Canberra Racecourse

Last updated

Canberra
Location Lyneham, Australian Capital Territory
Coordinates 35°13′55.71″S149°8′24.39″E / 35.2321417°S 149.1401083°E / -35.2321417; 149.1401083
Owned byCanberra Racing Club
Date opened1962 [1]
Race type Flat racing
Course typeOval
Notable races Black Opal Stakes [2]
Canberra Cup [3]

Canberra Racecourse, also known as Thoroughbred Park [4] , is the major racecourse in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. It is located in the suburb of Lyneham, 6 kilometers north of Canberra's central business district. [5]

Contents

The Thoroughbred Park turf track proper has a circumference of 1,815 metres (5,955 ft), while the smaller all-weather Acton Track, built in 2004, has a circumference of 1,597 metres (5,240 ft). [3]

The racecourse hosts two major race days. The Black Opal Stakes is Canberra's feature event on the racing calendar, held annually in March, while the Canberra Cup is held annually in November. [2] [3]

History

The Canberra Racing Club was formed in 1925, with the first race meeting conducted at the Acton racetrack, now submerged beneath Lake Burley Griffin. [6] Approval for a new racecourse at the contemporary site was granted in 1950, but racing continued at the Acton racetrack until 1962 when the club moved to its current location in Lyneham. [7] [8] [9] The first meeting at the racecourse was held on 3 November, 1962. [1]

The original grandstand, built in 1962, was demolished and replaced by a new complex in 1987. [10] The following year, during a royal visit to Canberra as part of the bicentennial celebrations, Queen Elizabeth II attended a race meeting at the course and opened the new Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand. [11] [12]

In 2022, the ACT Government released a draft strategy document that proposed options for redeveloping the racecourse for housing, but later distanced themselves from an intention to close the racecourse entirely. [13] In 2024, the ACT Greens announced a plan to compulsorily acquire the racecourse to redevelop it in entirety as a new suburb. [14]

Transport

Transport to and from the course can be found at the nearby EPIC and Racecourse light rail station on the Canberra Metro R1 Civic to Gungahlin line. There is also a taxi rank [15] and parking available on-site.

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References

  1. 1 2 Hourigan, John (2 November 1972). "Racecourse is 10 years old". The Canberra Times . Vol. 47, no. 13, 270. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 28. Retrieved 6 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  2. 1 2 "Black Opal Stakes". Horse Racing Info (Australia). Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Canberra Racecourse". HorseRacing.com.au. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  4. ↑ "About Us". Thoroughbred Park. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  5. ↑ "Canberra ACT - History". Racing and Sports. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  6. ↑ Kelly, Graeme (12 March 1965). "Racing A new track and TAB have created a boom". The Canberra Times . Vol. 39, no. 11, 102. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 31. Retrieved 6 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ Blood, Greg (15 January 2021). "Canberra's sporting history hidden under Lake Burley Griffin". The Canberra Times . Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  8. ↑ Coleman, James (25 September 2022). "Canberra's horse-racing boss prepares to hand over the reins". The RiotACT. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  9. ↑ "ACT Due for Principal Club". The Canberra Times . Vol. 61, no. 18, 781. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 March 1987. p. 8 (Supplement to the Canberra Times). Retrieved 6 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "The ACT Racing Club's New Grandstand". The Canberra Times . Vol. 61, no. 18, 781. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 March 1987. p. 1 (Supplement to the Canberra Times). Retrieved 6 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "1988 Royal Visit". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
  12. ↑ "Features. An era of service to horse racing". The Canberra Times . Vol. 66, no. 20, 616. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 22 September 1991. p. 18. Retrieved 6 August 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ Frost, Harry (3 November 2022). "ACT government distances itself from plan to demolish Thoroughbred Park, Canberra's only horse-racing venue". ABC News. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  14. ↑ Lindell, Jasper (27 June 2024). "Greens unveil plan to ditch horse racing track for 5000 homes". The Canberra Times . Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  15. ↑ "Taxi Ranks in Canberra". ACT Cabs. 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
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