Western Australian Turf Club

Horse racing organisation in Western Australia

The Western Australian Turf Club (WATC), later known as Perth Racing, is a members club in Perth, Western Australia.

It was established in the 19th century during the colonial period, was modelled after Turf Clubs in England, and operated as an elite social club.[1] Since its inception it has been the primary administrator of Western Australia's horse racing sector. The club manages the Ascot Racecourse and Belmont Park Racecourse. Many of its racing-related functions were taken over by the body Racing and Wagering Western Australia in 2003.

The club was one of Perth's two most prominent members clubs in early Western Australia, along with the Weld Club. Many of its members were prominent families in the city's business and agricultural sectors, political or colonial elite, and successful professionals. Premier George Leake was the chairman until his death in 1902.[2] Many parliamentarians around the time of Australia's federation were also members of either the Turf or Weld club.[3]

## Publishing

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* The Western Australian racing calendar. Perth, W.A : Western Australian Turf Club, 1890-1985.[4]
* Racing calendar. Perth, W.A : Western Australian Turf Club, 1985-1999.[5]
* Racing Western Australia. Belmont, W.A. : Western Australian Turf Club, 1999-2005.[6]

## References

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1. ^ "Advertising". The Inquirer (Perth). Vol. XIV, no. 646\. Western Australia. 10 November 1852. p. 1. Retrieved 11 July 2023 - via National Library of Australia.
2. ^ "Western Australian Turf Club". Western Mail (Western Australia). Vol. XV, no. 755\. Western Australia. 16 June 1900. p. 45. Retrieved 11 July 2023 - via National Library of Australia.
3. ^ Stoddart, Brian (1 December 1981). "Sport and society 1890–1940". In C. T. Stannage (ed.). A New History of Western Australia. Nedlands: UWA Publishing. pp. 656–657\. ISBN 0-85564-181-9. LCCN 82101009. OCLC 963830667. OL 3517729M. Wikidata Q125995168.656-657&rft.pub=UWA+Publishing&rft.date=1981-12-01&rft_id=info:oclcnum/963830667&rft_id=info:lccn/82101009&rft_id=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL3517729M#id-name=OL&rft.isbn=0-85564-181-9&rft.aulast=Stoddart&rft.aufirst=Brian&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Western+Australian+Turf+Club" class="Z3988">
4. ^ Western Australian Turf Club (1890), The Western Australian racing calendar, Western Australian Turf Club, retrieved 11 July 2023
5. ^ Western Australian Turf Club (1985), Racing calendar, Western Australian Turf Club, retrieved 11 July 2023
6. ^ Western Australian Turf Club (1999), Racing Western Australia, Western Australian Turf Club, retrieved 11 July 2023

## Further reading

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* Battye, J. S. (1912). The Cyclopedia of Western Australia. Vol. 2\. Adelaide: Hussey & Gillingham for the Cyclopedia Co. pp. 385–386\. OCLC 758320957.385-386&rft.pub=Hussey+&+Gillingham+for+the+Cyclopedia+Co.&rft.date=1912&rft_id=info:oclcnum/758320957&rft.aulast=Battye&rft.aufirst=J.+S.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Western+Australian+Turf+Club" class="Z3988">
* Cusack, S. F. (1936). "Horse racing in Western Australia, 1833-1900". Journal and Proceedings. 2 (19). Western Australian Historical Society: 47–58\. OCLC 757674889.47-58&rft.date=1936&rft_id=info:oclcnum/757674889&rft.aulast=Cusack&rft.aufirst=S.+F.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Western+Australian+Turf+Club" class="Z3988">
* McLaren, Glen (2022). Siren Song: A History of Thoroughbred Racing in Western Australia. Osborne Park, WA: Racing and Wagering Western Australia. ISBN 9780646869964.
* Tomlinson, Jenny (1990). Born Winners Born Losers: A history of thoroughbred breeding and racing in Western Australia since 1833. Perth: Reeve Books. ISBN 0864450850.
* W. A. Turf Club centenary, 1852-1952. Perth: Periodicals Division, West Australian Newspapers. 1952. OCLC 220810093.

## External links

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* "Home | Perth Racing | Perth Thoroughbred Racing". www.perthracing.com.au. Retrieved 28 January 2025.