The South Australia coastal town of Streaky Bay lies on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula about 300 kilometres west of Port Lincoln and 730 kilometres from the state capital Adelaide. It is located just off the Flinders Highway and was, in the past, known as Flinders. The area was first sighted in 1627 by the Dutch explorer Pieter Nuyts, but almost two centuries later Matthew Flinders, on his voyage in his ship Investigator, named the area Streaky Bay , commenting in 5th February 1802 that the water around the bay was ‘streaky’. Today the town has a population in excess of 1650 inhabitants and has its own thriving racecourse, where the principal race is the Streaky Bay Cup contested on the last Saturday in March.
The earliest record of racing in Streaky Bay was on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd April 1867 on the ‘Marbie Course’ when Mr Mudge was Chief Steward. The feature race at that time was the Western Cup over 1 ½ miles, although a fun sounding race, the Hurryskurry mile was won by Grace Johnson owned by Mr T Anderson.
Monday 1st April 1867
Streaky Bay Western Cup over 1 ½ miles
1. Tiger owned by Mr R Symes and ridden by J Miller
2. Beeswing owned by Mr C Povis and ridden by W Sheppard
3. Falcon owned by Mr M Born and ridden by Soward
After racing the company assembled at host Mr Mudge’s for an excellent dinner and dancing until nearly daylight.
In 1869 a 2 day meeting was staged on Wednesday 31st March and Thursday 1st April at the ‘Meugbe Course’ some 3 miles from the town centre. The feature race was the Town Plate over 1 ½ miles.
Streaky Bay Town Plate over 1 ½ miles
1. Frank owned by Mr A Oliver
2. Tiger owned by Mr R Symes
3. Ada owned by Mr T Clode
A couple of years later, on Thursday 11th and Friday 12th May 1871 a meeting took place on the ‘Maylic Course’ when the Stewards were Mr Mills and Mr Montgomerie.
Streaky Bay Town Plate over 1 ½ miles
1. Gulnare owned by Mr Love and ridden by R Montgomerie
2. Grey Momus owned by Mr Bolam and ridden by J Williams
3. Varo owned by Mr T Clode and ridden by W Harrison
4. Chattanooga owned by Mr Schlinke and ridden by Bulmer
By the turn of the century the key races were the Flinders Handicap and Hurryskurry Stakes over 1 mile. At the meeting on Monday 17th March 1902 the Flinders Handicap saw Mr A Kelsh’s Killaloo defeat Montgomerie’s Token.
In more recent times the Streaky Bay Cup, traditionally run on the last Saturday in March, is the highlight of the racing year. A list of recent Cup results is shown below.
Streaky Bay Cup Winners
2009 The Streaky Bay Cup ($4,800) over 1800 metres was won by Over The Road (4/5 fav) trained by Simon Drewitt and ridden by Jordan Mallyon, beating Devices and Mr Controller 6 ran
2010 The Streaky Bay Cup ($6,700) over 1800 metres was won by Roll On Royce (16/1) trained by John Dunn and ridden by Krystal Bishop, beating So Ready and Sea Factor 8 ran
2011 The Streaky Bay Cup ($6,700) over 1800 metres was won by Miss Aberdeen (5/2) trained by Byron Cozamanis and ridden by Wayne Kerford, beating King of the Sun and Sea Accountant 8 ran
2012 The Streaky Bay Cup ($8,000) over 1800 metres was won by Street Related (7/2) trained by Brian Lear and ridden by Murray Henderson, beating Miss Aberdeen and Just A Giggle 8 ran
2013 The Streaky Bay Cup ($8,000) over 1800 metres was won by Testate (2/1 fav) trained by Simon Drewitt and ridden by Tara O’Donnell, beating Miss Aberdeen and Yarterbery 7 ran
2014 The Streaky Bay Cup ($8,000) over 1800 metres was won by Miss Aberdeen (7/2) trained by Byron Cozamanis and ridden by Troy Baker, beating Ocsmepop and Montalto 7 ran
2015 The Streaky Bay Cup ($8,000) over 1800 metres was won by Shade of Green (6/5 fav) trained by Kevin and Heather Frew and ridden by David Tootell, beating Montalto and Lamu Lad 8 ran
2016 The Streaky Bay Cup ($8,000) over 1800 metres was won by Montalto (4/1) trained by Angela Forster and ridden by Ashley Doyle, beating Moon Devil and Propshaft 7 ran
2017 The Streaky Bay Cup ($8,000) over 1800 metres was won by Montalto (7/2) trained by Angela Forster and ridden by Justin Huxtable, beating Eye of the World and Artful Diva 7 ran
