Use Australia’s Best Value Bus Hire to Visit These Horse Racecourses!
Australians are known for their enormous interest in horse racing, and that’s the reason why the country has around 400 racecourses spread across different cities. There are provincial, metropolitan and country racetracks where a number of race meetings are held throughout the year. If you are looking to visit some of these top racecourses, make sure to choose Australia’s best value bus hire for your transportation.
Caulfield
Located towards south-east at a distance of 8 km away from the Melbourne CBD, the Caulfield racecourse is one of the premier racing tracks in the Melbourne suburban region. Home to the Melbourne Racing club, the first ever race at this venue was operated by Victoria Amateur Turf club in 1876. It underwent significant renovations in 1995 and 1996 with an extension in the circumference and widening of track. The racecourse includes rationally short straight along with sweeping long corners that make it really tricky for the horses to cross another from behind.
A minimum of 20 race-days per year was incorporated in the schedule as per the 5-year plan, which also included upgrading the track facilities. This venue is home to a bunch of premier racing events, which include Caulfield Cup, Blue Diamond Stakes, Underwood Stakes, Futurity Stakes, Oakleigh Plate, C.F. Orr Stakes and Caulfield Guineas. The season is at its best especially during the spring and autumn carnival, with loads of other events on offer throughout the year.
Canterbury Park
Hardly 15-minute drive from the central business district of Sydney, the Canterbury Park racecourse is currently run by Australian Turf Club, and is a major racing spot closest to the city. By virtue of its exceptional flood lighting system, Canterbury Park is one of those few racecourses in Australia which features night horse racing action. Every year from October to February, seven-night race meets are hosted by the venue, and is even more exciting for the patrons looking to put their stakes at the dedicated betting arena on-spot.
In addition to the exciting night meets, the Park is home to some popular midweek racing events, along with occasional Saturday race day. With circumference of more than 1.5 km, this race track is appreciated as an intimate course by many who love to feel the action very closely, and wager some serious money on their favourite jockeys.
Gold Coast
Close to one of the most popular Australian holiday destinations and the Surfers Paradise, the Gold Coast racecourse is one of the busiest in the country with continuous flow of midweek racing events and Saturday race meets happening almost throughout the year. The first ever race at this venue, which was earlier known as the Southport and District Amateur Race Club began in 1946 on a sand track.
In 1971, the club hosted a carnival on a lush green track, and three years later it became home to the Prime Minister’s Cup, which at that time offered the highest prize amount for a racing event, and is currently worth over $1 million in rewards. A number of other racing events happen at this venue operated by the Gold Coast Turf Club, and the main attraction is the annual Magic Millions Carnival worth $2 million that takes place every year in January.
Additionally, a number of events keep happening throughout the year with a number of restaurants, bars and bistros inside the course.
Randwick
Known to be the largest racetrack in the New South Wales, the Royal Randwick racecourse hosted its first ever horse race way back in 1833. This vintage venue was given the right to be called as Royal Randwick by Queen Elizabeth, and it holds over 45 race meetings throughout the year, which also includes the Australia Derby.
The fully grassed track of the originally known Sandy Course is spread across 202 acres of land with a track circumference of 2224 meters and 410-metre long straight. Recognized as the racing headquarters of Sydney, the track was initially under the Australian Jockey Club which formed the Australian Turf Club after merging with the Sydney Turf Club. There is a total of 4 training tracks, 20 trainers and more than 650 horses at the quarter. A number of race-day dining options are offered on-spot, along with a dedicated convention centre as well.
Belmont
Perched in between the river and the city of Perth, the Belmont racecourse which is also known as the Belmont Park is primarily used as winter course. It is home to the Western Australian Turf Club (currently Perth racing) who have been in-charge of horse racing in Western Australia for over 150 years. Currently it doesn’t host Group 1 or 2 races, but the Group 3 Strickland Stakes, Belmont Sprint and the Roma Cup is on the schedule list.
Throughout the winter season, a number of listed racing events take place, with the most valuable being the Hyperion Stakes, priced at $150,000. The race is run over a distance of 1600 metres by horses aged 3 years or above. By virtue of its exceptional drainage system, Belmont is known to be the best wet weather track in Australia. With a track circumference of 1700 meters and oval in shape, the horses gallop in anti-clockwise direction.
Toowoomba
Also recognized by the name of Clifford Park Racecourse, the Toowoomba is a leading provincial race track in Queensland operated by Toowoomba Turf Club. The first ever race at this venue took place in 1862 and was conducted by the Darling Downs Jockey Club. This racecourse is known for creating a history by holding the first race under lights in 1992, when the Waigani Drive won the Toowoomba Cup.
In 1996, it hosted the first ever night meeting, and currently holds night race meetings every Saturday, with a total of 57 meetings throughout the year. Till 2009, it was a grass track that was later turned into a synthetic one, which was employed first time for the Weetwood Handicap and the Toowoomba Cup. The racing track has three chutes, 1750-metre circumference and 360-metre long straight where the horses run in clockwise direction. There’s a separate restaurant, public bar and a carpeted betting area for the patrons.