Barrier
advantages: Of least importance at 1200 and
1600
The
first racetrack in the Alice was on the Emily
plain on the East Side of town near where
the Federal sports club was later established.
In 1878 racing shifted to the Claypan site,
west of MacDonnell siding. A track also existed
in the heart of town, near where the police
station now stands.
The
Mount Nancy Racecourse was established in
1928, after a Royal Dedication of land was
made for public recreation. The last race
meeting at the Mount Nancy Racecourse was
on 18 June 1977, with the last race being
won by a horse called Abeson trained by Gary
Curnow and ridden by Tommy Gibbs.
Racing
moved to Pioneer Park on the South Stuart
Highway in 1977, following the closure of
the Mount Nancy Racecourse, which was on the
North side of town, approximately where Head
Street is now situated.
The
first race meeting at Pioneer Park, just south
of Heavitree Gap, was on Saturday 25 June
1977. The first race of the day was won by
a horse called Cobbs, trained by Dudley McIntyre
and ridden by Max Chapman.
