Harold Park Paceway

Harold Park Paceway
Location Glebe, Australia
Coordinates 33°52′42″S 151°10′42″E / 33.87833°S 151.17833°E / -33.87833; 151.17833
Owned by Mirvac
Date opened 10 October 1902
Date closed 17 December 2010
Course type Harness racing
Notable races Inter Dominion
Miracle Mile
Official website

Harold Park Paceway was a harness racing track in Glebe, New South Wales. It was a half-mile track (804.5 metres) but was just 739 metres in circumference until some changes in its later years. Races were run over distances of 1,760m, 2,160m, 2,565m and the occasional 2,965m event during the 120 years that it was in use.

History

Founded in 1890, the course was first known as Forest Lodge,[1] and for the first meeting there were five events with total prize money of ninety-nine sovereigns.

Just prior to the turn of the 20th century, and before meetings commenced at Forest Lodge, the present Harold Park course, trotting and pacing was confined primarily to match races between enthusiasts without any serious attempt at organisation. Following some preliminary discussions, thirty-three of the sport's keenest supporters met on 4 June 1902 at the saddlery shop of J. McGrath, a well-known harness maker of the day. Those present at the meeting raised the sum of 19 pounds 17 shillings and 6 pence to launch the proposed club. The general contribution was 2/6 per person, while the maximum donation was 10 guineas by Mr. J.A. Buckland, owner of the famous horse "Fritz."

The club was incorporated on 10 October 1902, with twenty-two members paying a subscription of two guineas, and the inaugural meeting was held on 19 November 1902, the Forest Lodge course it was then known, being leased from the Metropolitan Rugby Union. Following two meetings at Forest Lodge, racing was continued at the old Kensington Pony course where it was conducted until June 1904. Racing was then resumed at Forest Lodge, which had in the interim period become Epping.

1911 was an eventful year in the history of harness racing in New South Wales. It marked the recognition by the Colonial Secretary of the Day, of the New South Wales Trotting Club as the Controlling authority of the sport in the state. From that year onwards, successive Governments have continued to give that recognition, until 1976 when the control was transferred to the Trotting Authority of NSW. 1911 also included the Club purchasing the course from the Metropolitan Rugby Union for 10,400 pounds.

The track was known as Epping until 21 March 1929, when, due to the confusion of the name with the Sydney suburb, it was renamed Harold Park, after the imported trotter Childe Harold – one of the great progenitors of the stock of the early night trotting days. The Kentucky-bred Childe Harold was imported from Glasgow, Scotland by Andrew Town of Richmond.

1 October 1949, marked the advent of night racing, as the result of legislation enacted with the support of all parties in the State Parliament. From its early obscurity, Harold Park has become known worldwide as the venue of one of Australia's most spectacular night entertainments.

From May 1927 until December 1987, Harold Park also hosted Greyhound racing meetings.[2]

Final of the Inter Dominion 1960

Night trots started in 1949, with the most memorable race took place on 13 February 1960, billed as "the stars racing under the stars", when the "mighty atom" Caduceus from New Zealand defeated Australia's Apmat in the final of the Inter Dominion before a world record crowd of 50,346. Over the previous two weeks, the best pacers in Australia and New Zealand had opposed each other in three series of gruelling and testing heats.

Caduceus and Apmat had been singled out as the best two chances in a star-studded final field, and throughout the heat series, it could be seen that the rivalry which existed between these two great horses had been carried on to their drivers Jack Litten of New Zealand on Caduceus, and the local champion, Bert Alley on Apmat.

People crammed every vantage point to watch the race. They were jammed on every square inch of the inside greyhound circuit and packed into what was the centre-course carpark. Those who were unable to see in the grandstand tore down timber and three ply partitions in the main grandstand. In a spectacular finish, Caduceus passed the post half a length clear of Apmat, with the Victorian Maestro's Melody a neck away third and Fettle a close fourth.

Caduceus received one of the most deafening ovations ever heard on a racetrack, but whilst the cheers were still sounding, the news was announced that a protest was lodged by Bert Alley against Caduceus being declared the winner.

This produced a most unfavourable reaction from the crowd, strange in the circumstances for they had turned against their own local horse. The stewards, however, dismissed the protest and Caduceus was the winner of one of the most exciting sporting events ever held in Sydney.

Races

The Miracle Mile has become the signature race at the Glebe circuit since in 1967. It was the brainchild of former President Len Smith. Winners have included some of the greats of harness racing. Horses such as Caduceus, Young Quinn, Hondo Grattan, Mount Eden, Halwes, Paleface Adios, Chokin, Westburn Grant, Village Kid, Christian Cullen and Smooth Satin have saluted in this famous dash. Paleface Adios contested the race for seven consecutive years from 1974 to 1980. The Harold Park race record is held by the New Zealand champion Iraklis. The last Miracle Mile run at Harold Park was won by Divisive on 28 November 2008. The Miracle Mile moved to the new Menangle Park Paceway in 2009.

The Inter-Dominion has been run on several occasions at Harold Park. Notable among the Inter-Dominion pacing winners was Hondo Grattan who won the first of his two Inter-Dominions in 1973 for Tony Turnbull. In 1980 Koala King gave Brian Hancock his first Dominion win. 1988 saw Our Maestro give John Binskin his lone Inter-Dominion success for the Bob Knight stable. In 1966 the Tasmanian Chamfer's Star made a clean sweep of the series for driver Brian Forrester. 2002 saw Smooth Satin add the Inter to his Miracle Mile, Ben Hur and Chariots of Fire. In 1994 Weona Warrior gave Brian Hancock another Inter success. Some of the winners of the trotter's edition of the series at Harold Park have included Hano Direct, Yamamoto, Diamond Field and in 1973 the NZ'er Precocious was too good. Patrons who attended the 2002 Inter Dominion Grand Final didn't know at the time that they were witnessing one of the last Inter Dominion's to be run at Harold Park.

The list of champions who have raced at the famous Glebe circuit reads like a "Who's Who" of harness racing.

Many of these champions had set unprecedented records and shaped history for track racing throughout Australia. A history rich in character and strong in honor. Many outstanding horse trainers and drivers frequented Harold Park Paceway religiously in its time such as the Legendary Donny McPherson who famously had many wins at the paceway. Trainers and drivers alike used to all visit the local waterhole (Harold Park Hotel) opposite the track, a waterhole that still exists today. The hotel brings a lasting memory to the locals of a time when Harold Park Paceway used to be a way of life in the Glebe area.

Champion Standardbreds from all parts of Australia and New Zealand have achieved great feats on the track and re-written the record book before appreciative crowds.

1952 Inter-Dominion Racebook

Closure

A members vote on 26 October 2008 voted in favour of the sale of Harold Park but with the proviso that the land be sold for a minimum of $150 million. On 10 December 2010 it was announced the site had peen purchased by Mirvac to be redeveloped for medium-density housing.[3][4] The adjoining Rozelle Tram Depot was also part of the paceway complex. It was turned into a food-centric retail complex that opened in September 2016.[5]

On 17 December 2010 the last race meeting was held at Harold Park Paceway with Karloo Mick winning the final event. A special commemorative racebook was issued for the occasion. The winning post was sold for $10,000 to Ray Hadley with the proceeds going to Lifeline. Other punters took home various other souvenirs from the 120-year-old paceway.[6]

The NSW Harness Racing Club re-located to the Menangle Park Paceway. There was a successful push for a move to Saturday night metropolitan harness racing with horse racing at Canterbury Park Racecourse on Friday nights in Sydney.

References

  1. ↑ Racetrack goes to the dogs but creates history 702 ABC Sydney 8 July 2011
  2. ↑ The End of Harold Park Australian Racing Greyhound 28 December 2010
  3. ↑ Mirvac wins race for Harold Park Paceway Sydney Morning Herald 10 October 2010
  4. ↑ Home Harold Park by Mirvac
  5. ↑ Cormack, Lucy (22 September 2016). "Harold Park Tramsheds open to reveal European-inspired food hall". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  6. ↑ Sun Herald, 19 December 2010, Emotions run high as Harold Park era ends, p. 50
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