Oakbank Racing Club, formerly the Onkaparinga Racing Club, is a
thoroughbred horse racing organization in
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
. It is responsible for the
Oakbank Racecourse
Oakbank Racecourse, also but less frequently known as the "Onkaparinga Racecourse", is home of the Oakbank Racing Club, a club which, until 2009, raced just twice annually, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday at the Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival, ...
and running the events of the Easter Racing Carnival on that course, culminating in the Great Eastern Steeplechase.
History
The
Oakbank course had its origins in 1867, when a handful of enthusiasts, with the support of James and
Andrew Johnston, proprietors of the Oakbank Brewery, decided to lay a track alongside the brewery for their own entertainment. Those involved were Andrew Johnston, William Tucker, Robert Correll (the local blacksmith), Michael Mullins, Frank Inglis, Thomas Ball and
Seth Ferry
Seth "The Master" Ferry (25 May 1839 – 20 October 1932) was a prominent rider, dealer, owner and trainer of racehorses in South Australia.
Biography
Seth Ferry was born at "Providence House", Ponders End, Lower Edmonton, Middlesex, where his pa ...
. Other early supporters were
Alfred von Doussa
Heinrich Albert Alfred von Doussa (27 April 1848 – 1 August 1926) was an Australian businessman and politician. He was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1901 to 1921, representing Southern District.
History
Von Doussa w ...
and Dr. Hermann Esau JP.
Facilities at their meetings were makeshift: Dr. Esau, who was nearly always the judge, would stand on a brewery wagon, and the grandstand would consist of two or three brewers' vans drawn up together.
A race meeting was held on a paddock belonging to
Lauterbach and Dohnt in 1868, but reverted to the Johnston property the following year.
Picnic races were held on
Easter Monday
Easter Monday refers to the day after Easter Sunday in either the Eastern or Western Christian traditions. It is a public holiday in some countries. It is the second day of Eastertide. In Western Christianity, it marks the second day of the Octa ...
annually from 1873.
The first Onkaparinga Handicap Steeplechase was run as part of the programme on Easter Monday 17 April 1876,
and repeated the following Easter Monday, 2 April 1877 as the
Great Eastern Steeplechase
The Great Eastern Steeplechase was an Australian Thoroughbred steeplechase horse race held annually at Oakbank, South Australia on Easter Saturday and Monday at the Oakbank Racecourse as part of the Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival. The first fixture ...
, which continues to this day.
Following the success of those events, a meeting held at
Woodside
Woodside may refer to:
Places and buildings Australia
*Woodside, South Australia, a town
*Woodside, Victoria, a town
Canada
*Woodside National Historic Site, the boyhood home of William Lyon Mackenzie King
*Woodside, Nova Scotia, a neighborho ...
on 20 April 1877, Dr. Esau presiding, determined on the formation of an Onkaparinga Racing Club to conduct races under rules of the
South Australian Jockey Club
South Australian Jockey Club is the principal race club in South Australia.
First racing events
The first horse racing events in South Australia took place at a well-attended picnic meeting held over 1 and 2 January 1838. In August 1838, ridin ...
.
The first race meeting held under the auspices of the Club was held on 6 April 1878. Stewards included Andrew Johnston (1827–1886) and J. D. Johnston. The programme consisted of:
*Maiden Plate (15 sovs.) won by John Hill's "Glenelg"
*Handicap Hurdle Race (25 sovs.) won by Seth Ferry's "Star"
*Onkaparinga Cup (100 sovs.) won by J. D. Stehn's "Twilight"
*Great Eastern Steeplechase (100 sovs.) won by Seth Ferry's "Darkie"
*Flying Handicap (25 sovs.) won by R. Holland's "St. Barb"
*Members' Steeplechase (ridden by Club members; 30 sovs.) J. T. Fergusson on "Barney"
*Hack Race (10 sovs.), results not recorded.
The name of the Club was changed from "Onkaparinga Racing Club" to "Oakbank Racing Club" late in the 20th century.
See also
*
Adelaide Racing Club
Adelaide Racing Club was a horse racing club which had its origins around 1870 but founded in 1879 in competition with the South Australian Jockey Club. The A.R.C. held their race meetings on the "Old Adelaide Racecourse" (later known as Victoria P ...
*
South Australian Jockey Club
South Australian Jockey Club is the principal race club in South Australia.
First racing events
The first horse racing events in South Australia took place at a well-attended picnic meeting held over 1 and 2 January 1838. In August 1838, ridin ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Oakbank Racing Club
Horse racing organisations in Australia