Globe Derby Harness Racing

Harness racing is also widely known as trotting and is proven to be one of the hottest spectator sports in Australia. As a matter of fact, there is a totally of 91 harness racing tracks all over Australia holding more than 1,900 meetings every year! Betting sure is popular for this sport, raking huge amounts of money annually. There’s an estimate of 2,900 drivers and 4,000 trainers of about 5,000 Standardbred horses registered each race year.

In South Australia, harness racing is administered by Harness Racing South Australia (HRSA), where Globe derby Park in Adelaide is considered the premier racecourse. The Globe Derby Park is located close to the central business district of Adelaide, just 15 kilometers north of the city center.

Globe Derby Park was named after a stallion named Globe Derby, which was considered the most influential horse in Australian harness racing during the late 60s. It was the South Australian Trotting Club that awarded this name to the Racecourse. Meanwhile, the Salisbury suburb where the racetrack is located was also named after the stallion. According to one of the established names of SA harness racing, Jim Hurley, they have been referring to the racetrack as Globe Derby even before the track’s official opening in 1969. Globe Derby Park first held its public meeting on the afternoon of June 24th, 1969. All harness races in Adelaide were first held at the Wayville Showground from 1934, but starting April 14th 1973, all Adelaide race meetings were moved at Globe Derby Park.

The track has an overall measurement of 845.50 meters in circumference and 150.90 meters in straight length. Its surface is made of crushed granite, and follows a counterclockwise direction. When it comes to on track facilities, it boasts a great set of family facilities that include a vast grassy area close to where all the action is! You can also find trackside dining here, full TAB facilities, a bar, and even pokie machines.

Races are held in Globe Derby Park every Saturday and Monday of the week and Fridays as well during winter season. Races are held all year round. Some of the most popular events held in the said racecourse are the Summer Carnival held every January of the year, Trotters Carnival held every June, Ladies Night Out in March, the Media Cup Night every May and 2YO and 3YO Southern Cross Finals every July of the year. Historically, it has held the famous Inter Dominion harness racing series in the years 1990, 1997 and 2007.

 

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