The earliest record of races organised by Warwick Amateur Picnic Club was on Monday 10th December 1894 when the principal races were the Club Handicap over 2 miles and the Bracelet over 1 ¼ miles. Within two years the event had become so popular that an extended card was arranged on Wednesday 16th December 1896, with principal results shown below.
Wednesday 16th December 1896
Miegunyah Stakes over 7 furlongs
1. Coolmunda owned by Mr J R Curnow
Canning Down Stakes over 6 furlongs
1. Silversands owned by Mr P B Chauvel
Warwick Picnic Race Cup over 2 miles
1. Proctor owned by Mr J Rundle
By the turn of the century the meeting had extended to 2 days, Saturday 11th and Monday 13th March 1911 had 14 races and an end of race Ball at Exhibition Hall. Racing was well established by the end of the First World War, with the card on Tuesday 12th May 1925 consisting of the Glentanner Handicap, the Vermont Handicap, the Ladies Bracelet and Ladies Bangle, the Lyndhurst Handicap and the East Talgai Handicap.
I am grateful to Vinny Hinde for the rare badges shown below:-
Moving forward almost a century, the 124th running of the Picnic Races took place at Allman Park on Saturday 11th May 2018 when over 1500 spectators were present. Warwick races were also staged on Saturday 16th February, Saturday 30th March, Saturday 15th June and a bumper day on Boxing day 26th December 2018 when the most valuable race, the MM CC Qualifier Open Handicap was worth $32,500 and saw Wonder Boom (4/1) beat Tycoon Ace and All Important, the winner being trained by Paul Butterworth and ridden by Madeleine Wishart.
