Randwick Racecourse

Randwick Racecourse

Randwick Racecourse from above
Location Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales
Coordinates 33°54′39″S 151°13′49″E / 33.91083°S 151.23028°E / -33.91083; 151.23028Coordinates: 33°54′39″S 151°13′49″E / 33.91083°S 151.23028°E / -33.91083; 151.23028
Date opened 1833[1]
Official website
Randwick Racecourse on Derby Day 2007
Randwick Racecourse on Randwick Plate Day 1920
Members stand and enclosure in 1952.
Randwick Racecourse in 1863
The racecourse tramway exit bridge in 1952.
Former 1920 racecourse tram station and southern exit at Ascot Street.

Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse is operated by the Australian Turf Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters. The racecourse is located approximately six kilometres from the Sydney Central Business District in the suburb of Randwick.

Since 2014, Randwick hosts The Championships, a two-day season-ending meeting in April that offers AUS$ 18 million in prize money. It features several Group 1 races such as the Australian Derby, Doncaster Handicap and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

History

In January 1833, NSW Governor Richard Bourke designated the land for use as a racecourse. Up until then, Hyde Park in the Sydney CBD had been the main venue for racing within the city. The first race held at Randwick was a private event held in June 1833. The course was originally known as the 'Sandy Course' due to the condition of the ground. In 1840 racing ceased at the venue and was only used for training.

In the early 1840s, the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) was formed and in 1860 moved it's headquarters to Randwick. In May of that year, racing resumed at the venue with a crowd of 6,000 people attending.

In 1863 the land was officially granted to the AJC and was held until 2011 when the AJC and the Sydney Turf Club (STC) merged to become the Australian Turf Club (ATC). The ATC are the current operators of Royal Randwick Racecourse. [2]

On the 22nd February, 1992, Queen Elizabeth II visited Randwick Racecourse[3] and opened the Paddock Stand. On this date, upon request, the Queen granted permission for the venue to be known as Royal Randwick. From this date the venue was officially able to be referred to as 'Royal Randwick'.

Races

The following is a list of Group races which are contested at Randwick Racecourse.

Grp Race Name Age Sex Weight Distance Date
1 Australian Derby 3YO Open sw 2400 April
1 AJC Oaks 3YO Fillies sw 2400 April
1 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Open Open wfa 2000 April
1 AJC Sires Produce Stakes 2YO Open sw 1400 April
1 All Aged Stakes Open Open wfa 1400 April
1 Champagne Stakes 2YO Open sw 1600 April
1 Doncaster Handicap Open Open hcp 1600 April
1 Epsom Handicap Open Open hcp 1600 October
1 Flight Stakes 3YO Fillies sw 1600 October
1 George Main Stakes Open Open wfa 1600 September
1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes 3YO+ F&M qlty 1600 April
1 Randwick Guineas 3YO Open sw 1600 March
1 Spring Champion Stakes 3YO Open sw 2000 October
1 Sydney Cup Open Open hcp 3200 April
1 T J Smith Stakes Open Open wfa 1200 April
1 AJC Metropolitan Handicap Open Open hcp 2400 October
2 AJC Chairmans Handicap Open Open hcp 2600 April
2 Breeders' Classic 4YO+ Mares sw+p 1200 February
2 Chelmsford Stakes Open Open wfa 1600 September
2 Emancipation Stakes 3YO+ F&M sw+p 1600 April
2 Furious Stakes 3YO Fillies sw 1400 September
2 Light Fingers Stakes 3YO Fillies sw+p 1100 February
2 Roman Consul Stakes 3YO Open sw 1200 September
2 Royal Sovereign Stakes 3YO C&G sw+p 1200 February
2 Sapphire Stakes Open F&M sw+p 1200 April
2 Stan Fox Stakes 3YO Open sw 1400 September
2 Villiers Stakes Open Open hcp 1600 December
3 Adrian Knox Stakes 3YO Fillies qlty 2000 April
3 Bill Ritchie Handicap Open Open hcp 1400 September
3 Colin Stephen Quality Handicap Open Open hcp 2400 September
3 Craven Plate Open Open wfa 2000 October
3 Frank Packer Plate 3YO Open sw 2000 April
3 Southern Cross Stakes Open Open hcp 1200 February
3 Kindergarten Stakes 2YO Open sw 1100 March
3 Randwick Plate Open Open hcp 2000 March
3 San Domenico Stakes 3YO Open sw 1000 August
3 Skyline Stakes 2YO C&G sw 1200 March
3 South Pacific Classic 3YO Open sw 1400 April
3 Summer Cup Open Open hcp 2400 December
3 Sweet Embrace Stakes 2YO Fillies sw 1200 March
3 The Shorts Open Open hcp 1100 October
3 Tramway Quality Handicap Open Open hcp 1400 September

Venue

The Final Mass for World Youth Day 2008 was held at Randwick Racecourse (dubbed Southern Cross Precinct specifically for the event) and was attended by 350,000[4] people.

Besides horseracing, Randwick Racecourse has been used as a venue for many other events including concerts and religious masses.

In 1970, Pope Paul VI celebrated mass at Randwick[5] as part of his pastoral visit to Australia. The Racecourse was also the site of a mass held by Pope John Paul II in 1995 for the Beatification ceremony of Australia's first potential saint Mary MacKillop. It was also the site of the vigil and final mass of World Youth Day 2008 in July 2008. Racing was stopped for several weeks, due to the alterations needed to hold over 400,000 people. This move had been opposed by the Randwick Trainers Association, which holds lease interests over some areas intended to be used for the event.[6] The dispute was resolved,[7] by the federal government and the state government jointly pledging $40 million as reimbursement to the racing industry.[8] The famous racecourse has also appeared in several films, including Mission: Impossible II.

Randwick Racecourse is also used as an exam venue by the University of New South Wales.

In addition, the annual Future Music Festival is held at the racecourse.[9]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Randwick Racecourse official website
  2. ↑ Royal Randwick Racecourse - Archive from the State Library of New South Wales
  3. ↑ Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip arrive in Australia
  4. ↑ CNN Reports on WYD08
  5. ↑ Search under Manuscripts and Pictures on New South Wales library for "Australian tour of Pope Paul VI Randwick"
  6. ↑ Back off, irate horse trainers warn Pell
  7. ↑ World Youth Day reaches agreement with racing industry - Article on Australian Jockey Club website
  8. ↑ Racing industry offered payout for Pope - Article on au.news.yahoo.com
  9. ↑ Future music fesival shines in Sydney
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