!60 RACEHORSES IN AUSTRALIA 



THE FIRST RACE MEETING AT SYDNEY. 



The officers of the 73rd Regiment, together with many of the better 

 class of people in Governor Macquarie's reign, were evidently keen on 

 racing, for they announced in the "Gazette" that the Sydney races were 

 to take place in October (1810) for three fifty-guinea plates. A 

 track was prepared on what is now known as Hyde Park. Chatting 

 with some of the old hands years ago I was told that the stand was placed 

 close by what is now the junction of Market and Elizabeth Streets, the straight 

 being along the latter thoroughfare from Park Street. The attendance was 

 the largest ever collected in the colony. The winners were: — 



Subscribers' Plate of fifty guineas Chase 



Ladies' Cup, fifty guineas Chase 



Magistrate's Purse, fifty guineas Scratch 



The second Sydney race meeting occupied August I 2th, 14th and 16th, 

 1811, on the Hyde Park track. On the first day the Subscription Plate of 

 fifty guineas was won by Mr. Bent's ch. g. Matchem, while Captain Ritchie's 

 Cheviot won the Two-year-old Sweepstakes. Here we have the interesting 

 fact of thoroughbreds being produced, yet not a word as to their sires or 

 dams. On the second day the Ladies' Cup of fifty guineas was won by 

 Colonel O'Connel's Carlo and the presentation to the winner was made by 

 Mrs. Macquarie. A pony race was won by Mrs. James Cox's Fidget. On 

 the third day the Magistrate's Plate was won by Mr. William's Strawberry. 



Just a year elapsed before the third meeting took place. It extended 

 over four days, August 17, 19, 21 and 22. On the opening day Colonel 

 O'Connel's black horse Carlo won the Subscription Purse of fifty guineas, 

 and Mr. Williams's rn. h. Strawberry took the Ladies' Cup on the second 

 day. Mr. Birch's Cheviot won the Subscription Purse of fifty guineas on 

 the third day. The sporting people also subscribed fifty guineas for a three- 

 mile race, in which Mr. Kearns' b.m. Creeping Jenny outdistanced her two 

 opponents. On the fourth day a sweepstake of fifteen guineas for gentle- 

 men riders was won by Mr. R. Campbell's Tallboy, and a match for twenty 

 guineas between Captain Cameron's Miss Portly and Captain Crane's Erin 

 was won by the former. 



The fourth race meeting was held on August 16, 18 and 19 (1813), 

 when Little Pickles won a 50-guinea Plate; Carlo won the Ladies' Cup and 

 Plate; Purse, Mulberry. 



It was not until May 31, I 819, that a race meeting was held, when a 

 programme of three events was run off. A Silver Cup (two-mile heats) 

 was w^on by Mr. Emmett's Rob Roy, beating Commissary and five others. A 

 Silver Bowl for three-year-olds went to Mr. Cribb's Sly Boots, who beat Hap- 

 hazard and three others. The third race was for a saddle and bridle, which 

 were easily appropriated by Mr. R. Campbell's Speedy. 



In 1820 there was a race meeting which extended over two days. It 

 was a poor affair. A Subscription Cup (three-mile heats) was run, in which 

 Mr. Frank's Rob Roy beat Mr. Fisher's Pickles. On the second day Mr. 

 Walker's Haphazard won a Subscription Purse, and Mr. Campbell's Speedy 

 won a prize of £20, while Mulberry collected a Silver Bowl, Cover and 

 Saddle. 



There was a three-days' meeting on August 14, 15 and 16, 1 82 1 , when 

 the winning horses were Rob Roy, Captain Dandy, Deceit, Bray and Lead- 



