The New South Wales town of Walcha, on the Apsley River, lies in the Northern Tablelands region of the state, about 265 miles from the state capital Sydney, enjoying good road links with the rest of the state as it lies at the intersection of the Oxley Highway and Thunderbolts Way. The region was inhabited by the Aboriginal Danggadi people prior to the explorer John Oxley passing close to the region in 1818. Today the town has a population of 1,500 inhabitants and benefits from its own racecourse where racing is administered by the Walcha Jockey Club. The earliest record of racing in the town was on Tuesday 14th April 1857 when the meeting was staged on the Europambela racecourse in front of a good crowd, including a good sprinkling of the fairer sex. The opening race, the Maiden Plate, got off at 12.30pm. |
By the turn of the century race meetings were organised by the Walcha Jockey Club, normally in March, and the Walcha Picnic Race Club normally in February. The principal race at the Jockey Club meeting was the Walcha Jockey Club Handicap once round the course, with some early results shown below.
1900 Walcha Jockey Club Handicap (30 sovereigns) once round was won by Little Peter (12/1) owned by Mr A W Steel and ridden by A Fowler, beating Uncle (6/4 fav) owned by Mr W Johnstone and AL (10/1) owned by Mr W Stringer 8 ran
1901 Walcha Jockey Club Handicap (30 sovereigns) once round was won by Milos, beating Eulowrie and Brunette
1902 Walcha Jockey Club Handicap (30 sovereigns) once round was won by Cobb (4/1) owned by Mr N M Nivison and ridden by Cush, beating John Norton (1/3 fav) and Mooredream (4/1)
1903 Walcha Jockey Club Handicap (30 sovereigns) once round was won by Comrade, beating De Wet 2 ran
1904 Walcha Jockey Club Handicap (30 sovereigns) once round was won by Belfrey, beating Plain Bill and De Wet |
Today the annual two day meeting is staged on the second Friday and Saturday in February, with the highlight of the meeting, the Walcha Cup over 1440 metres staged on the Friday.
Recent winners of the Walcha Cup
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2009 Walcha Cup ($19,500) over 1440 metres was won by Blinkin Easy (4/1) trained by Ruth Cooper and ridden by Tim Bell, beating Tige and River Press 12 ran
2010 Walcha Cup ($16,250) over 1440 metres was won by Tocapitalize (7/1) trained by Ken Lantry and ridden by A Robinson, beating Tizapaine and All Again 12 ran
2011 Walcha Cup ($16,250) over 1440 metres was won by Prior Baron trained by Rodney Northam and ridden by Tim Bell, beating Albemagic and Zattero 11 ran
2012 Walcha Cup meeting was not held
2013 Walcha Cup ($17,460) over 1440 metres was won by Pitt Street (7/4) trained by Kris Lees and ridden by Andrew Gibbons, beating Brave Ali and Blinkin Easy 12 ran
2014 Walcha Cup ($17,460) over 1440 metres was won by Jefferson Park (13/8 fav) trained by Craig Martin and ridden by Peter Graham, beating Master of Darkness and Star of Dubai 11 ran
2015 Walcha Cup ($17,460) over 1440 metres was won by Latitat (50/1) trained by Stafford Wain and ridden by Leanne Henry, beating Murvate and Keep It Danish 11 ran
2016 Walcha Cup ($17,460) over 1440 metres was won by Pro Consul (7/4) trained by Greg Bennett and ridden by Samantha Clenton, beating Pippi’s Pride and Got Unders 12 ran
2017 Walcha Cup ($19,750) over 1440 metres was won by Hunter Jack (13/8 fav) trained by Tim Martin and ridden by Greg Ryan, beating Ms Ba Bella and So You Know 12 ran
2018 Walcha Cup ($19,555) over 1440 metres was won by Try ‘n’ Run A Muck (3/1) trained by Troy O’Neile and ridden by Jake Pracey-Holmes, beating Hammoon Dream and Bullet Kid 11 ran |
