Morphettville Racecourse


Morphettville Racecourse is the main horse racing course for the Australian state of South Australia, incorporating two separate tracks. It is situated in the Adelaide suburb of Morphettville, and is about 10 km from the Adelaide city centre, and is home to the South Australian Jockey Club.

History

After years of using grounds at the East Parklands rented from the Adelaide City Council, a group which became the South Australian Jockey Club began using a racecourse at present-day Mile End formed on grazing land owned by E. M. Bagot and Gabriel Bennett near the River Torrens from 1859 to 1869, when the course was abandoned due to insufficient patronage. After five or six years of existence in name only, the SAJC acquired, thanks to the generosity of Sir Thomas Elder, its own freehold property at Morphettville and held its first meeting there on 3 January 1876. A breakaway group, which became the Adelaide Racing Club, continued to hold race meetings at "The Old Racecourse".
In 2008, firstly Victoria Park, and then in 2009 Cheltenham Park were discontinued as racing facilities, and now Adelaide race meetings are conducted only at Morphettville.

Race courses

Main

The course proper at Morphettville is a long, flat course with a circumference of. The track is wide and features wide turns with a camber of 4%. A retractable winning post with hydraulics enables the SAJC to alternate the running of races with minimal damage to both tracks, especially with races taking place mid week and increased racing through the winter months. It was installed in 2009, and is a world first.

Secondary

The second track, known as "The Parks", was officially opened in June 2009. The Morphettville Parks track has a circumference of, and the track is wide with a 5% camber on the turns. A chute through the centre of the course that runs between the 850 m and 1,550 m points provides for 1250, 1300 and 1400 metre starts.

Wetlands

The Morphettville Racecourse Wetland was a joint initiative of the Patawalonga Catchment Water Management Board and the South Australian Jockey Club. It was constructed by the Board and the Jockey Club during 2001 and 2002. The wetland covers an area of 3.5 hectares, in the middle of the racecourse on the corner of Anzac Highway and Morphett Road. Costing $2.4 million to construct, it includes 100,000 plants, with the soil excavated being used to raise the level of the racecourse track.The catchment area for the wetland includes stormwater flow from two drains in Bray Street, south of the racecourse. Water enters a sediment pond where floating litter is collected in a net and large materials settle out. The water is then piped into the wetland, where it travels through a series of deep and shallow marshes. An aquifer storage and recovery system has been constructed at the wetland. The water flowing out of the wetland is ideal for irrigation as it has very low salinity. During winter months, water is captured and pumped into a tertiary limestone aquifer below the racecourse. During the summer months, the water in the aquifer is recovered and used for irrigation. Up to 600 megalitres of water a year is recharged into the aquifer, which exceeds the amount required to irrigate the racecourse.

Access

The racecourse is just off Anzac Highway, Morphett Rd, Morphettville. Entry is via Morphett Rd entrance or Tramway entrance. The Glenelg Tram operates throughout the day from North Tce, and Victoria Square, through to Moseley Square. The tram stops on Morphett Road adjacent to the Morphettville Racecourse. A taxi rank is located inside the Members' Car Park, where taxis will make pick ups and drop offs throughout the day. Car parking at Morphettville can be found at the following locations: Morphett Road Adjacent to the Members' entrance on the opposite side of the road to the racecourse. Anzac Highway, Morphettville Junction car park, entrance to the racecourse over the tram line.

Races

The following is a list of Group races which are run at Morphettville Racecourse.
GrpRace NameAgeSexWeightDistanceMonth
1Australasian Oaks3YOFilliessw2000April
1The GoodwoodOpenOpensw+p1200April
1Robert Sangster Stakes3YO+F&Msw1200April
1South Australian Derby3YOOpensw2500April
2Adelaide CupOpenOpenhcp3200March
2SAJC Coolmore Classic3YO+F&Msw+p1600April
2Yallambee Classic3YOOpensw1200March
2Queen Of The South Stakes3YO+F&Msw1600May
3SA Fillies Classic3YOFilliessw2500April
3Lord Reims StakesOpenOpensw+p2600March
3D.C. McKay StakesOpenOpenqlty1100May
3Robert A. Lee StakesOpenOpenqlty1600May
3SAJC Breeders' Stakes2YOOpensw1200February
3SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes2YOOpensw1600May
3SAJC Spring StakesOpenOpenwfa1200September
3The Jansz2YOOpensw+p1200May
3R.N. Irwin Stakes3YO+Openwfa1100March