Why Choose Bunbury Turf Club

A RICH HISTORY OF RACING IN BUNBURY

Leading Regional Racing Club in WA

In 1854, a piece of ground, cleared by bullocks and handlers, was the present-day site of the Bunbury racecourse. The 1st race meeting saw Sir James Mitchell’s father win 4 races on the day. In 1874, the club was founded as the Wellington Turf Club and was renamed the Bunbury Race Club in 1892. The first Bunbury Cup was run in 1894 and was won by Tremloando over 2000 metres.

The Bunbury Race Club was incorporated in October 1931 and changed its name to the Bunbury Turf Club. The Club went into recess during the Second World War, from November 1941 to December 1944, with the course taken over for army training.

Interesting to note that in 1946, beer was rationed and difficult to secure. Beer quotas allocated for the Bunbury meetings were – 20th February 150 gallons, 19th March 150 gallons, 21st March 250 gallons – this being Cup Day.

A "Swampy" Start: The racecourse was originally built on an old swamp, which historically led to severe waterlogging and prevented racing during the winter months (April to October). The racecourse is approximately 170km south of Perth, and it serves as a major training hub and social cornerstone for the South West region.

The Bunbury Turf Club is famous as the training ground for elite thoroughbreds. The most notable example is Rogan Josh, who was trained at Bunbury by local horseman Colin Webster before moving to Bart Cummings' stable and winning the 1999 Melbourne Cup.

The Track Redevelopment (2021–2023)

Recently, the club underwent its most significant transformation to date, a $21 million makeover that addressed long-standing infrastructure issues:

• Raising the Track: Sections of the track were raised by over a metre to resolve the historical drainage problems.

• New Infrastructure: The project included a new 20-metre-wide turf track, a 17- metre-wide sand training track, and over 150 modern horse stalls.

• Modern Facilities: A new administration building, TAB wagering area, and a jockeys' pavilion with advanced amenities were added to meet modern standards.

Modern Operations

• Racing Season: The club typically hosts 23 race meetings per year, running from late May through to early March.

• Major Events: Key dates include Melbourne Cup Day, Christmas Racing, and the Bunbury Cup & Bunbury Stakes held on a showcase day of racing in early March on a standalone Saturday