October
OctoberOriginal and best
Gosh. My letter (14/10) re Royal Randwick being Australia’s racing HQ sure seems to have startled the horses! In fact it has drawn out a few defensive and fractious parochialists!
Granted, Randwick has only held the “Royal” designation since formally conferred by Her Majesty the Queen in February 1992. But, while that is nice and points to class that Melbourne cannot match in racing, it does not back up my “HQ” claims as well as history itself.
Records show that racing in Australia was established in Sydney as early as 1810, by visiting officers of Governor Macquarie’s 73rd Regiment. In contrast, there were no formal racing events in Melbourne until 1838 — playing catch-up after 28 years!
The Australian Turf Club has its HQ at Royal Randwick — not Melbourne.
By contrast, the VRC didn’t formally race until 1864, 22 years after the then Australian Jockey Club first raced at Homebush. Again — catch-up.
Now this could go on, and I do thank those respondents Leigh, Dale and Mitch for their friendly retorting banter, but history speaks more strongly than populism.
Melbourne has enjoyed a cup or two, and a bit of a plate here and there, but the real strength of Australian racing has always been at HQ Sydney. Local HQ will always exist in each state, but there can only ever be one true racing HQ — that class venue, Royal Randwick.
In racing, there is no resting on one’s laurels. The Everest (1200m) is now Australia’s richest race on turf in this country — indeed, in the entire world. And what a roaring success it is. Punting and attendance records smashed!
Must be hard to see that Sydney has stolen a march on Melbourne again, but rather than grind the teeth and get antsy, why not see what can be done to “catch up” to Sydney again — it’s a well polished route!
Newcastle (NSW)