Site 77 Jeparit Turf Club

Cemetery Road

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The earliest record of a race meeting goes back to January 1892. The program included a flat race of 2 miles, a steeplechase, high jump and pony races. At one stage a trotting race was included, with the horses being ridden.

Officials for a meeting held on the 7th of March,1894 included, Messrs. Jim Whitney-President, Alf Perry- Starter, J Rae-Secretary, C Berry, W Perry, C Whitbread, J Townsend, A Twartz, Stewards. This was a 7 event program with 60 pounds prize money.

It was a picturesque tree lined course formed on the flat between the cemetery and the Rainbow Road. Special trains were run from Horsham, Dimboola and Rainbow. In later years a taxi service was provided by the 2 local garages. It went into recess around 1929.

According to an article in The Horsham Times, Friday, 6th December, 1929:

“ANNUAL RACES ABANDONED.” “The adjourned annual meeting of the Jeparit Turf Club was held on Friday evening last. After some discussion on the advisability of holding the races on the date fixed, it was decided to abandon the next fixture. This step was taken owing to the unfavourable season the district is now passing through and also to give the club an opportunity of acquiring some tenure over a property on which the races are held, and thus avoid the annual expense of erecting temporary structures for the convenience of the clubs patrons.”

Races were held on Albacutya Station prior to the above mentioned fixtures. A story is told of races being held on the Jeparit township flat before building got properly underway, the winning post being placed at the front door of Carrick’s Hotel. Later on during street construction the skeleton of a horse was unearthed, it having been buried where it came to an untimely end on the race track.

Disclaimer: All information contained on these pages has been prepared over years of research from a small local volunteer group. The information is correct to the best of our knowledge. We always welcome suggestions for corrections or further information to add to the heritage sites. Please forward any comments to info@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au.