Club Information

History

The earliest available records suggest there was horse racing in Lismore as early as 1874 when a 2 day spring carnival was held. The Australasian Turf Register first officially records meetings being held in Lismore in the 1885/6 edition.

From 1874 on, some twenty five bodies are listed as racing in Lismore before the current Lismore Turf Club came into existence in 1968

The first reference to the Lismore Cup is an article in the Northern Star referring to the Lismore Cup Race Meeting held on Wednesday 30 September 1908.

Racing occurred at several venues in Lismore, firstly in the town centre and then in an area southeast of the Showgrounds.

The present racecourse site, previously known as Carlton Park and then Pescud Park, has been Lismore’s racecourse since January 1924. At that time the racecourse was owned by the Lismore Jockey Club. It was subsequently sold to private interests.

In February 1968 the racecourse was owned by Mrs M Warden of Nundle and managed by her uncle Mr A.W. Pescud of Ballina. The grounds were then purchased by the AJC “in the general interest of racing” to ensure that the racecourse continued to exist.

In 2001 the AJC indicated its wish to sell the racecourse and the Lismore Turf Club Committee took the opportunity to make the purchase. The Lismore racecourse is one of only a handful of racecourses in Australia, let alone New South Wales, which is owned by the actual Turf Club.

On the Sunday prior to the Lismore Cup meeting, the Lismore Turf Club holds the Rousillon Handicap. This race is named after the champion galloper Rousillon who raced from 2yrs to 12 yrs, starting 163 times for 45 wins and 53 placings. He won 17 times in Lismore (including 2 Lismore Cups - 1971 and 1972) and 10 times in Ballina (one Ballina Cup - 1965).

The Lismore Turf Club acknowledges the marvellous research done by C J Bone, a former Ballina/Lismore Magistrate, in his publication ‘All the Winners - Racing at Ballina and Lismore‘, from which this summary is taken.

 

Past Lismore Cup Results

YEAR DISTANCE WINNER JOCKEY TRAINER
1976 2000m Fine Style K Smith Joe Spina
1977 2000m Star Cobbler J Hutchings Eric Watkins
1978 2000m Waterloo A Scorse John Mac
1979 2000m Donandi G Cook Merv Wrigley
1980 2000m Eshowee G Killen Kevin Nipperess
1981 2000m Royal Khan G Duffy Jim Griffiths
1982 2000m Amaretto G Pickwick Clive Dixon
1983 2000m Gujarat I Wernowski Pat Duff
1984 2000m Flashing Red Bev Want Dudley Payne
1985 2000m Meeting (NZ) T Duckett Neil Godbolt
1986 2000m Lord Hundalee (NZ) L Allen Glen Clunes
1987 2000m Silver Magnum (NZ) Iris Nielsen Kevin Nipperess
1988 2000m Oakhaven Star K Bell Jim Richardson
1989 2000m Rusteria (NZ) G Palmer Kaye Tinsley
1990 2000m King Bermuda S Schofield Des Day
1991 2100m Set Menu G Cook John Wallace
1992 2100m Charlie Mac G Boss Noel Doyle
1993 2100m Native Down G W Weate Jack Gallagher
1994 2100m Seattle Gleam (NZ) C Munce Paul Sutherland
1995 2100m Falcon's Domain G Colless Trevor Hardy
1996 2100m Mack 'N' Me H Troy Mack Griffith
1997 2100m Mack 'N' Me M J Cahill Mack Griffith
1998 2100m O' So Handy S Traecey Greg Howells
1999 2100m Akwazoff G Baker Merv Corliss
2000 2100m Mougi S Seamer Lawne Mayfield-Smith
2001 2100m Kahodawe M Rodd Neville Galvin
2002 2100m Midnight Deal Z Purton (a) Annette Aspinal
2003 2100m Our Eeyore R Thompson Anthony Olsen
2004 2100m Arena Valadora G Colless John Everson
2005 2100m Serpentine P Graham Robert Murrell
2006 2100m Precise Timing R Thompson Ross Stitt