The New South Wales town of Balranald, near the Murrumbidgee River, is located on the Stuart Highway in the Riverina district of the state. The town has its own racecourse on Greenham Park where racing is administered by the Balranald Racing Club, hosting 2 meetings annually, the Darby Day Race meeting, normally in early November, and the highlight of the racing calendar, the Balranald Cup over 1400 metres in February. The earliest record of a meeting was in January 1859 (selected results below), following a meeting of the Balranald Turf Club on 31st December 1858 to discuss race details. After that inaugural meeting the races became an annual affair, with the principal race being the Balranald Town Plate. |
In the early years of the 20th century the principal race was the Balranald Club Handicap over 1 ¼ miles. At the meeting on Easter Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th April 1900 the race was won by Mr C G McMahon’s Rivalry, beating Earl of Carrick and Missing Link, while the next year, on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th April 1901, the Club Handicap resulted in a dead-heat between Adiscombe and Wycheley, with Chattel in third. By 31st March 1902 the race had been renamed the Balranald Grandstand Handicap and was won by QED owned by Mr F W Comitti. |
Recent Balranald Cup Winners
2009 The Balranald Cup ($5,600) over 1400 metres was won by Allenby’s Mate (7/4) trained by Ms M Keegan and ridden by D Larsson, beating Vernis and Uncle Stuey 7 ran
2010 The Balranald Cup ($5,600) over 1400 metres was won by Trevbar (100/30) trained by Trevor Sutherland and ridden by Bradley Vale, beating Charmtrice and Azzurro Moon 9 ran
2011 The Balranald Cup ($5,600) over 1400 metres was won by Sharni’s Rein (9/2) trained by G McDermott and ridden by Andrew Bloomfield, beating Pay Day and Microchip Lad 9 ran
2012 The Balranald Cup ($5,600) over 1400 metres was won by Rushing Wild (7/2) trained by Nathan Hobson and ridden by Harry Coffey, beating Itzarexy and Dealers 9 ran
2013 The Balranald Cup ($7,420) over 1400 metres was won by Equal Rights (4/1) trained by Simon Morrish and ridden by D Larsson, beating Larrikin Joe and Sonro 11 ran
2014 The Balranald Cup ($7,420) over 1400 metres was won by Zellemsee (100/30) trained by Gavin Murphy and ridden by Jack Martin, beating Miss Bemuse and Eight Red 7 ran
2015 The Balranald Cup ($7,420) over 1400 metres was won by Jetstyle Express (7/1) trained by Jane Duncan and ridden by Megan Taylor, beating Crystal Reef and Zellemsee 9 ran
2016 The Balranald Cup ($7,420) over 1400 metres was won by Red Almight (3/1) trained by Con Kelly and ridden by Sally Sweeney, beating House of Stars and Honor the Moment 9 ran
2017 The Balranald Cup ($7,500) over 1400 metres was won by Ragged Keys (5/2) trained by Con Kelly and ridden by Chelsea MacFarlane, beating House of Stars and Honor the Moment 8 ran
2018 The Balranald Cup ($7,400) over 1400 metres was won by Reine De Tout (5/2) trained by Nathan Hobson and ridden by Stacey Metcalfe, beating Tableaux and Corporate Takeover 11 ran |
