Falkland Islands 2012 - 100th Race Meeting - Uncirculated Cupro Nickel Coin

The Stanley Sports Association was officially formed during a public meeting held in the Infant School rooms on 22 June 1908. Most of those who made up the committee had been involved in running the first organised sports meeting the previous year, on Boxing Day on the green at Whalebone Bay. In 1909 it was decided a new location was needed and land behind Sullivan House was offered for the purpose; this is the site of the current Stanley Racecourse. 

The popularity of the races increased rapidly and the 1910 meeting was a two day event with 15 mounted events on the first day and 18 foot events on the second and more sponsored races appeared. In recent years the annual Race Meetings have spanned three days, with the third day dedicated to gymkhana and fun events. The 1914 meeting was cancelled with the outbreak of World War I. The 7th meeting was held in 1915.

Several meetings were cancelled during the years of World War II, but since the Victory Meeting of March 1947 the SSA has continued to provide an important annual event on the Falklands social calendar. 

Governor Allardyce promised a silver cup for a race to be run over 700 yards for the 1908 meeting; this became known as the “Governors Cup” and it is, still today, the most coveted event on the programme.  Several other prestigious races have been generously sponsored by the same families for almost a century.

Entries in the horse races have dwindled over the years as motorbikes have replaced horses as an everyday form of transport on farms, but the only thing that has disrupted racing in the last 104 years has been war, and an occasional postponement due to the weather. So, as long as there is a dedicated team of organizers, and horses to be ridden, you can rest assured there will be a gathering of like-minded folk enjoying a Falklands post-Christmas tradition that has spanned a century.