Barrier
advantages: Of least importance at 1300 and 1600
The first Racecourse proper was laid out in
1862 at West Rockhampton near the present “Connor Park”
aerodrome.
The first properly constituted racing body was the Fitzroy
Jockey Club formed in 1863. It was succeeded by the North
Queensland Jockey Club. Neither had a very long life and Racing
lapsed from 1866 until the Rockhampton Jockey Club was formed
in 1868.
The Club conducted its first meeting on the 25th July that
year. Racing continued there till 1898 when the Club moved
to the present course.
This new facility was referred to as the North Rockhampton
Course and at a Committee Meeting of the Club held on Thursday
7th March 1912 a recommendation was made to the Trustees of
the racecourse reserve to the effect that the Course should
be named “Callaghan Park” after the oldest member
of the Club, Dr William Callaghan.
