Rosehill Gardens Racecourse’s legendary moments in racing history
It may be perceived as playing second fiddle to Randwick, but Rosehill Gardens Racecourse has its own rich history. From Phar Lap’s first win, to Houdini’s airbourne performance and much more. See the incredible moments.
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It’s a fair bet that few racecourses around the country could rival the iconic Rosehill Gardens Racecourse for its rich history of colourful characters, champion horses and legendary moments.
But a “once in a generation” plan put to the state government by the Australian Turf Club its time as a racing facility could be on the home stretch.
A historic deal to transform Rosehill racecourse into a 25,000-home community with a new school and Metro station while delivering billions of dollars into the racing industry could be inked as early as next year.
Here’s a look at some of the incredible moments of the site’s history:
Phar Lap had his first win there, escape artist Harry Houdini did tricks in his rickety biplane there and modern-day wonder Winx based her home there, going on to win four consecutive George Ryder Stakes.
Appropriately enough for a racecourse with such a rich cultural history, it was built by colonial theatre entrepreneur John Bennett, who gambled that it would be worth building a railway line directly to his new racecourse back in the 1880s, ensuring punters could easily visit.
It was a gamble that paid off, helping set the stage for the popular race track for almost a century and a half, and perhaps ensuring it would also fall victim to its own success when Sydney’s land prices soared.
The track, just 17km from the CBD, was also the site of the first ever controlled airplane flight in NSW on April 18, 1910 – by famous escape artist Harry Houdini.
The American daredevil and stuntman paid the racecourse 100 pounds in rent to do several flights in his own biplane, watched by thousands. He rose to 150 feet and circled the course before the engine cut out, drawing horrified gasps, but landed safely, with just a broken wheel.
The popularity of Rosehill was cemented when it established the Golden Slipper in 1957, which went on to become a signature event and attracted record crowds in the 1960s.
The 1200m race for two year old horses – with prize money now of $5 million – is the richest such race in the world.
It was at the Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens that adman John Singleton famously shouted the bar for 23,700 racegoers after he astonishingly won $2.5 million in prize money for his filly Belle Du Jour, who had got off to a bad start. The drinks bill reportedly cost him more than $100,000.
“It would certainly be the most exciting, unforgettable day I’ve ever had,” Singleton later recalled. “You can’t top that.”
Singo must have been in a particularly happy frame of mind, as he’d already given former Prime Minister Bob Hawke a 25-per-cent share in Belle du Jour – who was a 9-1 chance - as a 70th birthday present.
Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse also had a lucky break at Rose Hill. In 2001, her horse Mulan Princess won in the Hill Stakes, starting a run of successes for Waterhouse as the horses she trained went on to win the race in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006.
One of Rosehill Gardens’ early claims to fame was to host Phar Lap’s first win on April 27, 1929.
The legendary horse won the Maiden Juvenile Handicap, ridden by a 17-year-old apprentice.
Phar Lap went on to win 37 races from 51 starts, capturing the public’s imagination during the fraught years of the Great Depression.
Another legendary champion, Winx, is also strongly associated with Rosehill Gardens after winning four consecutive George Ryder Stakes at her home track.
The mare was stabled at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse by trainer Chris Waller and became synonymous with the track during her incredible run of winning her last 33 races undefeated.
It was reported that when she raced at the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, the on-course bookmakers would always lower the price to limit their liability and balance the books knowing she was such a winner.
She retired as the world’s richest racehorses in 2019 and now it looks like it’s also the last finishing post for the popular Rosehill Gardens, which is set to earn the Australian Turf Club one of the richest jackpots ever imagined.
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