 Ascot grandstand | |
| Location | Ascot, Western Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31°56′06″S 115°55′30″E / 31.935°S 115.925°E / -31.935; 115.925 (Ascot Racecourse) |
| Operated by | Perth Racing |
| Date opened | March 1848; 176 years ago (1848-03) |
| Screened on | Seven Network |
| Race type | Flat |
| Course type | Tri-oval |
| Notable races | |
| Official website | |
Ascot Racecourse is the major racecourse in Perth, Western Australia, situated approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) east of the Perth central business district, with the headquarters of the Perth Racing positioned directly opposite.
It is regarded as the "grand old lady" of Australian racecourses. It has a 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) track with modern, well drained turf, and a 300-metre (980 ft) track 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.
The inaugural Perth Cup was held in 1887. In 1885 a railway was constructed to the northern side of Swan River opposite the racecourse. The railway was extended across the river to the racecourse in 1897. The railway and station were removed in 1957.
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
- hcp - handicap
- sw - set weights
- wfa - weight for age
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.
See also
- Belmont Park, Perth Racing's alternate season track to Ascot
- Ascot Racecourse in the United Kingdom.
References
- Ascot
- City of Belmont (Heritage) Inventory 2012 page 3; noting this has been superseded by https://www.belmont.wa.gov.au/docs/ecm/adopted-27-june-2023-ocm-local-heritage-survey-and-heritage-list.pdf
- W. A. Turf Club centenary, 1852-1952, Periodicals Division, West Australian Newspapers, 1952, retrieved 1 April 2024
- "A history of Ascot" (PDF). City of Belmont. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- "Amateur riders rode in the first Perth Cup race in 1887 Perth Cup History". Western Mail. Vol. 60, no. 3, 200. Western Australia. 27 December 1945. p. 40. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Sporting". The West Australian. 30 November 1885. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- City of Belmont (Heritage) Inventory 2012 page 3
- West Australian Newspapers (1957), Partly demolished Belmont Railway Bridge looking towards Bayswater, retrieved 27 July 2017
- "Perth Cup". horseracing.com.au. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
Media related to Ascot Racecourse, Perth at Wikimedia Commons