With the first European settlers landing in Tasmania in 1803, it wasn’t long before the settlers and military held match races on the banks of the Derwent River as early as 1804. On Tuesday 18 July 1815, the first recorded race was held using the Main Road as a track at New Town, a trotting match between horses owned by Messrs Birch (riding his own mare to win) and Gordon.
As early as the 1840’s, trotting or pony races as they were then known were held at many galloping meetings (in excess of sixty locations) throughout Tasmania. The New Town course was the oldest in the Hobart area being utilised until around 1900. New Town course was used on and off until the Crown land was permitted to be used as a permanent racecourse. The first meeting on Hobart’s new course was held on 17/18 March 1831 with one of the first recorded trotting races on 6 April 1859. The inaugural all trotting meeting (three match races) was held on 14 March 1884 on a mile long course near Cooleys Hotel along the New Town Road. In the same year the Butchers Sports Association was formed and periodic meetings held at Elwick racecourse and then the Risdon Park racecourse, Cornelian Bay, 5kms from the central city, these included trotting races.
The Victoria Sports Ground(opened 1887) held horse racing from 31 October 1888; the Hobart Trotting and Racing Club held just one meeting at there on 5 December 1888 before being wound up; pony and trotting meetings were held there the first being 22 November 1890 and most months thereafter. Other courses included Sandford, Rosehill estate (first meeting 2 January 1893) and Bellervie, Wentworth, property of CE Featherstone MHA (first meeting 12 April 1890, approx. ¾m).
Hobart Metropolitan tracks –
Risdon Park –
The Risdon Park track (dual code) built on the Belle Vue estate was approximately 4½ furlongs (800m+) in circumference and included a running rail. After formation of the Butchers Sports Association, the Belle Vue Proprietary Racing Club held its first meeting there on 15 June 1892. This latter club folded after the 3 April 1897 meeting but the Butchers Racing Club and Hobart Hunt Club continued to race at Risdon Park and incorporated two trotting races into their programmes with the track extended to six furlongs. The Butchers Trotting Association conducted its inaugural meeting at Risdon Park on 21 June 1899 and a second and final meeting on 19 July 1899.
In 1900 the Tasmanian Trotting Club (TTC) was formed to take over the Butchers Trotting Association and commenced racing at Risdon Park on 31 January 1900. A three furlong approx. (500m) trotting track was formed inside the galloping track and used from 28 October 1904 onwards. Following the gallops departure in 1910, a four furlong (800m) cinder trotting track was built and used until the track closure at the end of the 1923/24 season. The TTC moved to Ascot when Northall Park closed. The Hobart Trotting Club (HTC) formed in 1903 also used Risdon Park (first meeting 17 June 1903) as their venue before moving to Northall Park after Risdon’s closure.
The Risdon Park site became a golf course for thirty years and then crossed by the Brooker Highway and the remaining grounds becoming a major hockey centre.
Ascot (Derwent Park) –
The Ascot course (half mile dirt/cinders track) was located opposite the Elwick Showgrounds where racing was conducted right handed, the only such track ever in Tasmania. The TTC raced at Ascot from 1924 until 1935. The grounds were taken over during the Second World War to build a munitions factory. The TTC then moved over the road to the Hobart Showgrounds where they remained until 2005.
Northall Park –
This track which was utilised by the Northall Park Trotting Club from 1 November 1913 until 21 June 1941, purchased in 1920 for $18,000 from the Southern Sports Co Ltd who had built the track in 1912 at Albert Road, Moonah. The HTC moved to Northall Park in 1924. Night trotting was attempted in 1938 (Thursday 24 March) but failed due to a lack of amenities, bad weather and the depression. The first race under lights was won by Sula Pic (dr Tommy Elliott) with other winners including Van Derby, Dimple Derby (winner 1938 Northall Night Trotting Cup, only time run), Our Globe – quite an impressive line-up on one night’s card (four of six winners sired by Globe Derby).
After the closure of Northall Park in 1941 the club moved to the Showgrounds so that all trotting in Hobart was based at the Hobart Showgrounds until its final meeting held Sunday 2 October 2005. Northall Park became the Titan Nail Factory and encompassed soccer playing fields, now an industrial estate.
Royal Hobart Showground, Elwick –
The Showgrounds at Glenorchy (known under names of Hobart Showgrounds, Royal Showgrounds and Glenorchy Showgrounds) were used for harness racing between the first meeting of the Southern Tasmanian Trotting Club (STTC) on 21 September 1941 until the final occasion on 2 October 2005. The 720 yard (750m) track featured :
- Use of mobile starts from 4 November 1961, eight months after Elphin Raceway, Launceston
- Meetings held by both STTC, major race commencing in 1955 Tasmanian Pacing Championship, renamed Tasmania Cup in 2008; and Hobart Metropolitan Trotting Club (HMTC) formed 1939 with inaugural meeting held at Northall Park 6 May 1939
- Last meetings : STTC 14 July 1979; HMTC 28 July 1979. Clubs amalgamated to become Tasmanian Pacing Club (Hobart) from 25 August 1979
- Northern (Launceston) and Southern Trotting (Hobart) bodies joined to form Tasmanian Trotting Association in 1962
- Hosting Interdominion Championships in 1981; won by Western Australian San Simeon; $3.5m spent on track upgrade prior to Championships
- Hosting 1998 Interdominions, the second of Our Sir Vancelot’s three consecutive ID Pacers Interdominions; minimal track improvements achieved for Championships
Ladbrokes Park, Elwick –
The transfer of Hobart’s metropolitan harness racing (Tasmanian Trotting Club, TTC) to the tri- code complex located on Goodwood Road, Glenorchy occurred in 2005 with the inaugural harness meeting being held on Thursday 20 October – Queen Carey won the first race in a Tasmanian mile record of 1:56.3.
The Elwick Racecourse is located approximately ten kms from Hobart CBD close to the Brooker Highway, the Hobart Showgrounds, the Derwent Entertainment Centre and the Derwent River. It has a picturesque outlook across the river with dominating views of Mount Wellington. Home to the TTC, Tasmanian Racing Club and the Hobart Greyhound Racing Club.
The present site was first leased by the Tasmanian Racing Club in 1874 (2250m) and then later purchased. A popular venue from the 1880’s with the first trotting race held on the then left handed oval track on 10 February 1887; 1932 was the only time a trotting race was held on Hobart (galloping) Cup Day with the last trotting race held on the grass track on 1 October 1961. Also featuring a drive in cinema within the track complex until the early 1980’s.
A twenty million dollar upgrade of the Elwick facility was undertaken in 2004 including the construction of tracks inside the galloping track (now 1990m) were a) 970 metre long, 19 metre wide harness track with lighting b) 700 metre long and 6 and a half metre wide greyhound track. The redevelopment included the heritage listed grandstand and new bookmakers area together with a new training facility and together with new stables at Brighton.
The 2006 Interdominions were hosted at the new complex in March (Grand Final 1 April) with the second of three nights heats run at Mowbray racecourse, Launceston. The Pacing Grand Final winner Blacks A Fake recorded the first of four victories over six seasons (2006 – 2011 includes two seconds), the most ever in Interdominion history.
Launceston Metropolitan tracks –
The first trotting performance in Launceston occurred on New Year’s Day 1844 (1 January 1844) with the final event on the days programme being a trotting match over nine miles against time (one hour) by Mr Field’s horse Doubtful (rider Mr Dry) divided into equal portions of trotting, walking and galloping. Doubtful “commenced trotting, and performed the distance in about thirty seven minutes, leaving about 11½ minutes to gallop the remaining three miles which enabled Mr Dry to complete the task upwards of three minutes within the appointed time ….”.
Early racing included the Kings Meadow Pony and Trotting Club which held their inaugural meeting on 1 April 1893; the club folded recommencing as the Kings Meadow Pony Club in 1895. Other like clubs followed in the later years e.g. Tattersalls Pony, Galloway and Trotting meetings at Elphin; Mowbray Pony and Trotting Club (1896).
Mowbray Racecourse –
The first trotting race was held at Mowbray racecourse (thoroughbreds) on 28 May 1884 with the last held on the grass track on 3 September 1961 (RSL benefit meetings run up to 1969 included three pacing races and mixed benefit program at Mowbray in July 1972). The original course was a1 mile 234 yards oval circuit. The Pony and Trotting Club’s initial meeting was held on 6 November 1896.
The Northern Tasmanian Trotting Club (NTTC) was formed and began racing at Mowbray racecourse (½m/800m inside gallops track) from 27 January 1912 before moving to Elphin in 1913.
Danbury Park –
Danbury Park Trotting Club (DPTC) was formed in 1898 although an earlier meeting was held in 1895 with pony, Galloway and trotting races. The DPTC held their first meeting on Christmas Day (25 December) 1898 on Mr G Luck’s Danbury Park property, 8km from Launceston – the day consisted of wood chopping, trotting, galloping and human foot races. Racing continued at Danbury Park (last meeting 21 May 1921) until the club moved to Elphin Showgrounds West Tamar, Launceston in 1921 (first meeting 31 December 1921).
Elphin Raceway
Harness racing was conducted at Elphin Raceway from 1912/1913 season through until 31 January 1987 on an 814m track. Used for the Tattersalls pony races in the 1890’s; in 1918 the track was 3¾ furlongs in circumference; by the time of the 1939 Interdominions, the track was listed as being 880yds (four furlongs); in February 1942 the Australian Government took over the track for Army barracks/training grounds. Racing transferred to Mowbray where the NTTC staged mixed programmes (couple of galloping races) with harness racing returning to Elphin from 18 September 1943.
The mobile gate was first used in Tasmania on this track on Saturday 18 March 1961 with the first race being the Maiden Stakes over 10 furlongs 84 yds. The winner was Mighty Lawn (dr SJ Hall), owned/trained by KC Wickham.
At the time of the 1939 Interdominions (fourth held), both the NTTC and DPTC were using Elphin Raceway for their meetings. Launceston hosted Tasmania’s first ID’s with Tasmanian bred but NSW owned Springfield Globe winning the Grand Final and also crowned Grand Champion on points.
The NTTC and DPTC amalgamated to form the Launceston Pacing Club from 5 August 1978 racing at Elphin.
Tasman Park –
The tri code facility is located at the Mowbray Racing Centre approximately 3 kilometres from Launceston CBD – the site of the original Mowbray racecourse. It opened with a mixed code harness/gallops meeting on 11 February 1987. The Launceston Greyhound Racing Club moved to the Mowbray tri-code facility in December 2004 (previously located at White City, Invermay 1932 – 2004).
The Launceston Pacing Club conduct approximately thirty meetings annually on their 1018m track which incorporates a three level grandstand and related facilities. The various Launceston metropolitan tracks have been host to the Launceston Easter Cup since 1917; the Australian Derby (2002 – 2010, then discontinued; other venues earlier); Australian Pacing Championship (1991 – Westburn Grant) and the second night of heats at the most recent Tasmanian ID’s (2006).
Tasmanian Regional tracks –
The Burnie Harness Racing Club on the North West coast of Tasmania held its first race meeting on the Montello track on 29 June 1911 before moving to the Wivenhoe Showgrounds with a six race meeting in 1918. The Burnie Cup was discontinued after 1924 and reintroduced in 1953 with the Burnie club having reformed in May 1947and racing on the present Wivenhoe Showgrounds (607m) site ever since. The Burnie track is on the main road into Burnie with Bass Strait as a stunning backdrop.
The Burnie club celebrated its centenary on 19 May 2011 at its Annual Club Dinner. Financing the installation of lighting for the track and oval with support from the Burnie City Council and Tasracing the first meeting under lights took place on 16 May 2014.
The Carrick Park Pacing Club (CPPC) is a racing and training facility located in Tasmania’s north. The Carrick Hack and Trotting Club was formed in 1912 when the Carrick Racing Club (1872 – 1912) folded. Both forms of racing were conducted for a number of years before becoming the Carrick Trotting Club from 1914 onwards.
Carrick Park (1000m) has been a racetrack for over 170 years with racing in the 1840’s and the first trotting race conducted in 1864. The course is owned by the CPPC and the first club to race on the same course for over 100 years. This historic course is among the longest continual operating harness tracks in Australia boasting the oldest grandstand (built 1879) still standing in Tasmania.
The Carrick Trotting Cup was first staged in 1921; champion pacer Halwes won his first race on the Carrick track and the first sub two minute mile by a Tasmanian bred horse was Prancing Percy’s win in the 1982 Carrick Miracle Mile (1:59.0).
The Devonport Harness Racing Club (DHRC) is located at the Devonport Showgrounds opening in 1911 as the Sheffield Trotting Club (shell track, first meeting 22 June 1911), whilst the Devonport Racing Club’s Spreyton 2000m grass track was used from 1903. The DHRC went into recess shortly after reforming in 1927 with the initial meeting held at Spreyton. The inaugural meeting of the reformed club took place at the Devonport Showgrounds on 2 January 1928 (½m track). The current 735m track has raced under lights since its meeting of 6 November 1954. The name was changed from Trotting Club to Pacing Club from 25 August 1981.
The Devonport Cup has been staged since 1928; Ulverstone Cup from 1994 onwards and the Spreyton meetings are now hosted on the Devonport track.
Scottsdale, the North Eastern Pacing Club opened for harness racing in 1923 (Racing Club 1896). The 740m track on Tasmania’s North-East Coast hosts only one meeting a year usually on the first or second Friday in January. A tight track that only caters for five horses on its front line. The North Eastern Pacing Cup is the club’s annual feature race.
Spreyton, the 1700m Tapeta Park synthetic track is used for thoroughbreds with the first harness racing meeting held on 25 July 2012 (refer Devonport above).
Saint Marys, one of only two grass tracks used for harness meetings in Tasmania. The 1306m track was opened in 1916 as a hack and trotting club (Racing club established in 1889, trotting races included). Located on Tasmania’s East Coast, St Marys Pacing Club holds one meeting a year, normally on 31 December. The tight track can only provide for five horses on the front line. The St Marys Pacing Cup is the club’s annual feature race with East Coast Cup held 1949 – 1965.
Among the regional tracks no longer in use are :
Beaconsfield – the Racing Club was founded in 1891, operating from 1946 – 1951 as a trotting club. It is still used as a training track (680m).
Brighton Racecourse – a grass track (2200m) in operation from 1887 – 16 June 1975. The Brighton Cup was run from 1897 until track closure.
Deloraine – an 1800m grass track (originally 1¼m plus two chains – 1853) operating between 1896 – 1948 located half mile from township. The pony and trotting club was formed on 20 December 1913. An old wooden grandstand was destroyed by fire in 1914, replaced with a concrete stand in 1916. The Meander Cup was held intermittedly between 1930 and 1948.
New Norfolk – Rokeby, racing club from its first meeting on 29 November 1887 (included trotting race) until mid-1920’s when it changed to a trotting venue. The Kensington Park (806m) venue of the New Norfolk Pacing Club (NNPC) is one of the oldest in Tasmania. Since 1925 New Norfolk’s Australia Day meeting incorporated the New Norfolk Cup. From 2017 the Cup has been run at Tattersalls Park, Elwick, Hobart.
Track works at the Pacing Centre to enable local trainers to resume use of the track for training purposes with a view to enabling the club to again conduct race meetings in the future are underway.
New Norfolk track
Pioneer, a six furlong track used from 1921 – 8
Richmond, a 1400m grass track which was opened in 1936 and used mobile starting gates in later years. Like its counterpart track at Sorrell, both tracks were closed following the 1967 bushfires which burnt out the track and its surrounds (final meetings : Richmond 14 January 1967, Sorrell 12 November 1966).
Ulverstone, this track opened in 1908, operating as Rigby Park from 1915 before moving to the Showgrounds (736 yds) in 1934 where racing remained until track closure after meeting of 16 March 1991. The Ulverstone Cup was run at the Showgrounds from 1934 – 1991 (Devonport since 1994).
Westbury, raced on their own track (1000m) from 1912 – 1971 when they joined the Carrick club.
Peter Craig
21 April 2021
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
