Ascot Racecourse (Western Australia)

Ascot Racecourse is the major racecourse in Perth, Western Australia, situated approximately 8 kilometres east of the Perth central business district, with the headquarters of the Perth Racing positioned directly opposite.

Ascot Racecourse, Perth
Ascot grandstand
LocationAscot, Western Australia
Coordinates31°56′6″S 115°55′30″E
Operated byPerth Racing
Date openedMarch 1848 (1848-03)
Screened onSeven Network
Race typeFlat
Course typeTri-oval
Notable races
Official website

It is regarded as the "grand old lady" of Australian racecourses.[1] It has a 2 km (9.94-furlong) track with modern, well drained turf, and a 300-metre inclining straight regarded by experts as the most severe test of stayers in Australia.

History

In 1848 a race meeting was held on J.W. Hardey's "Grove Farm" alongside the Swan River. Soon afterwards a site was selected for a permanent course on Hardey's property - this became the Perth Race Course (later Ascot Racecourse). In 1852, the West Australian Turf Club was formed.[2]

The inaugural Perth Cup was held in 1887.[3]

In 1885 a railway was constructed to the northern side of Swan River opposite the racecourse.[4] The railway was extended across the river to the racecourse in 1897.[5] The railway and station was removed in 1957.[6]

Races

The following is a list of Group races which are run at Ascot Racecourse.

Grp Race name Age Sex Weight Distance Date
1 Kingston Town Classic 3YO+ Open wfa 1800 December
1 Railway Stakes 3YO+ Open hcp 1600 November
1 Winterbottom Stakes 3YO+ Open wfa 1200 November
2 C B Cox Stakes 3YO+ Open wfa 2100 December
2 Karrakatta Plate 2YO Open sw 1200 March
2 Lee Steere Stakes 3YO+ Open wfa 1400 November
2 Perth Cup 3YO+ Open hcp 2400 December
2 WATC Derby 3YO Open sw 2400 April
2 WA Guineas 3YO Open sw 1600 November
3 A J Scahill Stakes 3YO+ Open wfa 1400 December
3 Asian Beau Stakes 3YO+ Open hcp 1400 October
3 Colonel Reeves Stakes 3YO+ Open hcp 1100 November
3 Lee Steere Classic 3YO Open sw 1400 December
3 Prince Of Wales Stakes 3YO+ Open wfa 1200 October
3 R J Peters Stakes 3YO+ Open hcp 1500 November
3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes 3YO Fillies sw 1600 November
3 WA Oaks 3YO Fillies sw 2400 March
3 WATC Sires Produce 2YO Open sw 1400 April

Key

Culture

The Perth Cup is Perth's feature event on the racing calendar held annually either on New Year's Day or a nearby Saturday.[7]

See also

References
  1. Ascot
  2. City of Belmont (Heritage) Inventory 2012 page 3
  3. "A history of Ascot" (PDF). City of Belmont. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  4. "Sporting". The West Australian. 30 November 1885. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. City of Belmont (Heritage) Inventory 2012 page 3
  6. West Australian Newspapers (1957), Partly demolished Belmont Railway Bridge looking towards Bayswater, retrieved 27 July 2017
  7. "Perth Cup". horseracing.com.au. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
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