OPENING OF GOULBURN RACECOURSE, 1949

Opening of Goulburn Racecourse 1949_Bradley Photograhers.jpg

Mark Bradley of Bradley Photographers sent me this priceless piece of country racing history. This photo was snapped almost 70 years ago, and features George Moore on one of his rare bush excursions.

It was Wednesday October 12th,1949, the date of the opening of the new Goulburn racecourse. Heavy overnight rain had soaked the track and with showers persisting on race morning, a predicted record crowd was sadly depleted.

Several prominent Sydney trainers and jockeys supported the meeting, including T.J.Smith and G.Moore - both in ebullient mood following their A.J.C Derby win with the maiden Playboy, just eleven days earlier.

There has to be an explanation for the stirrup length George employed on the Smith trained Tyrant, his first ride of the day. Maybe the great jockey was expecting the three year old colt to “buck” or “pig root” and took the necessary precaution.

The race was a Maiden Hcp over 5 furlongs. Tyrant narrowly defeated Noogee (“Skeeter” Hazelton) with San Marcos (F.Huckings) third.

There was a minor sensation after the race when George Moore declared the track unsafe and forfeited his later rides. It appears he was the only rider to take such action. How would stewards react today under the same circumstances?.

Moore’s assessment of the track was partly vindicated later in the day, when one of Doug Weir’s mounts slipped and fell in the straight. Weir escaped injury.

The biggest talking point of the day was the Julius Premier Totemobile, on its first day of operations outside the metropolitan area. The revolutionary betting machine was just over 9 metres in length and painted a vivid yellow. It was manned by a staff of seven, who handled a total investment of 4000 pounds on the day (a bit under $7,500 - a healthy sum in 1949).

The Goulburn Harness Racing Club took over the old Braidwood Rd venue, when the Goulburn & District Racing Club moved to its new premises in 1999.

Footnote. It’s unlikely George Moore ever rode quite that “long” again.