Racing on the Gold Coast dates back to the 1890's when an occasional public meeting was run in the old cane paddocks of Bundall, not far from the present Gold Coast Turf Club.
Regular racing at its present headquarters began on 15 May 1946 when the club was known as the Southport and District Amateur Race Club (formed on 17 March 1946). Racing in those days was on a sand track.
In January 1971, the club began conducting races every Saturday. In August of that year the Club launched the Newmarket-Gold Coast Cup three-day carnival on a quality grass track. Back then the race was sponsored by Carlton and United Breweries and carried prizemoney of just $2,000.
In 1974, the Prime Minister’s Cup was launched, carrying Australia's richest purse for a provincial race of $30,000 and in 2002, the Prime Minister’s Cup, then sponsored by Conrad Jupiters, became a stand-alone Saturday race meeting.
In 2006 a record crowd of over 7500 people witnessed the running of the Carlton Draught Prime Minister’s Cup which included a record prizepool for the raceday of $1.16million.
Hosting 60 race meetings in the 2006/07 racing season the Gold Coast Turf Club is home to several highly anticipated major events each year. The largest of these is the Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions Carnival held annually in January over 19 days. For the 2007 Carnival, the prize pool has hit an all time high of $3.5million.
Other featured events include the prestigious Melbourne Cup Raceday, Prime Minister’s Cup Carnival, Easter Carnival, Gold Coast Stakes Raceday, Gold Coast City Cup raceday and for the first time in 2007 Anzac Day Raceday.
The Gold Coast Turf Club has become one of the most sought after function venues on the Gold Coast. Both Raceday and non-raceday functions are held throughout the year in a number of unique venues including the Winners Circle, Dome, Paradise Room, Southern Lawn Marquee and the Magic Millions Bar, our major feature events throughout the year are booked out months prior to the day! |
