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Menangle Park Paceway
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Menangle Park
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Newsroom

Big Names A Priority

August 14th, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

Securing the best of North America's pacing talent for the Watpac Inter Dominion and World Cup is now a priority.

New South Wales Harness Racing Club Chief Executive, John Dumesny, left for the United States last Tuesday on a "flying visit" in an attempt to lure the cream of the crop to Australia. more...


Americans in Spotlight

August 7th, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

MISTER BIG immediately drew the attention of the World Cup spotlight with his tough victory in the $332,000 US Pacing Championship at the Meadowlands last weekend.

Stopping the clock in a rate of 1:48.4, Mister Big held off Artistic Fella in a great finish to what was one of the undercard races on Hambletonian day. more...


World Cup Americans

July 31st, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

The prospect of America's best pacers competing in the $1million Watpac Inter Dominion and the World Cup of Harness racing at Menangle Park is another step closer to reality.

This week the owners of two of America's finest - Artistic Fella and Mister Big - assured event organisers that they are very interested in a trip down under with their star pacers. more...


For Dear Life Challenge Success

July 24th, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

If ever a horse was suitably built for the new Menangle Park surface, it is For Dear Life.

Sleek, speedy and strong, the talented filly did what most expected her to do last Sunday at Menangle and captured the $125,000 Watpac NSW Breeders Challenge Two-Year-Old Fillies Final.

If that wasn't enough, she went 1:55.8 for the 1609 metres but looked as though she was in second gear the whole way! more...


Sue Hunter Fab Weekend

July 24th, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

Bad barriers proved to be no problem for trainer Sue Hunter after she collected two Group Ones in the space of 48 hours over the weekend.

First off, outstanding filly Kept For Pleasure overcame barrier 11 to win the Nevele R Stud Australian Oaks at Moonee Valley last Friday night, before Captain Joy secured the Watpac NSW Breeders Challenge at Menangle from the outside of the front line.

The latter, arguably, was the more impressive of the two, as he was forced to sit three-wide for a good portion of the 1609 metre trip at the new-look Menangle Park surface. more...


For Dear Life

July 18th, 2008 by Amanda Rando

Astute horseman Wayne Honan has received an ideal draw with his smart youngster For Dear Life in Sunday's New South Wales Breeders' Challenge Final at Menangle.

The daughter of Life Sign, which has notable fast gate speed, has barrier two for the Group One.

Honan was quite happy to say the least. more...


Grand Opening

July 18th, 2008 by Paul Courts

Without doubt the recent Grand Opening at Menangle Park was indeed a Grand Opening. The crowd was electrifying, the racing was breathtaking and everyone involved had a justified reason to slap themselves on the back.

Long before the big day, Menangle was touted as the future of harness racing not only New South Wales, but Australasia.

So far it has lived up to all expectations, with eight national records falling during the first two meetings. more...


Breeders Challenge

July 18th, 2008 by Amanda Rando

Trainer Matthew Harris has not had much experience winning juvenile features. In fact the only top shelf two-year-old event he can recall securing is the 2000 New South Wales Sires' Stake Fillies' Final.

The Junee Reefs mentor is hoping that will change after his classy youngster, Wrek Tangles, competes in Sunday's New South Wales Breeders' Challenge Final at Menangle. more...


Two age records have fallen at Menangle's first meeting

July 24th, 2008 - press release

The new, spacious 1400-metre track had been expected to churn out fast times, and today's opening meeting didn't disappoint, with the first race on the program producing a new national mark.

Jaccka Singh's 1:58.0 mile rate over the 2300 metres set a new benchmark for two-year-olds for the distance Australia-wide. Driven by James Ponsonby and trained by Michael Teuma, the quarters were run in 30.7, 30.4, 30.4 and 29.6.

Vegas Bound, trained and driven by Darren Hancock, then smashed the Australasian mark for a mile by a three-year-old with his all-theway effort in race six. more...


The best voices gather at Menangle

July 24th, 2008 - press release

The New South Wales Harness Racing Club has secured a major coup for their grand re-opening this Sunday at Menangle Park.

Not only will they get to show off their 1400-metre state-of-the-art track and its facilities with some of the best horses in Australasia, they will have the best commentators in the land to call the seven Group One races.

Local icon Kevin Thompson, who is the voice of Harold Park, has been given the majority of the responsibility on the day, including calling the main race on the 9-race card – the $100,000 SEW Eurodrive Len Smith Mile. more...


Cordina Ladyship Mile Invitations

July 18th, 2008 - press release

The New South Wales Harness Racing Club today issued three further invitations to the $100,000 Group One Cordina Chicken Farms Ladyship Mile.

The three invitees - Victorian mare MESMERIZING and Queensland mares, FLEUR DE LIL and ALL PROMISES - will contest the event which will be held at the official opening of Menangle Park, on Sunday June 29.

All three mares have imposing records and are currently racing in career best form. more...


One Step Closer - World Cup vision takes a great leap forward

June 5th, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

A HARNESS racing World Cup is another step closer to reality following the release of a preliminary race date for the event.

To be raced for $1million among the best eight horses in the world, the World Cup will be conducted on April 19 in 2009 immediately after the Watpac Inter Dominion Carnival in Brisbane.

It has also been confirmed that Menangle Park's new 1400-metre circuit and facility will play host to the inaugural World Cup of harness racing. more...

The World Cup promotional flyer can be viewed by clicking here.


Harness Racing’s Future Bright - Menangle Park Paceway Grand Opening

Harness racing’s future in New South Wales is about to get a whole lot brighter.

That was the consensus to come out of Menangle Park’s Open Day yesterday (Sunday), May 4, which was attended by approximately 2000 people.

The Open Day served its purpose by giving the industry’s participants their first look at the new-look Menangle Park facility, which is 90 per cent completed.

Without doubt the one thing people came to see was the brand new, state-of-the-art 1400-metre racing circuit, and it must be said, no one was disappointed! more...


2KY Outside Broadcast - Sunday 4th May 2008

2KY Racing Radio, the national broadcaster for the racing industry, will be broadcasting live from the new-look Menangle Park Paceway on Open Day, May 4.

The broadcast will begin at 4am with fishing program Hi-Tide, which will then roll into Hollywood and Zorba’s sports show and then into the Raceday program. more...


Open Day - Sunday 4th May 2008

Participants, NSWHRC Club members, harness racing officials and the wider community will have the chance to get their first look at the new Menangle Park facility when the NSW Harness Racing Club conducts an Open Day on Sunday, May 4.

With works on the complex almost finished, the Club is inviting anybody and everybody to inspect the Paceway with their own eyes.

Those who attend the Open Day, which commences from 11 am, will get to see horses being worked exclusively on the new 1400-metre circuit. more...


New Development of Menangle Park Paceway

Below you will find a selections of news articles published over the past four years relating to the re-development of the New South Wales Harness Racing Clubs Menangle Park site.


Menangle Park On-Track

August 2007

Families, local charities and youth organisations will be central to the marketing of the Club’s grand re-opening of Menangle Park Paceway next year.

The picturesque paceway will be officially opened on Sunday 29th June and plans are well advanced to mark the occasion with all the pomp and ceremony that befits the launching of an exciting new era for NSW harness racing. more...


Members Volunteer for Menangle Park

June 2007

Industry enthusiasm for the Club’s Menangle Park project continues to grow with a band of dedicated volunteers now involved in the re-development.

With the volunteer group made up of industry participants, Club Members, Board Members and staff, work has started on demolishing the interiors of the existing facilities as well as exterior fixtures such as sheds and fences. more...


Menangle Park Track Development Moves Forward

March 2007

The NSW Harness Racing Club’s development application for Menangle Park was approved in December - and it’s been full steam ahead ever since. The back straight of the 1400-metre circuit is almost complete, and, at the time of writing, the Club was waiting for the Construction Certificate to be processed.

Club Deputy Chairman Rex Horne has taken a passionate interest in the Menangle project and he believes the state-of-the-art track will provide the NSW harness racing industry with a massive shot in the arm. “There have already been savings made on the project from the initial costing and this will help make Menangle an even bigger showpiece for the industry,” he said. more...


Menangle Park to Set the Standard for Future Australian Tracks

November 2006

AS far as racetracks go, Deputy Chairman Rex Horne is adamant Menangle Park will become a benchmark for the Australian harness racing industry. "When Menangle Park is completed it will be the best track anywhere in Australasia," Mr Horne said.

And, if a radical plan is accepted by the industry, Menangle's reputation could easily spread to a global scale. The NSWHRC is considering a proposal to use International style race gigs on the 1400-metre circuit.

"If we have the best track, then there's no reason why we shouldn't have the fastest track," Mr Horne said. "If it means the club has to spend $50,000 to supply these carts then so be it. more...


Menangle Park Track to go to Councillors

August 2006

Plans for the Club's Menangle Park track development are on the verge of being presented to a full meeting of Campbelltown City Council. "The plans have been with Council for some time and so far no objections have been received," Vice President Rex Horne said.

"We are expecting everything to be put forward to Council at the end of August. This is a fantastic outcome for the development because it shows how important the benefits a state of the art harness racing facility will be to the region." more...


DA Lodged for Menangle Park Track

May 2006

A new track for the NSW Harness Racing Club's Menangle Park Paceway has taken its most important step towards becoming a reality.

A Development Application was lodged with Campbelltown City Council, setting the wheels in motion for one of the most eagerly awaited projects in the NSW harness racing industry. more...


Menangle Park Track Progress

January 2006

The new track based on the design of the internationally acclaimed Mohawk Raceway in Canada will usher in a new era for the NSW Harness Racing Club's Menangle Park complex.

In what will be the first stage of a major redevelopment for Menangle, the new track will be 1400 metres in circumference and will accommodate 10 horses all starting from a front row.

NSWHRC Vice President Rex Horne believes the new track will be the envy of Australian harness racing. more...


Menangle Park Makeover

April 2005

Menangle Park plans for permanent stabling and a 1400-metre racetrack are continuing and well advanced. The Club has engaged the services of architect Chris Dunkerly to design plans for the first stage of stabling accommodation.

"Campbelltown Council staff were receptive to the club's plans for Menangle Park when I met with them recently and Council now await a Development Application," Chief Executive John Dumesny said. more...


Go Ahead for 1400m Race Track at Menangle Park

January 2005

The NSW Harness Racing Club will go where no other metropolitan Australian harness racing has gone before by installing a 1400m racetrack as part of an ambitious redevelopment of its Menangle Park Complex. more...


Menangle Park Forum Paves Way for 1400m Track

November 2004

The Industry Forum at Menangle Park has been hailed it as a step in the right direction in the development of a larger track at the Paceway.

The general consensus at the forum was crystal clear – the harness racing industry in New South Wales is in anxious need of a larger track and, Menangle Park is where it should be established. more...


Track Guru Returns as Plans Take Shape at Menangle Park

July 2004

Dan Coon, the United States track designer who turned Harold Park into one of the best half mile circuits in the world, will be a key figure in the anticipated expansion of the Menangle Park Track. more...


Menangle Park Plan Remains a Priority

May 2004

A redevelopment of Menangle Park into a first-class training and racing centre is still very much at the forefront of future plans for the NSW Harness Racing Club.

As members would be able to appreciate, there is much red tape to sort through with various government departments before the plan can become a reality. more...


Menangle Park Training Centre

March 2004

There has been significant progress made on the viability of making the Club's Menangle Park Paceway into a training centre.

A quantity surveyor engaged by the Club is currently completing costings for the project and once the figures are available the Board and Management will then develop a full business plan. more...