Deepwater Races Celebrate 161 Years of Country Racing Tradition
One of Australia’s oldest racing traditions is set to thunder back into life this summer, with the Deepwater Hotel Top Pub Race Meeting celebrating an extraordinary 161 years on Saturday, 24 January 2026. First run in 1865, the Deepwater Races are steeped in history. The event began when Emmanuel Barratt, owner of the then Deepwater Hotel, and his friend William Thomas Cadell of Deepwater Station hatched the idea of holding a horse race on the station grounds. Remarkably, 160 years later, the races are still held on the very same land — a testament to the enduring spirit of country racing and community.…
