RACING IN NEW SOUTH WALES 16i 



beater. The event which created most interest was the Subscription Purse 

 of 50 guineas, presented by the ladies of the colony for three-year-olds carry- 

 ing 7 stone, two-mile heats. It was won by Mr. Wa'lker's blk. f. Miss 

 Nettleton, after three heats, of which Mr. Cooker's Random won the first. 



•The year 1822, and the two following years, are entirely bare of sport- 

 ing news, and not until 1825 did turf affairs improve. During the month 

 of March a new turf club was formed, with the Governor, Sir Thomas Bris- 

 bane, as patron. A race club was also instituted at Parramatta, and an 

 impromptu meeting held on a new course four miles outside Sydney, on 

 March ! 7. At first it was resolved to limit the members of the new turf 

 club to sixty, but this was considered too exclusive. Sir John Jamieson was 

 elected president, and the first race meeting was held at Hyde Park on April 

 25 and 26, 1825. At this meeting the afterwards celebrated Junius made 

 a victorious appearance by securing first place in the Town Plates of 50 

 sovereigns (heats). He was owned by Mr. Nash, and for some time after 

 v/as term.ed the champion horse of the colony. At this meeting he also 

 secured the Magistrate's Plate, and at the second meeting of the Sydney 

 Turf Club, held on September 23, 24 and 25, Junius won two events. At 

 this meeting v/e read of a Handicap Stakes of five guineas each, with ten 

 guineas added, won by Mr. Nichol's Captain, 7st. 21b. This is the first 

 mention of a handicap run on the Australian turf. There was also a six- 

 furlong race for two-year-olds, won by Australian. 



Racing at Parramatta. 



The new club at Parramatta held its opening meeting on October 7 and 

 8. There was a most fashionable attendance. Slender Billy, nominated by 

 Mr. Nash, won the J.C. Plate in three heats; Mr. Bayley's Traveller took 

 the Ladies' Purse, and also beat Slender Billy in a match for 20 sovereigns, 

 following up by gaining the Town Plate in two heats. His Excellency the 

 Governor presented a purse won by Mr. Yorrick's Prince. 



A New Racecourse. 



The Committee of the Sydney Turf Club were evidently determined to 

 push the sport ahead. They had a fresh course laid out during 1826. The 

 new track, about four miles from Sydney, lay on the Parramatta Road, between 

 Gorse Farm and the farm belonging to Mr. Johnson, where the annual races 

 took place on June 1 4 and 1 6 of that year. It is said that there were 

 2,000 people present when Junius won the Brisbane Cup (heats, twice round). 

 Junius also won the Turf Club Plate. Other winners were Mr. Wentworth's 

 Don Giovanni, Colonel Dumaresque's Alraschid, Mr. Bayley's Nesta and 

 Mr. Roberts' Captain. 



The second meeting on the new course took place on April 25 and 

 27, 1827, in unfavourable weather. Junius again won the Brisbane Cup, and 

 Australia won a Sweepstakes (mile heats). On the second day Junius walked 

 over for the Town Plate, when Mr. Nash, his owner, gave the prize for a 

 second competition. It was won by a horse owned by a Mr. Brown, of 

 Windsor. Australia also won the second Subscription Race. 



The other notable event of this year — 1827 — was the first race meeting 

 ever held at Campbelltown, on August 13, when three events of £50 each 

 were run off. The keenest contest of the day is said to have been between 



