The isolated mining city of Broken Hill lies in the outback of New South Wales close to the South Australia state border. Although it both the Barrier Highway and Silver City Highway pass close to the city, it remains isolated, with the closest city being Adelaide over 310 miles away. The town grew as a mining city after the discovery of silver ore in the region, an industry which still thrived in the latter years of the 20th century. The city, known as ‘The Silver City’ due to its mining past, has its own racecourse where racing is currently administered by the Broken Hill St Patrick’s Race Club which was founded in 1965 by John Toms and Catholic priest Father Pat Murray. The inaugural race meeting was staged on Saturday 19th March 1966 when the feature race of the card, the Guinness Gold Harp Trophy was won by Marist Boy ridden by Ray Anderson. However, racing was certainly taking place in the latter years of the 19th century when the Broken Hill Jockey Club and Licensed Victuallers Race Club vied for domination.
In 1897 the LVRC held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday 17th November when the principal race, the Licensed Victuallers Handicap, saw Rhodon beat Ballara and Bide-a-Wee. The Club was formed in opposition to the Broken Hill Jockey Club, although the two associations ran their affairs in harmony by the early years of the 20th century, until the LVRC meeting on 28th July 1917 was boycotted by the BHJC. In 1898 the LVRC introduced the very popular Silver City Cup in direct competition with the Broken Hill Cup. The inaugural running took place on Wednesday 23rd March 1898 over 1 ½ miles when Mr E McLaughlin’s Fair Saxon was victorious.
Silver City Cup results up to the end of the First World War
(A full list of winners is available on application)
1898 The Silver City Cup (100 sovereigns) over 1 ½ miles was won by Fair Saxon owned by Mr E McLaughlin and ridden by Hodgkins, beating Trapper and Bide-a-Wee
1899 The Silver City Cup (£120) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Cicero (4/1) ridden by Hodgkins, beating Thunder King (5/2) and Trapper (5/2) 12 ran
1900 The Silver City Cup (£140) over 1 ¼ miles was won by The Sailor (5/1) owned by Mr A Cherry and ridden by Reid, beating Thunder King (10/1) and Scutum (7/1) 14 ran
1901 The Silver City Cup over 1 ¼ miles was won by Research ridden by Willis, beating The Bird and Philippa 12 ran
1902 The Silver City Cup over 1 ¼ miles was won by The Sailor (Evens fav) owned by Mr A Cherry and ridden by W Deveney, beating Restless (5/2) and Research (10/1) 9 ran
1903 The Silver City Cup over 1 ¼ miles was won by Eland owned by Mr J Hewton and ridden by McDonald, beating Fairyland and Philippa
1904 The Silver City Cup over 1 ¼ miles was won by Blondin (6/1) owned by Mr R T Coulter, beating Restless (10/1) and Fairyland (2/1 fav) 7 ran
1905 The Silver City Cup (150 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Clarion (3/1) owned by Mr J Flannigan and ridden by Lake, beating Spero (8/1) and Phaedra (7/1) 8 ran
1906 The Silver City Cup (200 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Hotspur (5/1) owned by Mr J H Elliott and ridden by Lake, beating Metal Queen (8/1) and Kalos (100/6) 14 ran
1907 The Silver City Cup (200 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Pius (2/1 fav) owned by Mr A Nathan and ridden by Hopwood, beating Shellstorm (5/1) and Fiction (8/1) 7 ran
1908 The Silver City Cup (305 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Carlton (2/1 fav) owned by Mr A B McLean and ridden by A Brock, beating The Castaway (5/1) and Metal Queen (9/1) 11 ran
1909 The Silver City Cup (300 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Alarm (2/1 fav) owned by Mr F Baker and ridden by J O’Brien, beating Lord Amherst (10/1) and Fiction (8/1) 6 ran
1910 The Silver City Cup (200 sovereigns) over 1 mile 3 furlongs was won by Lady Dudley (9/1) owned by Mr F W Allen and ridden by J D Campbell, beating Kooringa (3/1) and Tostig’s Pledge (20/1) 12 ran
1911 The Silver City Cup over 1 mile 3 furlongs was won by Alarm (4/1) owned by Mr F Baker and ridden by Osborne, beating Nallyappa (20/1) and Schafer (5/1) 8 ran
1912 The Silver City Cup (350 sovereigns) over 1 mile 3 furlongs was won by Sergius (6/1) owned by Mr W Standley and ridden by J O’Brien, beating Mater Maelgwyn (25/1) and Sanskrit (9/2) 10 ran
1913 The Silver City Cup (350 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Pistol King (4/1) owned by Mr W Standley and ridden by Kelley, beating Master Maelgwyn (5/1) and Tinbrook (14/1) 10 ran
1914 The Silver City Cup (500 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Hieraetus (15/1) owned by Mr R N Hawker and ridden by P H Bennett, beating Devron (4/1) and Ptah (10/1) 21 ran, the largest field at that time
1915 The Silver City Cup (300 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Greek Fire (5/4 fav) owned by Mr K D Bowman and ridden by Liddle, beating Admirable Bob (5/1) and Jarwan (3/1) 7 ran
1916 The Silver City Cup (300 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Chardor (14/1) owned by Messrs Cozens and Timmins and ridden by Jenkins, beating Devron (25/1) and Maori Lad (7/1) 15 ran
1917 The Silver City Cup (200 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Longacre (6/1) owned by Mr H G Young and ridden by Sing, beating Hieraetus (4/1) and Pistol King (10/1) 7 ran
1918 The Silver City Cup (200 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles was won by Melbolt (10/1) owned by Mr A E Hamilton and ridden by Boorn, beating Passado (12/1) and Wire Wheels (6/1) 15 ran
Today it is a thriving racecourse holding two meetings annually, in March and October, where the highlight of the October card is the Silver City Cup over 1600 metres, and of the March card the Outback Cup over 1600 metres.
Recent winners of the Broken Hill Outback Cup
(A full list of winners available on request)
2009 The Outback Cup ($26,000) over 1600 metres was won by Nozi (7/4 fav) trained by Paula Trenwith and ridden by Paul Denton, beating Greg and Dandy Jester 7 ran
2010 The Outback Cup ($29,250) over 1600 metres was won by Amyjaye Power (5/2) trained by Gary Kennewell and ridden by David Tootell, beating Spirited Halo and Lotto Blues 8 ran
2011 The Silver City Cup ($6,500) over 1600 metres in October (the March meeting being abandoned) was won by Turn Him Loose (100/30) trained by Con Kelly and ridden by Lester Grace, beating Dealers and Casino Bob
2012 The Outback Cup ($29,250) over 1600 metres was won by Lotto Blues (12/1) trained by Kym Healy and ridden by Tara O’Donnell, beating St Ives and Our Boy Lukas 9 ran
2013 The Outback Cup ($26,610) over 1600 metres was won by Tresette (12/1) trained by Annette Morrison and ridden by Murray Henderson, beating St Ives and Bertucci 10 ran
2014 The Outback Cup ($23,580) over 1600 metres was won by Eight Red (9/1) trained by Kym Healy and ridden by Wayne Kerford, beating Tresette and Bellchuca 9 ran
2015 The Outback Cup ($21,825) over 1600 metres was won by Brimming (9/1) trained by Gordon Carter and ridden by Zac Spain, beating Tresette and St Ives 12 ran
2016 The Outback Cup ($21,835) over 1600 metres was won by Alpha Auriga (11/1) trained by Nathan Hobson and ridden by Chris Nicoll, beating Honor The Moment and Emmooki’s Dash 8 ran
2017 The Outback Cup ($19,750) over 1600 metres was won by It’s Fred (5/1) trained by Paula Trenwith and ridden by Justin Huxtable, beating Alpha Auriga and Honor The Moment 8 ran
