Yesterday is the annual Melbourne Cup, I believe today we have seen a lot of well-dressed handsome men and women in the street. The powerful influence of, Melbourne Cup, an Australian breath-holding event, is a testament to the city`s deep roots in horse racing.
Melbourne has a strong racehorse culture since a long time ago, as can be seen from the history of the number of races in Melbourne.
From its initial days to the end of World War II, Melbourne had a variety of racecourse. But Victoria government at the time thought that in the metropolitan area, only four racecourse should be retained. They are the Moonee Valley Racecourse, the Caulfield Racecourse, the, Sandown Park Racecourse and the most prestigious Flemington Racecourse.
(Moonee Valley Racecourse)
(Caulfield Racecourse)
(Sandown Park Racecourse)
(Flemington Racecourse)
However, in Melbourne, there were a number of racecourse once located around the metropolitan area. Some of them are desolate racecourse, others are well-renovated racecourse, with stands and modern facilities. Some of them are run by jockey clubs and some are privately owned tracks. The purebreds race on some racecourse, while the mixed ponies race on others.
As a city with a long history of horse racing, Melbourne has had many racecourse. Here, let the business circle for everyone to a little science popularization, one of the most characteristic of a few racecourse it!
1Batman's Hill
Melbourne`s first racetrack in Batman's Hill, is now the Southern Cross train Station and the railway track west of CBD. In March 1838, the Batman's Hill Racecourse held its first horse race. Two years earlier than the Flemington racecourse. The starting point of the field was now near train Station in North Melbourne.
2Boxhill
Built in 1851, the White Horse Hotel is located on the corner of Whitehorse Road and Elgar Road in Box Hill with a white Trojan horse on the roof.
There is a racetrack near there, not far from train station. It was here that Bob Lamarck (Bob Ramage) rode Cabin (Carbine) to win the Melbourne Cup in 1890 and his first championship.
On Easter Saturday, 1883, the Boxhill Racecourse held its last race. Meanwhile, a special train from Melbourne was ordered to take the contestants to the Boxhill Racecourse for the final race.
3St Kilda
St. Kitts`s Peanut Farm Reserve, located on Blessington Street, was the site of the 1847-1868 racecourse and hosted the annual St Kilda Cup..
The Village Bell Hotel hotel is connected to the racecourse and, Village Bell Races is also a popular pastime for Boxing Day people every year.
In the 1860s, the racecourse was ordered to close due to suburban developments. Despite some local opposition, the racecourse will not escape the fate of being locked up in the end.
4Brighton
Elsternwick Park in Brighton, formerly also a racecourse, operated between 1882 and 1891.
This is Victoria`s first racetrack dedicated to horse racing, run by the Victorian Trotting Club. Its first match was held on April Fool`s Day in 1882.
The club initially leased land to the Brighton City Council for £30, but Victoria`s government ruled in 1891 that its land could only be used for public parks.
5Richmond
The Old Richmond Racecourse is located in an area surrounded by Bridge Road,Stawell Street and Westbrook Terrace. Just on Bendigo Street, west of the old Channel 9 studio.
The tiny trot route has only five waves (a unit of length, equivalent to 201 meters).
Founded around 1892, it was run by the Richmond Pony and Galloway Club and purchased by John Ryan in 1906.
Wren faced the collapse of its gambling game business the following year after a new anti-gambling law banned betting on less than six waves.
However, the tracks were miraculously exempted through amendments promoted by Governor Thomas Bent, but they also limited Wren`s weekly activities at Richmond, Fitzroy and Ascot, at only 16 times a year.
The site was used to build public housing in the 1940s.
In addition to some of the above racecourse, Melbourne has a lot of racecourse. Although they are now missing, their existence is yet another proof of the city`s love for horse racing.
