Harold Park Paceway

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Harold Park Paceway is a harness racing track operating in Glebe, a suburb of Sydney, Australia.

Founded in 1902, the course was first known as Forest Lodge, and for the first meeting there were five events with total prize money of ninety-nine sovereigns.

Just prior to the turn of the 20th century, and before meetings commenced at Forest Lodge, the present Harold Park course, trotting and pacing was confirmed primarily to match races between enthusiasts without and serious attempt at organisation.

Following some preliminary discussions, thirty-three of the sport's keenest supporters met on June 4, 1902 at the saddlery shop of J.McGrath, a well-known harness maker of the day.

Those present at the meeting raised the sum of 19 pounds 17 shillings and 6 pence to launch the proposed Club. The general contribution was 2/6 per person, while the maximum donation was 10 pounds 10 shillings by Mr. J.A. Buckland, owner of the famous horse "Fritz."

The Club was incorporated on October 10, 1902, with twenty-two members paying a subscription of 2 pounds 2 shillings, and the inaugural meeting was held on November 19, 1902, the Forest Lodge course it was then known, being leased from the Metropolitan Rugby Union.

Following two meetings at Forest Lodge, racing was continued at the old Kensington Pony course where it was conducted until June 1904. Racing was then resumed at Forest Lodge, which had in the interim period became Epping.

1911 was an eventful year in the history of harness racing in New South Wales. It marked the recognition by the Colonial Secretary of the Day, of the New South Wales Trotting Club as the Controlling authority of the sport in the state. From that year onwards, successive Governments have continued to give that recognition, until 1976 the control was transferred to the Trotting Authority of NSW.

1911 also included the Club purchasing the course from the Metropolitan Rugby Union for 10,400 pounds.

The track was known as Epping until March 21, 1929, when, due to the confusion of the name with that to well-known Sydney suburb, it was renamed Harold Park, after the imported trotter Childe Harold – one of the great progenitors of the stock of the early night trotting days.

The Kentucky-bred Childe Harold was imported from Glasgow, Scotland by Mr. Andrew Town of Richmond, New South Wales.

October 1, 1949, marked the advent of night racing, as the result of legislation enacted with the support of all parties in the State Parliament.

The progress since then has reached heights undreamt of by those who attended Harold Park's inaugural meeting in 1902, and from its early obscurity, Harold Park has become known world-wide as the venue of one of Australia's most spectacular night entertainments.

Since night trotting commenced, harness horses at Harold Park have achieved worldwide recognition, and there have been some thrilling and exciting races conducted at the track.

Without doubt the most memorable is that which took place on February 13, 1960, when the "mighty atom" Caduceus from New Zealand defeated Australia's Apmat in the final of the Inter Dominion before a world record crowd of 50,346.

The scene was set that night for the very best in thrills, excitement, competition and drama. The previous week, the best pacers in Australia and New Zealand had opposed each other in three series of grueling and testing heats.

Caduceus and Apmat had been singled out as the best two chances in a star-studded final field, and throughout the heat series, it could be seen that the rivalry which existed between these two great horses had been carried on to their drivers Jack Litten of New Zealand on Caduceus, and the local champion, Bert Alley on Apmat.

People crammed every vantage point to watch the race. They were jammed on every square inch of the inside greyhound circuit and packed into what is now the centre-course carpark.

Those who were unable to see in the grandstand tore down timber and three ply partitions in the main grandstand.

In a spectacular finish, Caduceus passed the post half a length clear of Apmat, with the Victorian Maestro's Melody a neck away third and Fettle a close fourth.

Caduceus received one of the most deafening ovations ever heard on a racetrack, but whilst the cheers were still sounding, the news was announced that a protest was lodged by Bert Alley against Caduceus being declared the winner.

This produced a most unfavourable reaction from the crowd, strange in the circumstances for they had turned against their own local horse. The Stewards, however, dismissed the protest and Caduceus was the winner of one of the most exciting sporting events ever held in Sydney.

The list of champions who have raced at the famous Glebe circuit reads like a "Who's Who" of harness racing.

Champion standardbreds from all parts of Australia and New Zealand have achieved great feats in the track and re-written the record book before appreciative crowds.

Those few enthusiasts that attended the first meeting back in 1902 could have hardly visualised the changes, which would come to the historic Harold Park course.