Menangle Park History - NSW Harness Racing Club

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MENANGLE PARK HISTORY

Horses and Menangle Park have always gone hand-in-hand.

Racing events had been held at the site of the modern course as early as the 1860s, although it wasn't until the early 1 Menangle Park Opening in 1914 900s until a proper racecourse was built.

In the balmy days before the outbreak of World War I, local architect Alfred Payten instigated the proposal of constructing a proper racing circuit, after numerous horse rides in the area the former AJC administrator had an idea of building a racecourse.

Through financial backing from well-known Sydney business squire, Joynton Smith, Payten designed the course for nothing, but mere pleasure of designing the racecourse that would rival some of the best in Sydney.

When Menangle Park Racecourse opened in 1914, it was to become so synonymous with the surrounding district that "North Menangle" quickly redefined itself as the suburb it is know today – Menangle Park.

The Racecourse initially was the home of thoroughbred racing events for many years and, during World War I , the course became a makeshift army camp and was used to train troopers in the famous Australian Light Horse.

The last galloping meeting took place on November 18, 1941 after which the course was taken over by the military and the club folded with the banning of proprietary racing.

With the outbreak of World War II, the course was once again converted into a military base, providing camping and training facilities for troops. An airstrip was even laid through the middle of the racetrack.

In 1945, the site was also the location of scenes for the film "Smithy", based on the historic flight of Charles Kingsford-Smith.

Seven years later, in 1952, the NSW Trotting Club, now known as the NSW Harness Racing Club, made an offer on the site and was to spend 20,000pounds on the preparation of a new 832-yard track – fractionally larger than the Harold Park track at the time which was only 807-yards.

Harold Park curator Bill Ainsworth was the supervisor behind the Menangle Park project.

The new Paceway was intended to create a picnic atmosphere with amenities for children at this out of town course and this successful promotion was pursued in the following years.

Unfavourable weather accompanied 5,247 people to the grand opening at Menangle Park on Saturday afternoon, September 26, 1953 when the course was officially opened by trotting's patron saint, Sir William McKell.

F.W. Peterson had the distinction of driving the first winner at Menangle with Peter Bobby. Casawin, an ordinary described performer, also won at the inaugural Menangle meeting, thus giving Lawrie Moulds the honour of having won at the inaugural meetings of the two New South Wales Trotting Clubs tracks. Menangle Park racing to a full crowd in the 1970s

The opening meeting proved successful with the bookmakers, in what was an all-tote meeting. The tote held 26,634pounds, an average of about 5pound per person as against 1-2pounds for an average country meeting.

With instant success, midweek racing was tried at Menangle in June, 1955 and proved to be a hit.

With ominous competition from what was to be known as the Central Trotting Association Clubs, Menangle was lit up in 1964 with the project undertaken by one time Vice-President of the NSW Trotting Club, C.S. McCallum. The job was so well done that from 59 entries, it won the Outdoor Lighting Award sponsored by the Illuminating Society of Australia.

Over the years, the course has continued to serve its purpose of a racing outlet as well as an out-of-town entertainment centre.

With plans underway by the NSW Harness Racing Club to upgrade the track and facility over the next decade, there is no doubt great times will follow in what is regarded by many as one of the fastest-growing areas in Sydney.