Geelong Racecourse facts for kids

The Geelong Racecourse is a special place in Geelong, Australia. It is a major venue for horse racing events. The racecourse we see today opened in 1908. Every October, it hosts the famous Geelong Cup. Many other exciting races happen here throughout the year too.

The History of Geelong Racing

Early Race Meetings in Geelong

The very first horse race in Geelong happened a long time ago. It was on May 1, 1841, in a place called Corio. Only three races were held that day. Later, another race meeting took place at "Airey's Flat." This spot was near the Moorabool River and Fyansford.

In 1849, people started to build a proper racecourse. They chose a large area of land, about 727 acres (2.9 square kilometers). This land was next to the Barwon River in Marshalltown. However, this location was close to Lake Connewarre. Because of this, the land often flooded, which made racing difficult.

The Geelong Racing Club and First Geelong Cup

The Geelong Racing Club was officially formed in 1866. Their first race meeting was held on January 18 and 19, 1866. A big moment came on February 23, 1872. This was when the very first Geelong Cup race took place at the Marshalltown course. A new building for spectators, called a grandstand, was also opened then. To make it easier for people to get there, a special railway line was built to the course in 1878.

Moving to a New Location

By 1907, it was clear that the old racecourse had problems. So, a decision was made to move it. The new location would be on Breakwater Road in East Geelong. This is where the racecourse is still found today. The Geelong Showgrounds also moved to this new site.

The first race meeting at the new venue was in March 1908. The Geelong Racing Club held its first official meeting there on December 12, 1908. At first, a temporary train platform was set up for race fans. This was on the Queenscliff railway line. But the railway company stopped its use after about a year.

Geelong Racecourse Railway Station

To solve the travel problem, a new train station was built. It was called the Geelong Racecourse railway station. This station was on the Warrnambool line. The Geelong Racing Club, the Geelong Agricultural Society, and the Hibernian Society worked together. They paid the Victorian Railways £1000 to build this important station.

Modern Upgrades to the Course

Over the years, the Geelong Racecourse has been improved many times. Recent upgrades include adding a third grandstand. This gives more space for people to watch the races. The racing track itself has also been improved. These changes help make sure the Geelong Racecourse remains a top place for horse racing.