Our Ghost Tracks.... Where are they?

[kung fu man]

We used to trial at Blacktown showground on a Sunday I think the groung the track circled is still there, Trialed at Hawkesbury in the centre of the gallops track, it was right handed and then swapped to left and had a couple of drives at Richmond on the grass dirt etc it was both in places they changed it from right to left as well and the home straight was very short.

[Adaptor]

Dean Hoffman, former editor of the USTA's Hoof Beats has written about five historic sites in the US.

The first two, Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island, and Good Time Park at Goshen, are both in New York.

Great reading: https://harnessracingupdate.com/2020...ood-time-park/

Good Time Park,, Goshen NY,

[Adaptor]

While looking into the many horses bred and raced by Jack McKay (Minyip Jack) , with Jack McKay ( JP McKay) training them at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds.
......I wondered whether they might have started their careers locally...at the Minyip Showgrouds..some of them did as they raced from 1919 to 1948.

The winners of the annual Minyip St Pats Trotting Club Open:

1941 Race Discontinued
1940 Don Ariel
1939 Admiral Derby
1938 Shire Wealth
1937 Shire Wealth
1936 Sams Wonder
1935 Last Principal
1934 Boy Wonga
1933 Miss Wonga
1932 Too Honest
1931 Boy Wonga
1930 Boy Wonga
1929 Plain Grattan
1928 Rowall Voyage
1927 Direct Girl
1926 Flying Ribbon
1925 Flying Ribbon
1924 Gratified
1923 Bettyshire
1922 Norvals Pride
1921 Blue Isles
1920 Madge Huon
1919 Desert Rose
1918 Dublin Post
1917 Valaze
1916 Experiment
1915 Blythe Maid

[Adaptor]

Glenorchy is a tiny dot on the Wimmera Highway, just out of Stawell. (Kev territory).
They trotted there.
Was this the track, or was it next door on what is now the golf course?

Queen's Voyage, the 1924 winner of The Glen Trot, was no slouch..winning in Victoria and then Kalgoorlie.
1924 Vic The Glen Trot, Glenorchy
1925 Vic Horsham/Wimmera Cup
1925 Vic Horsham TC Handicap
1926 Vic Horsham TC Flying
1928 WA Goldfields Trotting Cup
1928 WA Goldfields Easter Cup

The Main race at Glenorchy was The Glen Trot (Thanks to www.Classicfamilies.net)

1940 Vic The Glen Trot Dingley Dell
1938 Vic The Glen Trot Derwent Derby
1937 Vic The Glen Trot Derwent Derby
1936 Vic The Glen Trot West Wonga
1931 Vic The Glen Trot Truvale
1930 Vic The Glen Trot Abbey May
1929 Vic The Glen Trot Duke Alto
1928 Vic The Glen Trot Blacksmith
1927 Vic The Glen Trot Kelvinshire
1926 Vic The Glen Trot Abbey May
1925 Vic The Glen Trot Jean Galindo
1924 Vic The Glen Trot Queens Voyage
1923 Vic The Glen Trot Siams Gift
1922 Vic The Glen Trot Blonde Beauty
1921 Vic The Glen Trot Yellow Jack
1919 Vic The Glen Trot Almona

[Messenger]

I note in the 70's Year Books that Maryborough QLD used to have more than 52 meetings a year. Every Saturday they would run 3 races with some of the R1 horses competing in R3 - in fact it was not uncommon for a horse to win both
I wondered what became of the track (not listed on HRA's Tracks page), although being the Showgrounds it is probably still there - so what happened to the racing?
I found a story in The Gympie Times that said racing was returning in Jan 2010 after more than 20yrs absence but I am guessing it must have been short lived

https://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/...wakens/425583/

[aussiebreno]

I note in the 70's Year Books that Maryborough QLD used to have more than 52 meetings a year. Every Saturday they would run 3 races with some of the R1 horses competing in R3 - in fact it was not uncommon for a horse to win both
I wondered what became of the track (not listed on HRA's Tracks page), although being the Showgrounds it is probably still there - so what happened to the racing?
I found a story in The Gympie Times that said racing was returning in Jan 2010 after more than 20yrs absence but I am guessing it must have been short lived

https://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/...wakens/425583/

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...s/?mc=OX100110
That meeting was abandoned

Further article here

https://www.frasercoastchronicle.com...g-bac/2148898/

[Messenger]

Thanks for those Breno. Very informative
I am guessing the cost of fencing (to protect the viewing public?) has been deemed too expensive for the meetings promised