Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club

Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club was brought to life from a sketch of the old Botanic Park Site - Drawn by the late Alan Stonemen During the late 1920's the specific form of Greyhound Racing known as "Speed Coursing" was rapidly gaining in popularity. This new type of racing meant that each event contested, consisted of a field of up to 8 runners, replacing the previous format Known as "Plumpton Coursing" where two greyhounds contested against each other.

In 1937 the Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club introduced an innovation by constructing a circular type track of 388 yards. The new circuit was shaped as a horseshoe, with a good run home to the finish from where it linked up with the straight track, which of course remained operational. Unlike the tracks of today, Whiteway had its catching pen right at the very end of the straight, which caused great excitement once the runners had finished their race, thus adding true meaning to a deadend effect!

In 1946 the district experienced one of the worst wet weather periods ever recorded and the ensuing floods which followed were awesome. Because the Whiteway track was situated in a natural hollow, plus the fact that a local creek ran right through its grounds, the area was to prove most vulnerable.

Public support for the industry had waned considerably and in the 1950's it became harder for clubs to rekindle interest in Greyhound Racing compared to the other codes. Consequently, the actual size of greyhound fields at Warrnambool fell to an all time low. A perfect example of this decline shows clearly at Saturday afternoon meetings where only 20 nominations were received.

During 1977 the club reverted to racing on Thursday nights, and it was around then that the grounds became known as 'Botanic Park'. Even with its name change the track still retained its natural habits, one in particular proving most upsetting - the presence of fog. Due to its low lying position, also the close proximity to the coast, the track was always capable of servicing up the sudden 'peasoupers'.

In 1991 the club took on one of its most ambitious strategies when it announced that it would be staging the first of the now famous Warrnambool Classic events, offering a winners purse of $50,000. The success of this event is now history and regarded as the premier aged greyhound event in Australia. The club is now promoting nominations for its 15th staging of the event to be held in April and May 2005.

The late 90's saw the club develop even further with a new function centre development being constructed and numerous upgrades to patron facilities, track upgrades and a new kennel block which was completed in January 2002.

The Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club has certainly come a long way and is now regarded as one of the most successful greyhound racing clubs in Australia, an acknowledgement to all who have contributed over the years.

Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club Contact Information

Address:
Warrnambool Showgrounds,
Koroit St, Warrnambool
Victoria 3280

Phone: +61 (03) 5561-2766
Fax: +61 (03) 5561-2768

Place a bet on your favorite horse now.