View source for Warwick Farm Racecourse

{{Short description|Racecourse in Warwick Farm, New South Wales}}
{{About|the race course for horses|the race track for cars| Warwick Farm Raceway}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox racecourse
|name         = Warwick Farm Racecourse
|image        = [[File:Warwick Farm Racecourse, Sydney, 2009-03-06.jpg|300px]]
|caption      = Warwick Farm Racecourse from above
|website      = http://www.australianturfclub.com.au/
|location     = [[Warwick Farm, New South Wales]], Australia
|coordinates  = {{coord|33|54|39|S|150|56|43|E|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|owner        = [[Australian Turf Club]]
|opened       = 1889<ref name="Horse-Racing">{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/5200/Horse-Racing-Fact-Sheet.pdf |publisher=Liverpool City Council |title=Recreation in Liverpool: Horse racing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324090151/http://www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/5200/Horse-Racing-Fact-Sheet.pdf |archive-date= Mar 24, 2016 }}</ref>
|closed       =
|channel      =
|racetype     =
|coursetype   = 
|notableraces =
}}

'''Warwick Farm Racecourse''' is a racecourse at [[Warwick Farm, New South Wales|Warwick Farm]], a south-west [[suburb]] of [[Sydney]], New South Wales, Australia. It is used as a racecourse for [[Thoroughbred]] [[horse racing]]. The racecourse is owned and operated by the [[Australian Turf Club]].

==History==
[[File:Racegoers at Warwick Farm racecourse from The Powerhouse Museum.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Racegoers at Warwick Farm racecourse from the Tom Lennon collection, courtesy of the Powerhouse Museum]]
In the early 1880s [[William Alexander Long]] bought J.H. Stroud's Warwick Park grant north of Liverpool. By 1884 he had also developed his property across the river, [[Chipping Norton]], building stables and tracks. Long lived at Chipping Norton until 1901 when the banks foreclosed on him. His most successful horse [[Grand Flaneur]] won the [[Melbourne Cup]] in 1880. He sold the Warwick Park estate in 1882 to [[William Forrester (racecourse owner)|William Forrester]], who changed the name to Warwick Farm to match his initials. He became one of the most successful trainers of his time and in 1889 he and [[Edwin Oatley]] were the principals in the formation of the Warwick Farm Racing Club.<ref name="Horse-Racing"/> Forrester owned two Melbourne Cup winners, Gaulus in 1897 and The Grafter in 1898. Forrester died almost destitute not long after his last winner The Watch Dog, won the Ellesmere Stakes at [[Randwick Racecourse]] in 1901.<ref>[http://www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/LCC/INTERNET/trimDownloadDocument.aspx?number=056416.2007 Recreation in Liverpool: Horse Racing]</ref> Early in the twentieth century the racecourse was owned by Edwin Oatley who died in 1920. His son, Cecil, was the Manager of the property for a number of years, until 1924. Another son, Percy, was Secretary of the Warwick Farm Racing Club from 1906 until 1914. During [[World War II]], the racecourse was utilised as a camp by Australian, American and British armed forces. The camp was known as ''Camp Warwick'' and also ''HMS Golden Hind''.<ref>Sands Post Office Directories (1880-1932/33)</ref>

==Transport==
{{Maplink|frame=yes|type=line|id=Q22329564|text=Map of the former rail link}}
It is within close walking distance of [[Warwick Farm railway station]]. A free bus service between the racecourse and the station is available on race days. The racecourse was formerly served by a direct rail link off the [[Main Southern railway line, New South Wales|Main South line]] north of Warwick Farm station. Race day special trains from [[North Sydney railway station, Sydney|North Sydney]] and the city were able to bring racegoers to the racecourse entrance. This 1.63 kilometre branch line was owned by the [[Australian Turf Club|Australian Jockey Club]] and operated by [[CityRail]] and its predecessors. When the AJC decided not to fund maintenance of the line, it closed in August 1990.<ref>[http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:warwick_farm_racecourse Warwick Farm Racecourse Branch] NSWrail.net</ref>

==Motorsport==
{{main|Warwick Farm Raceway}}
[[Warwick Farm Raceway]] was built within the horse racing facility and opened in 1960. It became a major track in the 1960s and hosted major events such as the [[Australian Grand Prix]], [[Australian Touring Car Championship]] and [[Tasman Series]]. It hosted the [[Australian Grand Prix]] on four occasions in 1963, 1967, 1970 & 1971.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030214014214/http://www.tasman-series.com/tracks/warwick_farm/warwick_farm.asp WARWICK FARM Venue of the Warwick Farm '100' and the Australian Grand Prix]</ref> In the early 1970s it conducted a round of the South Pacific Series for Production cars. The last major race at Warwick Farm was the final round of the 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship on 15 July and the circuit closed in August.

==References==
{{reflist}}
 
==External links==
*[http://www.ajc.org.au Australian Turf Club]

{{SydneyRacing|state=autocollapse}}
{{Barracks Batteries Bunkers and Forts in Sydney}}

[[Category:Horse racing venues in Australia]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Sydney]]
[[Category:Sydney in World War II]]