Brisbane Turf Club - Overview

The Brisbane Amateur Turf Club, one of the top racing clubs in the southern hemisphere was formed in 1923. Its main interest then was the Albion Park racecourse (now a trotting venue). It became known, and continues to be known, as The Creek because it was developed from a swampy marsh, which had a creek running through it. In 1997, the Club changed its name and is now know as the Brisbane Turf Club (BTC).

 Albion Park was established as a racecourse in the mid-1880's by a syndicate comprising Messrs Andrew Petrie (a member of the Legislative Assembly), DC Seymour (Commissioner of Police) and B Gannon. The race track itself measured only about three and a half furlongs and later its circumference was increased to six furlongs in the 1890's. Over the years, ownership of Albion Park changed hands. John Wren II was the sole owner of Albion in 1910 who later in 1912 also became part-owner of Deagon Racecourse. Racing ceased at Deagon in 1941 and to this day, it is a first rate training establishment. In 1922 the Creek was bought from John Wren as a going concern by a consortium, the leaders of which were Messrs GM Dash, E (Barney) Joyce and Alderman Allen Oxlade The Brisbane Amateur Turf Club was formed a year later from this group.

In 1933, the Brisbane Amateur club took over Doomben which was the defunct Doomben Park Recreation Grounds Ltd. Hence, Doomben Racecourse was born and has continued to be an attraction for horse racing enthusiasts and amateur punters ever since. The Doomben Track was opened in 1933 and, with its natural beauty, Doomben Racecourse is now known as the Garden Racecourse. It has a turf track with a circumference of 1715 meters, the straight is 350 metres and it is raced clockwise.

In 1982 Albion Park was sold to the Government and the BATC used the funds to upgrade its facilities at Doomben.

There is an average of 46 race meetings per year, consisting of 24 Saturdays, 2 Public Holidays and 20 Midweek meetings. Doomben has always attracted the best of Australian racehorses, some of international acclaim, including Bernborough and Strawberry Road.

'Chief De Beers' won his second Treasury Casino 10 000 in 1998, a truly memorable feat. He subsequently added the BTC Spring and the Chief De Beers Flying to his astounding total of 20 Doomben wins. Another Doomben champion 'Might and Power' is arguably the best horse in Australia if not the world after success in the 1997 Caulfield Cup, 1997 Melbourne Cup and 1998 Treasury Casino Doomben cup.

 

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