Western Australian Turf Club
{{Short description|Horse racing organisation in Western Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
The Western Australian Turf Club (WATC), later known as Perth Racing, is a members club in Perth, Western Australia.
It was established in the 19th century during the colonial period, was modelled after Turf Clubs in England, and operated as an elite social club.{{cite news |date=10 November 1852 |title=Advertising |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65485517 |accessdate=11 July 2023 |newspaper=The Inquirer (Perth) |location=Western Australia |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=XIV |issue=646}} Since its inception it has been the primary administrator of Western Australia's horse racing sector. The club manages the Ascot Racecourse and Belmont Park Racecourse. Many of its racing-related functions were taken over by the body Racing and Wagering Western Australia in 2003.
The club was one of Perth's two most prominent members clubs in early Western Australia, along with the Weld Club. Many of its members were prominent families in the city's business and agricultural sectors, political or colonial elite, and successful professionals. Premier George Leake was the chairman until his death in 1902.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33175023 |title=Western Australian Turf Club. |newspaper=Western Mail (Western Australia) |volume=XV |issue=755 |location=Western Australia |date=16 June 1900 |accessdate=11 July 2023 |page=45 |via=National Library of Australia}} Many parliamentarians around the time of Australia's federation were also members of either the Turf or Weld club.{{cite Q |Q125995168 |mode=cs1 |last=Stoddart |first=Brian |chapter=Sport and society 1890–1940 |pages=656–657 }}
Publishing
- The Western Australian racing calendar. Perth, W.A : Western Australian Turf Club, 1890-1985.{{Citation | author1=Western Australian Turf Club | title=The Western Australian racing calendar | publication-date=1890 | publisher=Western Australian Turf Club | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/19063330 | access-date=11 July 2023}}
- Racing calendar. Perth, W.A : Western Australian Turf Club, 1985-1999.{{Citation | author1=Western Australian Turf Club | title=Racing calendar | publication-date=1985 | publisher=Western Australian Turf Club | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/19063319 | access-date=11 July 2023}}
- Racing Western Australia. Belmont, W.A. : Western Australian Turf Club, 1999-2005.{{Citation | author1=Western Australian Turf Club | title=Racing Western Australia | publication-date=1999 | publisher=Western Australian Turf Club | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/32721832 | access-date=11 July 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last1=Battye |first1=J. S. |author1-link=James Battye |title=The Cyclopedia of Western Australia |volume=2 |date=1912 |publisher=Hussey & Gillingham for the Cyclopedia Co. |location=Adelaide |oclc=758320957 |pages=385–386}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Cusack |first1=S. F. |title=Horse racing in Western Australia, 1833-1900 |journal=Journal and Proceedings |date=1936 |volume=2 |issue=19 |pages=47–58 |publisher=Western Australian Historical Society |oclc=757674889}}
- {{cite book |last1=McLaren |first1=Glen |title=Siren Song: A History of Thoroughbred Racing in Western Australia |date=2022 |publisher=Racing and Wagering Western Australia |location=Osborne Park, WA |isbn=9780646869964 |url={{GBurl|GtuMzwEACAAJ}}}}
- {{cite book |last1=Tomlinson |first1=Jenny |title=Born Winners Born Losers: A history of thoroughbred breeding and racing in Western Australia since 1833 |date=1990 |publisher=Reeve Books |location=Perth |isbn=0864450850 |url={{GBurl|wEgdAAAACAAJ}}}}
- {{cite book |title=W. A. Turf Club centenary, 1852-1952 |date=1952 |publisher=Periodicals Division, West Australian Newspapers |location=Perth |oclc=220810093 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6524152}}
{{refend}}
External links
- {{Cite web | title=Home {{!}} Perth Racing {{!}} Perth Thoroughbred Racing | url=http://www.perthracing.com.au/ | access-date=2025-01-28 | website=www.perthracing.com.au}}