The Western Australian Turf Club (WATC), later known as Perth Racing, was established in late nineteenth century as an elite social institution and administrator of the Western Australian

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

industry. They manage two racecourses in

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse ("ascot" pronounced , often pronounced ) is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. It hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 horse races and ...

and

Belmont Park Racecourse Belmont Park Racecourse is one of the two major horse racing venues within the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan area, the other being Ascot Racecourse, and is located just outside of the central business district on the Burswood Peninsula ...

. Some aspects of the clubs functions were taken over by

Racing and Wagering Western Australia Racing and Wagering Western Australia, or RWWA (often pronounced "RaaWaa") is a controlling authority for thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing in the state of Western Australia. The authority was formed to take principal club functions out ...

when it was created in 2003. At its establishment the Turf Club was modelled on the English Turf Clubs, mixing the political and economic elite of the empire, and one of two key social clubs for the related or intermarried families with overlapping interests in city businesses and agriculture. Consequently, most members of the legislative body were also members of the Turf and

Weld Club The Weld Club is a private male-only social club in Perth, Western Australia. Founded in 1871 as a gentlemen's club, it is named after Frederick Weld, the chronologically first patron of the club and the Governor of Western Australia at the tim ...

s, allowing the opportunity for private resolution of their mutual interests. Conversely, the notion amongst the populace until the 1940s was said to be that it would easier to be admitted to parliament than the Turf Club. The membership was composed of those who were born to successful colonials in Australia or from the titled families, or legal and medical professionals, newly arrived from England and receiving appointments in the administration of the state.

Publishing

* ''The Western Australian racing calendar.'' Perth, W.A : Western Australian Turf Club, 1890-1985. * ''Racing calendar.'' Perth, W.A : Western Australian Turf Club, 1985-1999. * ''Racing Western Australia.'' Belmont, W.A. : Western Australian Turf Club, 1999-2005.

Histories

* Cusack, S. F.(1936) ''Horse racing in Western Australia'', 1833-1900. Journal and proceedings (Western Australian Historical Society) Vol. 2, pt. 19 (1936), p. 47-58 * ''Brief history of the club to 1912''.

Cyclopedia of Western Australia The ''Cyclopedia of Western Australia'', edited by James Battye, was the pre-eminent written summary of Western Australia's development and context prior to World War I. Review of progress It was created at a time that saw progress, and was subt ...

edited by

James_Battye James Sykes Battye (1871–1954) was an Australian librarian who was the first chief librarian of the Victoria Public Library in Perth, Western Australia. He was a leading historian, librarian and public figure in Western Australian and also s ...

, Vol.2, p. 385-386. * ''W.A. Turf Club centenary, 1852-1952.'' erth, W.A: Periodicals Division, West Australian Newspapers. * Tomlinson, Jenny.(1990) ''Born winners, born losers : a history of thoroughbred breeding and racing in Western Australia since 1833'' Perth, W.A : Reeve Books.

References

{{Reflist

External links

* http://www.perthracing.com.au/ Sporting clubs in Perth, Western Australia Horse racing organisations in Australia