Gosforth Park memoirs

GOSFORTH PARK TURF CLUB


Gosforth Park Racecourse is perfectly situated only 5 km (2.5 miles) from central Johannesburg, and minutes off the major highway network that rings the City.
HISTORY
Racing started at Gosforth Park Turf Club at the turn of the 20th century. One of the founder members, Mr. John Wilson, who was also Secretary and Clerk of the Course, was born at Gosforth - a town in Lancashire, England. The course was named after his birthplace.

Gosforth Park Turf Club's history includes:


First in the world to hold a Jockey's International Test.
First to have photo-finishes in South Africa.
First to have broadcast commentary on a racecourse in South Africa.
First to have a sponsored race in South Africa.
First to have computerised on-course tote in South Africa.
First to have closed-circuit television in South Africa.
First to have aluminium running rail in South Africa.
First in Gauteng to have hurdle racing.
First with the highest stake for a weight-for-age sprint race in South Africa.
First with the richest two-year-old-race in South Africa.
First Top Fillies Race in South Africa.


No records are available for the first few years of racing at the club. The first recorded meeting took place on July 9th 1904 (as entered in Volume One of the Racing Calendar) when seven races were run, and the total stakes were R550.00 ($184.00), including a Two Mile Hurdle Race for R100.00 ($28.00), the biggest stake of the day.

Today, the stakes for an average Saturday meeting are in the region of R250 000.00 ($67 000.00) and for a feature day such as The Administrator's Cup day, the stakes can be in excess of R1 250 000.00 ($326 000.00). The average tote turnover today is about R10 ($2.6) million per meeting.
FACTS AND FEATURES
The track itself cuts a green pear-shaped swathe through the surrounding countryside. It is a course steeped history as demonstrated by the old mine headgear that overlooks the horses as they sweep into the home straight. Despite retaining its essential character, the management of Gosforth Park have ensured that on-going development to the racecourse has kept it's facilities up to the highest of international racing standards.

A unique feature of the Gosforth Park track is the aluminium rail. Installed in 1964, it was the first of its kind in South Africa , and is considered the safest on any for horses and jockeys.

Another interesting feature of Gosforth Park are the two graded bends. When the wear on the turf becomes excessive on one bend, the alternative bend is used, allowing the other to be repaired.

The control of meetings at Gosforth Park is the responsibility of the General Manager of the Club, Mr. William Hart . A Stipendary Board, appointed by the Jockey Club of South Africa and the Club Stewards - enforce the rules of racing.

All finishes are photographed by special cameras. In 1948 Gosforth Park was the first in South Africa to install an American Crowley camera, later this was switched to a Race End Omega camera with automatic and electronic timers.

Prints of the film are quickly processed to allow the judges to confirm the results or adjudicate close finishes. Prints are also made available to the public and transmitted to the closed circuit television.
FACILITIES
The course is characterised by superb facilities set in park-like surroundings.

In keeping with the Club's policy, the Stewards have accumulated funds over the years for providing excellent facilities for the public. Some R 20 000 000.00 ($5.2) million has been ploughed back into racing in the form of a new weighing room complex, additional grandstands and catering facilities for the public.

The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association complex is situated at the entrance of Gosforth Park racecourse and offers modern amphitheatre - type auction facilities.
The Ascot Room seats a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 200.
The Classic Room seats a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 180.
The Derby Room seats a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 120.

Other facilities include stables and exercise yards for 1,000 horses.

The Jockey's Academy, situated on the course property is a hostel for apprentice jockeys riding in the Transvaal. The hostel offers full accommodation facilities, and every morning a bus takes the apprentices to the stables to work, groom and feed the horses. At the end of the day, they are returned to their quarters by bus.

Headed by Graham Hawkins, The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association holds a number of sales during the year. The major attraction, The National Yearling Sales is held in March/April every year. In 1992, 800 yearlings were sold for R30 717 000.00 ($7.9) million with a record top price of R540 000.00 ($140 000).

A feature of these sales is the participation of overseas auctioneers. Other sales are held during the year at the complex for horses in training.

Gosforth Park offers everything of the best for racegoers, owners, trainers, sponsors as well as conference and function organisers.

Another 1st was the track turned into tar so that we could have noise cars racing around.

Oh oops the Benoni track near dunswart also turned into a hotrods track.

Pity Nigerians dont like hotrods so we could have kept at least one decent venue.

Oh wait i forgot the Vaal if you have a 4X4 to miss all the potholes not a bad day out.

Wow Emperors Palace and Carnival City look so boring compared to the options above.