Only two horsemen took up the offer, Mr Charles William (Charley) Lawson, grazier, and Mr. John Healy, both of Mudgee. 

Mr. Lawson also backed himself for 30 pounds to be back in Mudgee the same night by ten o’clock. Both were familiar with the route as Lawson held land north of Coolah, and Healy often rode to the area for the purchase of stock.

Several days prior to the race it was announced Healy was to ride a light brown coloured horse called “Douglass” bred by Mr. John Douglass of Macdonald Creek near Mudgee. 

Lawson said he proposed to ride either a horse called “Kangaroo“ purchased from a Mr Frater at the last Mudgee Races or to acquire a Busby horse from its stables at Cassilis.

Healy was riding two stone heavier than Lawson.

Prior bettings indicated that Lawson was the favourite for the race.    

Both competitors started, on the 72 miles journey to Coolah from the Hughson’s Hotel, Market Square, Mudgee at six o’clock in the morning. 

Mr Richard Hughson gave the signal for the start, when Healy went off in the direction of the Court House, Lawson making for the Holy Oak Bridge.

After going a short distance Healy turned his horse’s head and went in the same direction as Lawson.

After arriving at the top of Bombria Hill the two gentlemen parted.

Lawson arrived at Martins (22 miles) in one hour and 50 minutes McDonald’s Slapdash Inn (eight miles further) in 30 minutes more.

He stayed at the Inn for half an hour to have his horse groomed and watered. 

He then arrived in one hour at New’s Talbragar Hotel near present day Birriwa homestead.

Three miles onwards he crossed the Talbragar River and after travelling a little further he reached Denman’s Inn at Denison Town.   

Riding on he arrived in Coolah at ten minutes to one o’clock, making the time in the saddle exactly six hours – or about twelves miles per hour throughout. 

On his return journey he left Henderson’s Hotel, at twenty two minutes to two.

Lawson returned to Mudgee by the same route arrived at Hughson’s Hotel exactly at 8pm, being 30 minutes sooner than he expected, and two hours less than the time specified in the bet.  

However, there was some concern after a passage of several hours Healey had not returned to Mudgee.

Healy completed the ride from Mudgee to Coolah.  

However, on his return his horse dropped dead about 20 miles out of Coolah. 

Unfortunately at one of the wayside shanties on the up run Healy’s horse had been “slipped” a pint of  rum, which was the cause of his demise. 

Lawson’s horse died two days after arrival back at Mudgee apparently from exhaustion.                          

Charles William (Charley) Lawson (1841-1891) lived in the Mudgee Putta Bucca area for many years and was engaged mostly in squatting pursuits.

He held Premer and Boire stations, north of Coolah, on the western side of the Liverpool Plains. 

He was the son of Nelson Simmons Lawson, who also owned land in the Coolah district.

John Healy came to live in Mudgee as a young man and became a cattle dealer.

He was active in public affairs, his main interest being the Mudgee racecourse. 

It is said that as a young man often in local races he rode Jorrocks, the famous Mudgee racehorse.

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