First Sydney races | State Library of New South Wales

First Sydney races, Hyde Park, 1810

On Monday 15 October 1810, crowds gathered on the Sydney Racecourse on new public land which the Governor named Hyde Park. The race program lasted three days and D'arcy Wentworth's horse, Gig, ridden by his son, William Charles Wentworth, won the three mile race on the first day, marking the beginning of the Wentworths' strong involvement in the Sydney racing scene.

On the second day of racing, Mrs Macquarie presented the Ladies' Cup, valued at 50 guineas, to Captain Ritchie for the win by his grey gelding, Chance - the fastest horse over two miles.

The article below from the Sydney Gazette & NSW Advertiser describes the events of the race meeting.

Extract from The Sydney Gazette & NSW Advertiser, 20 October 1810, p. 2
Newspaper F8/55

> Find the Library's catalogue entry for Sydney Gazette & NSW Advertiser, 1803-1842 catalogue link