 14 ran
2010 Mollymook Cup ($7,800) over 1200 metres was won by Gato (3/1) trained by Robert Price and ridden by Jeff Penza, beating Al Be Trendy and Monte Leo 8 ran
2011 Mollymook Cup ($9,100) over 1200 metres was won by Cheerful Dane (4/1) trained by Bede Murray and ridden by Grant Buckley, beating Purring Flyer and Opoho 12 ran
2012 Mollymook Cup ($10,750) over 1200 metres was won by The Devil’s Mark trained by Rachel Backhouse and ridden by Brendan Ward, beating Duke Albert and Livin’ Ob The Edge 14 ran
2013 Mollymook Cup ($11,360) over 1200 metres was won by Bruadar (16/1) trained by Donna Grisedale and ridden by Winona Costin, beating Half Irish and Perfect Weapon 13 ran
2014 Mollymook Cup ($11,360) over 1200 metres was won by Reply Churlish (9/4) trained by Steve Englebrecht and ridden by Deanne Panya, beating Tragedy Queen and Riebeek 10 ran
2015 Mollymook Cup ($11,360) over 1200 metres was won by Chief In Command (15/2) trained by Bede Murray and ridden by Brodie Loy, beating Lolly Shoppe and Zerez 9 ran
2016 Mollymook Cup ($13,925) over 1200 metres was won by Chief in Command (9/2) trained by Paul Murray and ridden by Robbie Brewer, beating Coolotta and Virgo Lass 11 ran
2017 Mollymook Cup ($13,780) over 1200 metres was won by Kawaikini (6/5 fav) trained by Jason Coyle and ridden by Kathy O’Hara, beating Chief in Command and De Kurnell 9 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