3 minute read
For 150 years horses have engaged in jumping races at Coleraine. Horses used to follow a circuit through the town, leaping over gardens and backyard fences.
Photo by racingsa.com.au
On Sunday the Coleraine Racing Club celebrates the milestone with the running of the 150th $35,000 Great Western Steeplechase (3500m), believed to be Australia's oldest jumps race.
Victorian Premier John Brumby will be looking on as trainer Eric Musgrove seeks consecutive Great Western Steeplechase wins after pocketing last year's race with Working Class Man.
“It is a great country track and a good race that the club puts on. It is as good as a city equivalent and has good prizemoney to boot,” Musgrove said.
“Racing at Coleraine is true country racing – the race day is well supported by a great country crowd and that's what country racing is all about.
“You go to some city races and unless there is a big race on there is no-one there, where as these race days are community events where a lot of people get to the racetrack to support the day.”
Last year, Naturalism gelding Working Class Man won by 3.8 lengths to provide Musgrove with his maiden Great Western Steeplechase.
Musgrove was confident Din could repeat the feat, however, he is wary of the classy opposition.
“He has been racing honestly and consistently this campaign,” Musgrove said of the Palace Music gelding.
"His last win was on 21 July at Moe over the fences, which was over a similar distance to Sunday's race."
Australian poet and horseman Adam Lindsay Gordon was so captivated by a day at the Coleraine races he penned his famous poem about being on `The Fields of Coleraine'.
He also wrote `Banker's Dream' about his experiences riding in and watching the famous steeplechase races at Coleraine.
Though poetry may be hard to find, there will be a wealth of live entertainment at Coleraine on Sunday including period fashions on the field, kids' activities and historical displays.
It is a town rich in horse history. Back in 1911 The Parisian won the Melbourne Cup for his Coleraine owners.
