Horse racing -- Australia -- History; Race horses -- Australia -- History; Stainforth, Martin, 1866-1957
According to the “Sydney Morning Herald,” at a meeting held on April of
1842, it was decided to form the Australian Jockey Club. In August of
that year a meeting of the club at the Royal Hotel appointed stewards
for the forthcoming meeting in September at Homebush. The stewards were
Captain Sawbridge, Mr. Lawson and Mr. Icely; Judge, Major Hunter; Clerk
of the Course, Mr. May, and Hon. Sec., Mr. W. Hunter.
At another meeting it was resolved that jockeys be paid the following
rates:—Rider of the winner of a £50 prize of public money and under, £5;
a loser in a race of similar amount £3. Winner of more than £50 of
public money £10, and a loser £5.
The first race meeting carried out at Homebush by the A.J.C. extended
over three days, starting on September 20th, when the first race,
Champion Cup, a sweep of 10 sovereigns, with 100 sovereigns added was
won by Mr. C. Smith’s Eclipse, by Whisker (Dunn), Sir J. Jamieson’s Sir
Charles second. The Two-year-old Stakes of 10 sovereigns for starters,
with 30 sovereigns added, went to Mr. C. Roberts’ President, by
Emancipation. Mr. C. Smith won the Australian Stakes with Tranby, by
Operator, also the Maiden Plate of 25 sovereigns with Chillington. There
were two races on the second day—Tradesmen’s Purse, a sweep of 5
sovereigns, with 30 sovereigns added, won by Mr. C. Smith’s Eclipse, and
a Hack Race won by a horse owned by Major Hunter.
The third day’s programme opened with the Champagne Stakes, a sweep of
10 sovereigns, with 75 sovereigns added, the winner to give three dozen
of champagne (heats, twice round); Mr. C. Roberts’ Quail, by Gratis,
walked over for it. Sir Charles, by Gratis, won the Ladies’ Purse.
Claret Stakes of 10 sovereigns, with 50 sovereigns added (heats, once
round), winner to give three dozen of claret to the ordinary. It went to
Mr. C. Roberts’ Tranby, by Operator, ridden by Johnny Higgerson. The
Beaten Stakes, won by Plutus, concluded a most successful meeting, which
was followed by a dinner at the Royal Hotel.
Racing at Homebush. A.J.C. Easter Meetings. Horses for India and First
A.J.C. Meeting at Randwick.
With racing firmly established at Homebush, under the management of the
Australian Jockey Club, there were few other meetings from 1843 onwards
held within reach of metropolitans. The stewards for 1843 were Mr.
Lawson, senr., Captain Ramsbottom and Mr. W. Russell. Major Hunter acted
as Judge. Racing commenced at noon each day, and the Press notified that
there would be no false starts. At this meeting Mr. Rouse won the
Metropolitan Stakes, also the Cumberland Cup with Jorrocks, while the
St. Leger Stakes went to Mr. Scott’s b. f. Marchioness, Attila running
second.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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