Ballarat Greyhounds

The Ballarat Greyhounds, also known as Morshead Park is a greyhound racing track located at Morshead Park, Sutton Street and Rubicon Street, Ballarat Central Victoria, Australia.[1] Managed by the Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club (BGRC) and overseen by Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV). This track hosts events like the Ballarat Cup and offers races covering distances of 390, 450, 545 and 660 metres.[1] Racing is conducted Monday and Wednesday and occasional Saturdays and includes Tabcorp betting facilities and video replays broadcast on and off course.[2]

Morshead Park
LocationMorshead Park, Sutton Street and Rubicon Street, Ballarat Central Victoria
Coordinates37°34′47″S 143°49′49″E
OperatorBallarat Greyhound Racing Club
SurfaceBurrumbeet Sand
Opened23 December 1978

History

The Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club was formed in 1935 and the original track was located at Broadway Park (the North Ballarat Sports Club today) in Creswick Road, adjoining the Ballarat Showgrounds.[3][4] The track was opened on 11 March 1938 by councillor H J Wheeler.[5]

Over a three-year period during the late 1970s a new racing complex was constructed at the present site at Morshead Park. The opening meeting was held on Saturday 23 December 1978 with the first race winner being Eddy Tornado trained by W R Dalton. The meeting included a match race (a two-runner race only, where two greyhounds are matched against each other) between Melbourne Cup winner Tangaloa and Sandown Park track record holder Darville's Flyer, won by the latter.[3]

In 2012, Morshead Park underwent a significant facility upgrade costing $3.2 million. The upgrade was split between GRV ($1.7 million), the Coalition Government ($1.35 million) and the BGRC ($150,000) and included a major transformation of the grandstand and race track. The first meeting after the upgrade was held on Wednesday 3 October 2012.[6][7]

Track distances
Distance (m) Distance (ft)
390 1,280
450 1,480
545 1,788
660 2,170

Ballarat Cup Roll of Honour

The Cup was first held in 1960 at Broadway Park over 496 yards. In 2020 the winner received $47,000 although prizes have been higher in the past.[8]

Past winners

References
  1. "Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club". Greyhound Racing Net. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  2. "Track results". Greyhound Recorder. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  3. "About Us". Greyhound Racing Victoria Ballarat. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  4. "Broadway Park Ballarat 1972". History of Greyhound Racing. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  5. "Coursing at Ballarat". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 28, 565. Victoria, Australia. 11 March 1938. p. 4 ("The Argus" Turf Guide). Retrieved 14 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "New Dawn For Ballarat Greyhound Racing". Australian Racing Greyhound. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  7. "BALLARAT'S BEST CALLED". Greyhound Racing Victoria. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  8. "BALLARAT CUP: Brockie delivers trainer his birthday wish". ballarat.grv.org.au. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
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