The New South Wales city of Griffith lies in the Riverina region of the state and was named after the NSW minister of Public Works Arthur Hill Griffith. The regional city is a relatively modern city, its first town plan only being drawn up in 1914, and it became a city in 1987. Today it has a population of about 20,000 inhabitants and boasts its own successful racecourse located just 3 kilometres north of the city at Dalton Park. Races at the course were initially administered by the Griffith Race Club in the middle of the 20th century, although there was a period of time in the 1950s when races lapsed. The earliest record of racing in the city was on Wednesday 24th October 1917 on the Sports Ground when the feature race, the Griffith Handicap, was won by JWH owned by Mr J Halden, beating Miss Marie owned by Mr A Wilson. At the end of the First World War a meeting billed as ‘Griffith Hospital Races’ was staged on Monday 6th October 1919, although the races were local, low-key affairs. The Flying Handicap over 5 furlongs was won by Mr Myers’ Brookong, while the Local Handicap, also over 5 furlongs, was taken by Mr Coyle’s Black Jack.
The first meeting at Griffith under Australian Jockey Club rules was held on Saturday 26th January 1924 in front of a crowd of 800 people. The principal race, the Griffith Cup, was won by Sir Oswald.
Saturday 26th January 1924
Griffith Cup over 1 mile and 128 yards
1. Sir Oswald (5/1) owned by Mr L Holme and ridden by Hyland
2. Bigaroon (6/4 fav) owned by Mr J Harris and ridden by Honey
3. Belgium Waif owned by Mr R Payne and ridden by Simpson
Early Griffith Cup winners
(A full list of winners is available on request)
1924 Griffith Cup over 1 mile and 128 yards was won by Sir Oswald (5/1) owned by Mr L Holme and ridden by Hyland, beating Bigaroon and Belgium Waif
1925 Griffith Cup over 7 furlongs was won by All Wheat (2/1) ridden by Chapmion, beating Exultation and Irene Murillo 6 ran
1926 Griffith Cup over 7 furlongs was won by Exultation (3/1) ridden by D Zeally, beating Ravalido and Murriel Hattan 10 ran
1927 Griffith Cup over 7 furlongs was won by WB (5/2) owned by Mr H Reed, beating Exultation (Evens fav) and Patmos 7 ran
1928 Griffith Cup over 7 furlongs was won by Rosealdo (2/1) ridden by T Crowe, beating Zionist (4/7 fav) and Flying Duke 4 ran
Recent Griffith Cup winners
(A full list of winners is available on request)
2010 Griffith Cup ($5,600) over 1350 metres was won by Zarvista (11/4) trained by Peter Clancy and ridden by John Kissick, beating Ramelius Gold and Armani Black 9 ran
2011 Griffith Cup ($6,500) over 1350 metres was won by Mrs Menzies (2/1 fav) trained by Trevor Sutherland and ridden by John Kissick, beating Jumpinmycar and Simon Town 8 ran
2012 Griffith Cup ($8,645) over 1350 metres was won by Produced (7/2) trained by Daryl Archard and ridden by Michael Heagney, beating Sonro and Coongoola 8 ran
2013 Griffith Cup ($8,645) over 1350 metres was won by Sonro (7/4 fav) trained by Gino D’Altorio and ridden by Joel Maconachie, beating Produced and Smoken Cash 9 ran
2014 Griffith Cup ($8,645) over 1350 metres was won by Street Ride (5/1) trained by Gary Colvin and ridden by Brad Clark, beating Chinzia and Devious Fella 7 ran
2015 Griffith Cup ($8,645) over 1350 metres was won by Devious Fella (2/1 fav) trained by Gino D’Altorio and ridden by Rebeka Prest, beating Smakatus and Sand Dune 9 ran
2016 Griffith Cup ($9,100) over 1350 metres was won by Sand Dune *6/1) trained by Kerry Weir and ridden by Megan Taylor, beating Black Fusion and Mr Sommerville 8 ran
2017 Griffith Cup ($11,085) over 1350 metres was won by Great Panache (7/1) trained by Phil Sweeney and ridden by Brooke Sweeney, beating Esprit Warrior and Smart Al 11 ran
