Harold Park Facts:
Site Ownership & History

The NSW Harness Racing Club (NSWHRC) is the principal harness racing Club in NSW and has operated continuously at Harold Park in Forest Lodge since 1902, when it first leased the site. In 1911 the Club purchased the site from the Metropolitan Rugby Club for £10,400.

In 2002 the Club took over ownership of the adjoining tram sheds site at a cost of approximately $2.3 million, funded out of the NSW Harness Racing Association Racing Development Fund.

Harold Park is a 10.54 ha parcel of land in the freehold ownership of the NSWHRC. It is bounded by Jubilee Park, The Crescent, Minogue Crescent, Wigram Road and Maxwell Road in Glebe. It is located only 2 km from the Sydney CBD and has direct access to public transport by way of the Jubilee Park light rail station and adjoining bus routes.

The site is within the LGA of the City of Sydney and borders Leichhardt Council. It is currently zoned Owpen Space under the Leichhardt LEP, 2000.

The complex includes the existing 800m track with associated parking, infield and staging areas, a large 3,000 seat grandstand (4 – 5 levels approximately 20 metres high), office/administration building, stabling facilities, and the now disused (but heritage protected) former Glebe tram sheds.

In the early and mid 1900’s Harold Park became the major destination for Harness Racing, drawing average crowds of 15,000 (and up to 120 bookmakers) each Friday night. At its peak in the 1960s the club attracted crowds of over 50,000. Harold Park major race meetings still attract crowds of over 10,000.

In the early 1900s the surrounding suburbs were home to hundreds of people associated with the industry and provided stabling facilities for many horses. With the changing nature of the inner city and land values over time, owners and trainers have moved to other areas.

Harold Park has now cut back meetings to Fridays nights to assist with the relief of the economic stress on participants. Most horse owners come from outer Sydney and rural NSW, often travelling up to four hours each way to attend the meetings.

The most recent decision of the membership and Club Board to relocate to Menangle Park Paceway, was taken in late 2008 after a Strategic Review of the Club’s viability and relocation opportunities.