The inland town of Wellington lies at the junction of the Bell River and the larger Macquarie River in New South Wales some 225 miles from the state capital Sydney. It enjoys good transport links with the rest of the state, located on the Mitchell Highway and the Great Western Highway. The area was originally inhabited by the Wiradjuri people prior to European settlers arriving in 1817 when the famous explorer John Oxley discovered the area and called it ‘Wellington Valley' Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington. Within 6 years the town began to develop around an agricultural station set up by Peter Simpson in 1823. The earliest record of racing in the township was a 3 day meeting from Wednesday 18th to Friday 20th June 1845 when a great concourse assembled, including many from Bathurst, on an excellent, level course as smooth as a bowling green. The feature races on the 3 days were the Waterloo Purse, the Wellington Purse and the Wellington Hurdle, with results shown below.
Wednesday 18th June 1845
Waterloo Purse (30 sovereigns) twice round
1. Ajax owned by Mr Crowe and ridden by Lewis
2. Harkaway owned and ridden by Mr Hood
Thursday 19th June 1845
Wellington Purse (30 sovereigns) over 1 ½ miles
1. Faughabollough owned by Mr Davidson and ridden by Matthews
2. Cherryfoe owned by Mr Boyd
3. Running Rein owned by Mr Down
Friday 20th June 1845
Wellington Hurdle (15 sovereigns) twice round and 6 leaps
1. Highflyer owned by Mr Jardine
2. Tallboy owned by Mr Davidson
3. Sir Peter owned by Mr Page
The final meeting on the old course started on Wednesday 23rd June 1847, opening with the Wellington Purse twice round the course.
Wednesday 23rd June 1847
Wellington Purse (40 sovereigns) twice round
1. Gulnare owned by Mr Jardine 1 1
2. Lady Rowena (5/4 fav) owned by Mr Smith 2 2
3. Gipsey (sic) owned by Mr Raymond 3 wdr
Thursday 24th June 1847
Publicans’ Purse (30 sovereigns) twice round
1. Plover owned by Mr Jardine
2. Skyrocket owned by Mr Bailey
3. Gilderoy owned by Mr Samuels
Friday 25th June 1847
Wellington Hurdle (30 sovereigns)
3 times round with 9 leaps each 4 feet high
1. Sir Peter owned by Mr Davidson walked over
The next year the three day meeting from Wednesday 12th to Friday 14th April 1848 took place on a newly marked out course in the Wellington Valley, 3 miles from the township, with jockeys reporting it to be ‘much superior to the discarded course’. A large crowd assembled, arriving by buggy, curricle, dog-cart or tandem, while many just found their way on foot.
Wednesday 12th April 1849
Wellington Purse (£35) twice round
1. Johnny Heki owned by Mr Arkin
2. Eclipse owned by Mr Samuel
3. Paulina owned by Mr Smith
On day 2 the feature was the Wellington Hurdle in which Mr Davidson’s Sir Peter defeated Jim Crow and Moldoon
Friday 14th April 1849
Publicans’ Purse (£35) twice round
1. Brutus owned by Mr Matthews
2. Johnny Heki owned by Mr Arkin
Ladies Purse (£25) once round
1. Cruiskeen owned by Mr Smith
2. Benelong owned by Mr Matthews
3. Quibbler owned by Mr Arkin
Today the town is a bustling, flourishing town with its own racecourse administered by the Wellington Race Club, its most famous race being the Wellington Boot over 1100 metres for two year olds which is generally staged on the second day of the two day festival in March. The Club also hosts the more equally prestigious Wellington Cup over 1700 metres on the same card.
Recent winners of the Wellington Boot
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2009 Wellington Boot ($29,250) over 1100 metres was won by Sutton Princess (12/1) trained by Luke Griffith and ridden by Terry Green, beating M’Indigo and Tee Tee Dancer 14 ran
2010 Wellington Boot ($29,250) over 1100 metres was won by Derippa (3/1) trained by M I Wallace and ridden by Grant Buckley, beating Sutton Brave and Rockaway Star 9 ran
2011 Wellington Boot ($29,250) over 1100 metres was won by Jackpot Queen (10/11 fav) trained by Matthew Dale and ridden by Mathew Cahill, beating Double Your Money and Jellybean Jack 12 ran
2012 Wellington Boot ($39,000) over 1100 metres was won by Gold Bender (100/30) trained by Mark de Montfort and ridden by Mathew Cahill, beating Mount Nebo and Nikody 14 ran
2013 Wellington Boot ($35,760) over 1100 metres was won by Power Alert (9/2) trained by Trevor Sutherland and ridden by John Kissick, beating Jaykay and Supreme Lyne 13 ran
2014 Wellington Boot ($60,160) over 1100 metres was won by I Am Snippety (4/1) trained by Neil Osborne and ridden by Winona Costin, beating Battle of Evermore and Lightning Alert 14 ran
2015 Wellington Boot ($60,160) over 1100 metres was won by Alart (9/2) trained by Pat Farrell and ridden by Greg Ryan, beating Igraine and For Me Dad 12 ran
2016 Wellington Boot ($60,160) over 1100 metres was won by Alliterate (6/1) trained by Pat Farrell and ridden by Greg Ryan, beating Spright and Sugarparma 9 ran
2017 Wellington Boot ($54,000) over 1100 metres was won by Lucky Rose (7/1) trained by Joe Cleary and ridden by Mathew Cahill, beating Princess Lottie and Boyish 12 ran
Winners of the Wellington Cup
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2009 Wellington Cup ($16,250) over 1700 metres was won by Barlagarney (2/1 fav) trained by Graeme Rogerson and ridden by Jay Ford, beating Fair Trial and Little Britain 11 ran
2010 Wellington Cup ($16,250) over 1700 metres was won by Nampara Bullet (6/1) trained by J Lundholm and ridden by Jeff Kehoe, beating Catador and Straw Vote 10 ran
2011 Wellington Cup ($16,250) over 1700 metres was won by Centover (11/1) trained by John Holloman and ridden by M Lister, beating Clever Hans and Kwilas Law 11 ran
2012 Wellington Cup ($16,250) over 1700 metres was won by Izababe (7/4 fav) trained by Peter Nestor and ridden by Kody Nestor, beating Barlagarney and Moment of Clarity 12 ran
2013 Wellington Cup ($17,460) over 1700 metres was won by Fox Solid (6/1) trained by Garry McCarney and ridden by Mathew Cahill, beating Le Beau Cheval and Okane 12 ran
2014 Wellington Cup ($17,460) over 1700 metres was won by Are You Sure (4/1) trained by Cameron Crockett and ridden by Robert Thompson, beating Slate On Edge and Lockmar 8 ran
2015 Wellington Gold Cup ($20,510) over 1700 metres was won by Collar (2/1) trained by Jeremy Sylvester and ridden by Greg Ryan, beating Strong Boy and Cardiff Prince 12 ran
2016 Wellington Cup ($29,660) over 1700 metres was won by Single Spirit (12/1) trained by Ross Stitt and ridden by Mikayla Weir, beating Fox Solid and Don’t Nicme 12 ran
2017 Wellington Cup ($43,600) over 1700 metres was won by American Time (12/1) trained by Gratz Vella and ridden by Michael Travers, beating Pippa’s Pride and Uncle Sugar 12 ran
