Morphettville Racecourse

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Morphettville Racecourse
Morphetteville RC 01.jpg
View of the racecourse and winners' circle from the grandstand
Location Morphettville, Adelaide, South Australia
Coordinates 34°58′41″S138°32′34″E / 34.978076°S 138.542747°E / -34.978076; 138.542747
Owned by South Australian Jockey Club
Date opened3 January 1876 (1876-01-03)
Official website
World War I Expeditionary Force soldiers undergoing physical training at Morphettville Racecourse Expeditionary Forces World War One - soldiers exercising (Morphettville Racecourse)(GN01391).jpg
World War I Expeditionary Force soldiers undergoing physical training at Morphettville Racecourse

Morphettville Racecourse is the main horse racing course for the Australian state of South Australia, incorporating two separate tracks. Home to the South Australian Jockey Club, it is situated in the Adelaide suburb of Morphettville, 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) from the Adelaide city centre.

Contents

History

After years of using grounds at the East Parklands ("The Old Adelaide Racecourse", later known as Victoria Park), rented from the Adelaide City Council, a group which became the South Australian Jockey Club began using a racecourse (Thebarton Racecourse or "The Butchers' Course") at present-day Mile End on grazing land owned by E. M. Bagot and Gabriel Bennett [1] near the River Torrens from 1859 to 1869, when the course was abandoned due to insufficient patronage. After five or six years of existence in name only, the SAJC acquired, thanks to the generosity of Sir Thomas Elder, its own freehold property at Morphettville ("The Bay of Biscay Course") and held its first meeting there on 3 January 1876. [2] A breakaway group, which became the Adelaide Racing Club, continued to hold race meetings at the Old Racecourse.

In 2008, first Victoria Park, and then in 2009 Cheltenham Park, were discontinued as racing facilities;[ why? ] now Adelaide race meetings are conducted only at Morphettville.

Race courses

Main

The course proper at Morphettville is a long, flat course with a circumference of 2,307 metres (7,569 ft). The track is 32 metres (105 ft) wide and features wide turns with a camber of 4 per cent. A retractable winning post with hydraulics enables the SAJC to alternate the running of races with minimal damage to both tracks, especially with races taking place mid-week and increased racing through the winter months. Installed in 2009, it is a world first.[ citation needed ]

Secondary

The second track, known as "The Parks", was officially opened in June 2009. The Morphettville Parks track has a circumference of 2100 metres (6900 feet), and the track is 25 metres (82 feet) wide with a 5 per cent camber on the turns. A chute through the centre of the course that runs between the 850metre and 1550metre points provides for 1250, 1300 and 1400 metre starts.

Wetlands

The Morphettville Racecourse Wetland was a joint initiative of the Patawalonga Catchment Water Management Board and the South Australian Jockey Club. It was constructed by the Board and the Jockey Club during 2001 and 2002. [3] The wetland covers an area of 3.5 hectares (8.6 acres) in the middle of the racecourse on the corner of Anzac Highway and Morphett Road. Costing $2.4 million to construct, it includes 100,000 plants. The soil excavated was used to raise the level of the racecourse track. [3]

The main grandstand Morphetteville RC 02.jpg
The main grandstand

The catchment area for the wetland includes stormwater flow from two drains in Bray Street, south of the racecourse. Water enters a sediment pond where floating litter is collected in a net and large materials settle out. The water is then piped into the wetland, where it travels through a series of deep and shallow marshes. An aquifer storage and recovery system has been constructed at the wetland. The water flowing out of the wetland is ideal for irrigation as it has very low salinity. During winter months, water is captured and pumped into a tertiary limestone aquifer below the racecourse. During the summer months, the water in the aquifer is recovered and used for irrigation. Up to 600 megalitres of water a year is recharged into the aquifer, which exceeds the amount required to irrigate the racecourse. [3]

Access

The racecourse is just off Anzac Highway, on Morphett Road. Entry is via Morphett Road entrance or Tramway entrance. The Glenelg Tram operates throughout the day from North Terrace and Victoria Square through to Moseley Square (Glenelg). The tram stops on Morphett Road adjacent to the Morphettville Racecourse (Stop 12). A taxi rank is located inside the members' car park, where taxis pick up and drop off throughout the day. Car parking is also available.

Preceding station Adelaide Metro Following station
Marion Road Glenelg tram line
(race days only)
Morphett Road

Clare Lindop rides Essay Raider to win the 2013 Schweppes Handicap at Morphettville Clare Lindop in 2013 Schweppes Handicap.jpg
Clare Lindop rides Essay Raider to win the 2013 Schweppes Handicap at Morphettville

1954 racebook

Races

The following is a list of group races which are run at Morphettville Racecourse.

GrpRace NameAgeSexWeightDistanceMonth
1 Australasian Oaks 3YO Fillies sw2000April
1 The Goodwood OpenOpensw+p1200April
1 Robert Sangster Stakes 3YO+Fillies and Maressw1200April
1 South Australian Derby 3YOOpensw2500April
2 Adelaide Cup OpenOpenhcp3200March
2 Yallambee Classic 3YOOpensw1200March
2 Queen of the South Stakes 3YO+Fillies and Maressw1600May
3 SA Fillies Classic 3YOFilliessw2500April
3 Lord Reims Stakes OpenOpensw+p2600March
3 D.C. McKay Stakes OpenOpenqlty1100May
3 Robert A. Lee Stakes OpenOpenqlty1600May
3 SAJC Breeders' Stakes 2YOOpensw1200February
3 SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes 2YOOpensw1600May
3 SAJC Spring Stakes OpenOpenwfa1200September
3 SAJC Chairman's Stakes 3YOColts, Geldings and Filliessw2000April
3 The Jansz 2YOOpensw+p1200May
3 R.N. Irwin Stakes 3YO+Openwfa1100March
3 Proud Miss Stakes 3YO+Fillies and Maressw+p1200April
3 Auraria Stakes 3YOFilliessw+p1800April
3 Queen's Cup OpenOpenhcp2500May

References

  1. "Fifty Years of Racing (19)". The Daily Herald (Adelaide) . Vol. 9, no. 2594. South Australia. 13 July 1918. p. 7. Retrieved 30 July 2017 via National Library of Australia. Much of Seth Ferry's account is at variance with contemporary news reports.
  2. "South Australian Jockey Club". The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858–1889) . Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 4 January 1876. p. 6. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Morphettville Racecourse Wetlands" (PDF). Natural Resources South Australia. 19 September 2017.