The Australian Racing and Jockey Club.
On April 23, 1828, the new club was established under the name of the Australian Racing and Jockey Club, to which Governor Darling accorded his patronage. At that time it was generally known as the Governor’s Club, and was expected to materially injure the old club. However, such was not the case, for during the next few years there were three and four meetings in place of one.
A Liberal Governor.
On July 7, 1828, the “Gazette” announced Governor Darling’s intention to present a cup annually to the new Jockey Club. The first meeting was held on October 1st and 3rd on the Parramatta Racecourse, as the Turf Club refused them the use of the course near Sydney. The first day’s programme opened with the Governor’s Cup heats, twice round the course, gentlemen riders, and the eventual winner was Mr. Lawson’s 3-year-old, Spring Gun. Other starters were Bennelong, Junius, Lawyer and Currency Lad. One of the most hotly contested races ever witnessed in the colony was for a sweepstake of 10 guineas each, with 25 guineas added. Australian won. A 2-year-old filly named Cornelia, owned by Mr. Icely, made a victorious effort. A hack race, won by Mr. Riley’s Major, and a match in which a pony owned by Mr. Terry defeated Mr. Stephen’s Don Giovanni, concluded the day’s sport.
On the second day, Australian won the Town Plate, and Lawyer (who afterwards had his name changed to Counsellor) won the Maiden Plate. The meeting concluded with the winning of the Handicap Sweepstakes by Australian, who defeated Abdallah.
Leading Events of 1829.
On April 8th and 10th, the Turf Club held a popular meeting on its own course. The report states that there were 5,000 people present on the first day, when Mr. Lawson’s Spring Gun won the fourth Brisbane Cup, beating Crowcatcher, Scratch and Australian. Mr. Lawson’s stable was in great form, as his horses won the three events of the day. His filly, Princess, took the Two-year-old Stakes, whilst Spring Gun won the Wentworth Purse. On the second day, Spring Gun won the Town Plate, but Princess was beaten by Australian in the Sweepstakes. In the Second Handicap Sweepstakes, the favourite, Scratch, was beaten by Crowcatcher. This was a great disappointment to the favourite’s followers from Windsor, who offered to make a match to run the winner in a month’s time, but the owner of Crowcatcher would not agree.
The Australian Racing and Jockey Club ran off a two-days’ programme on April 22nd and 24th. The Challenge Cup took four heats to decide the winner, owing to a dispute. Sir John Jamieson’s Bennelong eventually got the verdict. A Maiden Plate of £30 for two-year-olds resulted in a win for Mr. Icely’s Counsellor. A sweepstake of £10, with £20 added, was won by Sir John Jamieson’s Abdallah, which also won the Subscription Stakes on the second day. The Ladies’ Purse went to Counsellor, who, saddled up a third time, appropriated the Handicap Sweepstakes. His only opponent, Abdallah, won the first heat, and the talent laid 5 to 1 on him for the second, but the horse threw his rider. A hack race, won by Alraschid, brought the meeting to a close.
Hawkesbury Races.
The Hawkesbury Races took place on July 22nd and 24th, when funds were poor. To the joy of the local contingent, Scratch won the opening event, Steward’s Cup of £50, after a good race with Abdallah. Counsellor took the Ladies’ Purse. A chestnut filly by Steeltrap won the Two-year-old Stakes, beating Sir John Jamieson’s Chance, by Camerton or Abdallah. On the second day the filly Chance was entered as by Abdallah, and unnamed, for a Subscription Stakes of 25 guineas. She won, but a protest was entered on the ground that she had previously run as Chance. She was withdrawn, and the race run over again, when Scratch won. The Town Plate was won by Counsellor, and the Handicap Sweepstakes by Scratch. The meeting closed with a hack race, won by a black filly owned by Mr. Badgery.