Pinjarra Park Racecourse was established as far back as 1891, when its horse racing activities began. This historic racecourse is situated in the picturesque Peel region of Western Australia just 85km due south of Perth’s main city centre. The racetrack itself is set against the Darling Scarp and is surrounded by trees and manicured lawns, making it an ideal environment for horse race spectatorship.
The Pinjarra Park racecourse is run by the Pinjarra Race Club, is oval in shape and has a maximum running distance of 1,837 metres, with a home straight of 336 metres. This racecourse is home to the Pinjarra Race Club’s most prestigious events, including the 1,200 metre Pinjarra Cup and the 1,500 metre Pinjarra Classic races.
The History of Pinjarra
The area of Pinjarra is one that is rich in history, being the home town of State Premier Ross McLarty. Pinjarra is also close to the site where the Battle of Pinjarra occurred, in which a number of Aboriginal Noongars were killed by the British colonists in 1834.
The name of the town has often been shown spelt “Pinjarrup” on earlier maps of Australian territory, and for many years the common spelling was “Pinjarrah”. There are many different theories around the meaning of the town’s name. To most, it means “place of swamp”, a variation of the Aboriginal term “beenjarrup”. Pinjarra is also likely named after the Pindjarup Aboriginal people who inhabited the area for many years.
Horse Racing in Australia
Horse racing is a wildly popular in most, if not all, regions of Australia, including Pinjarra. Australia is home to more than 400 dedicated racecourses that span across all provinces and offer Metropolitan, Provincial and Country racing action. While Metropolitan racetracks host larger international races, Provincial and Country tracks tend to host smaller local events. Studies have indicated that horse racing is the third most highly attended and watched sport in the country, with only rugby and AFL premiership betting proving as popular.
Pinjarra Cup Race Details
The Pinjarra Cup racing event is held at the Pinjarra Park Racecourse every year, usually in late March or early April. This thoroughbred racing event includes a number of entertainment factors apart from the races themselves. Spectators can enjoy modern amenities like air-conditioned restaurants and grandstands, additional on-course facilities and live entertainment. The Pinjarra Cup awards a prize money amount of $120,000.
2015 Pinjarra Cup Winners
The 2015 Pinjarra Cup was held at the Pinjarra Park Racecourse on the 29th of March. The race was won by Danny Miller and Kirov Boy, who clocked in at 2:24.56. S O’Donnell and Ask Me Nicely from New Zealand claimed second place, and Lucy Warwick with Global Flirt came in at a solid third place.
Other Events at Pinjarra Park Racecourse
Other events hosted by the Pinjarra Park Racecourse include the Pinjarra Classic, which is held in February just before the Pinjarra Cup and offers a prize of $120,000. The Pinjarra Cup and Pinjarra Classic races usually form the showpiece events of the Pinjarra Park Racecourse’s nine-race meeting, which is held annually. In 2015, Black Heart Bart and Glenn Smith took first place during the Pinjarra Classic.