The racetracks of NSW will be categorised into two main sections : Metropolitan Sydney and Country (regional) NSW. Each section will look at the complete history of a club (previous/closed/current) or club’s within a particular regional area.
New South Wales held the first trotting race in Australia at Parramatta in 1810.
NSW COUNTRY/REGIONAL TRACKS –
Trotting races on thoroughbred programmes became more regular in NSW country areas in the mid – 1860’s. Trotting races were run in Goulburn in the late 1870’s and also the 1880’s were being run at Moama, Cootamundra, Clarence River, Deniliquin and Glen Innes. There were approximately eighty NSW towns that hosted trotting races in the nineteenth century.
Clubs that formed late in the nineteenth century and are still racing today include Goulburn, Orange and Dubbo while Forbes came into being early in the twentieth century – their histories will be outlined in later articles.
Closed tracks or non-racing tracks
Bega is a town in the south-east of New South Wales in the Bega Valley Shire. The old five and a half furlong racecourse (see site below today) was originally utilised for trotting with the Bega Trotting Cup run from 1926 – 1949 (not run during WWII 1940 – 44).
Racing transferred to the 442 1/3 yard Golden Rail Paceway (Bega Showgrounds) from 1952 until its closure on 20 December 1969 with night trotting having commenced from 9 November 1956. In later years exhibition races were held on the 400 metre track at the Bega Show.
Barellan a small town in Narrandera Shire in the Riverina region of New South Wales. Barellan district although not counting much in trotting races, the Barellan Show had some fine specimens of ponies were shown as were trotting or pacing stallions, mare in foal or at foot, champion stallion, champion mare and sulky horse in harness. These examples were from the September 1923 Barellan Show which also included trotting events such as a sulky trot, maiden trot, open handicap trot and walk or trot in sulky. The 817m track at the Barellan Showgrounds closed for racing on 27 July 1974.
Bulli a northern suburb of Wollongong situated on the south coast of New South Wales. The Bulli Sports Ground and racing complex at Slacky Flat (Bedes Oval) boasted a 738m river sand track with 145m straight and no sprint lane. The Bulli-Woonona Sporting, Trotting and Racing Club was founded in 1946. The track commenced operations holding its inaugural meeting on eight hour day (Labour Day) Monday 7 October 1946 before closing on 25 February 2012. Night trotting commenced in 1953 with an initial track of 600m upgraded in 1977 to 738m. ID Pacing Champion James Scott time trialled in 2:04.0 on 2 October 1962 at Bulli and Tarracoola set an Australian mare’s mile record of 2:02.9TT on 19 April 1965.
In November 1948, the Chief Secretary advised the Woonona Sporting, Trotting and Racing Club that the government would grant a licence for the greyhound club to also race at Slacky Flat (Bulli Sports Ground). On February 22, 1949, the Bulli greyhound racing club was formed.
Commencing July 2011 (exception 25 Feb 2012 final meeting at Bulli) the Bulli Trotting Club have conducted their meetings at TABCorp Park Menangle.
Candelo a town in south-eastern New South Wales in the Bega Valley Shire local government area, 448 kms (278 miles) south of Sydney and 38 kms (24 miles) north-west of the popular coastal holiday destination of Eden. Candelo Trotting and Polo Club’s inaugural meeting was held on 14 January 1893 where all but one competitor used a saddle rather than a sulky in the three trotting events. Two year old Matchlock competed in three events, winning two of them.
Canowindra an historic township located between Orange and Cowra in the central west of New South Wales. The Canowindra Pastoral Agricultural and Horticultural Association manages the town’s showgrounds and organises the annual show which has been held since 1900. The first meeting of trotting at the 810m Canowindra Showgrounds track occurred on 12 April 1916. Trotting events continued at the Showgrounds until racing ceased after the 12 November 1983 meeting.
In March 2020 it was announced that the Showground and Racecourse Precinct (including the Golf Course) which have been a vital part of the Canowindra community for well over 100 years would receive a long overdue facelift. The Showgrounds were approved for upgrade work to improve the safety, use and condition of their infrastructure and support jobs in the local economy. This was part of an announcement in June 2020 of $551,093 in improvement works to showgrounds at Orange, Canowindra, Manildra, Tullamore, Eugowra, Trundle, Molong, Bedgerabong, Forbes, Cumnock, Cudal and Yeoval.
Cessnock a city in the Hunter Region of New South Wales about 52 kms (32 miles) west of Newcastle. Cessnock began racing under lights on the Sports Ground track on 3 December 1927 with a five race programme, a season in which five meetings were allowed at Cessnock. Additional night meetings were held in the Northern Coalfields area after tentative State Government approval – they fell by the wayside in due course. Cessnock’s last pre-war meeting was held in March 1939. The 805m track closed on 28 October 1997.
Cobar is a town in central western New South Wales whose economy is based mainly upon base metals and gold mining. The town is 712 kms (442 miles) northwest of Sydney. The first meeting held on Cobar’s 680 yard Ward Oval track took place on Thursday 30 May 1957. The writer has been unable to establish when racing ceased.
Ward Oval is owned and operated by Cobar Council and is used by a variety of sporting organisations including the Cobar District Cricket Association, Cobar Netball Association, Cobar Junior Netball Association, Cobar Little Athletics and Cobar Junior Soccer. The Copper City Men’s Shed and Buffalo Lodge meetings, along with major annual events, the Cobar Show, the Copper City Sheep Dog Trials, Peak Gold Mine Golden Dash and Mine Rescue are also held at Ward Oval.
The Ward Oval grounds includes three grassed ovals (main Oval Number 1 includes a turf cricket pitch and lights and Oval Numbers 2 and 3 include synthetic cricket pitches), canteen and bar facilities, toilets and showers, changing rooms, netball courts, dining rooms, main pavilion with office, grandstands, various stock yards and stables and other pavilions.
The Council has developed a Master Plan for Ward Oval which includes concept designs for a new multi-purpose centre, upgrades to the oval including athletic facilities, additional lighting, improved show facilities and landscaping.
Coonamble a town on the central-western plains of NSW, it lies on the Castlereagh Highway north-west of Gilgandra. The site of the second and current Coonamble Showgrounds is located 1.5 kms south of Coonamble Post Office where the land was dedicated on 2 June 1893. The Coonamble Trotting Club was established in 1917 but it is unknown what time period trotting races were continued at the 792 yard Coonamble Showgrounds track.
Cootamundra is a town in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales within the Riverina located on the Olympic Highway at the point where it crosses the Muttama Creek between Junee and Cowra.
The Cootamundra club’s long history dates back to when the first trotting clubs were established in regional NSW before it went into recess for a number of years. The original five furlong track was reduced to four furlongs in 1947. A group of volunteers re-established the sport in Cootamundra with the help of local businesses, industry and donations from 3 May 1986 when a new 800 metre track opened at the Cootamundra Showgrounds. After the club was reformed, Cootamundra hosted five to six meetings a year attracting trainers from across south west and central west NSW and the ACT.
January 2018 a storm caused flooding to the track and due to a lack of emergency funds to repair the damage the club ceased operating. Its last meeting was held 19 March 2017 with the clubs two meetings transferred to the Junee Harness Racing Club.
Cumnock a small town in New South Wales located on the now closed cross-country railway line from Molong to Dubbo. Its trotting track closed on 1 April 1967.
Crookwell a small town located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales in the Upper Lachlan Shire, Goulburn is half an hour’s drive south east of the township. The Crookwell Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Society (A,P&H) has been in existence since 1878, hosting its 143rd annual show in 2021. The current 2015m track was formed in 1927 with a rebuild taking place in 1954.
On 26 January 1890 the Crookwell Pony, Galloway and Trotting Club’s inaugural meeting included only one trotting race in addition to three pony and two hack races at Valley Farm. Winner of the sole trotting race was Mr EC Bray’s Ajax.
The Crookwell AP& H Society’s annual show provides competitions in various sections, Horse Events and Harness Racing running over a two-day program in February. The Crockwell Services Club Ltd conducts harness racing under the authority of the Goulburn Harness Racing Club. The 2020 show featured five events run at twenty minute intervals, four run over 1760m and the feature Tom Hewitt Memorial – Crookwell Show Cup over 2015m. Track record holder with a 2:06.0MR set over 2015m in 2013 is Condagen (1:51.7, $313,243), who was trained and driven by Dennis Picker.
Finley in the Riverina region of New South Wales where it is the largest town in the Berrigan Shire local government area. Trotting meetings were held at the 800m Finley Showgrounds, Sporting Complex track in earlier years, closing after the meeting of 18 May 1991. The annual Finley Show has been in existence since 1913 and nowadays Finley Pony Club riders assemble at the far side of the trotting track and parade twice around the arena.
Geurie is a small village in central-west New South Wales in the local government area of Dubbo Regional Council. It is between Wellington and Dubbo in the Orana Region of the State. The first meeting of the Geurie Trotting Club was held on the half mile Geurie Carnival Grounds on 17 September 1921. Meetings continued for a further ten years with the last meeting at Geurie on 4 October 1931.
Grabben – Gullen is a small village in Upper Lachlan Shire, New South Wales located between Crookwell and Gunning, at an elevation of 898 metres above sea level meaning several snowfalls occur during the winter months. The Grabben-Gullen Trotting Club held possibly held its first meeting on Saturday 19 February 1921 consisting of six races on a half mile track at Con Hewitt’s farm. The time period during which races were conducted by the Grabben – Gullen club is unknown.
Gosford a suburb of the Central Coast Council local government area in the heart of the Central Coast region, about 76 kilometres (47 miles) north of Sydney. Situated at the northern extremity of Brisbane Water, an extensive northern branch of the Hawkesbury River estuary and Broken Bay.
The Gosford D.A. and Citrus Association formed a trotting club in 1936 and on 4 August 1947 the first meeting of the Gosford Trotting Club on its 760 yard (700m) Showgrounds track took place (raced on the grass galloping track at one stage). The thirteenth NSW club to race under lights held its opening night trotting meeting at this venue on 14 October 1954. In 1964 Gosford showed the way with the first filming of racing in NSW at a cost of $40 per day for the filming of the last two and a half furlongs of each race. The technicians belonged to the well-known photography firm of Reg Brook and Company. On 5 May 1989 Gosford was closed for racing.
Grenfell town in Weddin Shire in the Central West of New South Wales. It is 370 kms (230 miles) west of Sydney, close to Forbes, Cowra and Young. The first meeting of the Grenfell Trotting Club on its own 805m track was held on 10 March 1926. Later the club operated in the period from 1963 to 3 November 1992. Picnic races have been held on the Grenfell racecourse (see below) since 1960’s run each April by the Grenfell Jockey Club.
Gunnedah a town in north-eastern New South Wales and is the seat of the Gunnedah Shire local government area. The Gunnedah Pony, Galloway and Trotting Club held its inaugural meeting on 8 December 1892. The first meeting of the Gunnedah Trotting Club was held at the Gunnedah PA&H Association’s (first show in 1888) 586 2/3 yard track at the Gunnedah Showgrounds on 29 July 1911.
It is not known how long the Trotting Club remained operating. However the Gunnedah Jockey Club moved from the old Showground racecourse to its existing site, 1800m Riverside Racecourse in 1946 (club established in 1867).
The City of Hawkesbury is a local government area of New South Wales, part of which is at the fringe of the Sydney metropolitan area, about 50 kms (31 miles) north-west of the Sydney CBD. Hawkesbury City is named after the Hawkesbury River.
The Hawkesbury Trotting Club raced on their five furlong/1000m right handed track between 20 August 1960 and 27 December 1984 with racing under lights from 6 November 1966. On 12 May 1979 a complete afternoon meeting was devoted to time trials. Overtrick’s two year old son Undertrick became the second two year old to break two minutes in Australia (1:59.9TT). The Hawkesbury Training Track, Clarendon (below) is used by trainers putting their trotting and pacing horses through their exercise regimes (Hawkesbury Owners and Trainers Trotting Society).
Katoomba is the chief town of the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales situated on the Great Western Highway 110 kms (68 miles) west of Sydney and 39 kms (24 miles) south-east of Lithgow.
The Blue Mountains Trotting Club was formed in 1946 racing on a 465 yards track at the Katoomba Showgrounds. The ground on which the showground and stand are located was first set aside for recreation and public purposes in 1883 with the stand set into the embankment having been built by 1920.
The Showground has a central district standard football oval with goal posts and a dirt trotting track around the perimeter. The Katoomba Showground and grandstand has provided a sporting facility to Katoomba for over seventy years.
Trotting Shed – a gabled brick shed on east west axis with slatted gables providing ventilation with a roller shutter located at the west end and framed and sheeted doors at the east end. High level window openings are on both sides. A concrete horse trough is located on the north side of the trotting shed.
Next Time : NSW Country/Regional Tracks (part two)
Peter Craig
13 October 2021
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
