Horsham Racecourse History

It is believed they were racing horses in Horsham in the 1850s, and club records show the first Horsham Cup was run in 1861. It is not clear exactly when official racing started in the town but it certainly has a long history.

The Horsham and District Racing Club was the result of a 1965 merger between the Horsham St Patrick’s Racing Club and the Brim Springs and Rosebrook Race Club. Despite this rationalization the club remained at a crossroads. In the late 1960s the Racecourse Licenses Board commissioned a report which found that the surrounds at the Horsham course were in poor condition and in need of repair. The Board urged an amalgamation that would have seen nearby Murtoa and Horsham racing at one venue. Both clubs immediately set about upgrading their facilities and are thriving today.

In 1992 the Horsham club joined forces with the Horsham Harness Racing Club and a trotting track and function centre were built at what is now known as the Horsham Racing Centre. Racing at Horsham has come on in leaps and bounds since then and the venue is fast establishing itself as a leading thoroughbred training centre.

Since 1998 racing at Horsham Racecourse has been administered by the Wimmera Racing Club, which is now a partner in the Horsham Racing centre. Growing the Horsham Cup Day in October is now a major focus of the new club, with Horsham itself growing every day to be clearly the largest population centre in the Wimmera region.