Warrnambool Racing Club guide 2024
Warrnambool Racing Club has been in operation since 1847 and continues to be the heart of the Victorian country racing scene since its inception.
Affectionately known as ‘The Bool’, Warrnambool Racecourse is the home of the Australian steeplechase racing – including the Grand Annual Steeplechase every year during the May Racing Carnival, producing a week filled with Victoria’s best equine talent on display.
The sensational week of racing isn’t just about the hurdlers stepping out to shine, they also hold other features – including the Warrnambool Cup (2350m) gaining a boost in prizemoney to $250,000, and the Wangoom Handicap (1200m) for the sprinters.
Not only is Warrnambool Racing Club a staple of Victorian racing for racegoers, but all participants in the industry, with many trainers schooling their gallopers at Warrnambool, and providing consistent barrier trials throughout every calendar season.
The usage of Warrnambool’s facilities has only grown throughout the years, and since undergoing track renovations in the year 2000, it’s allowed the country circuit to hold upwards of 15 meetings every year.
Warnambool horse racing news
With so many horse racing meetings and jump-outs taking place at Warrnambool, our dedicated team of writers here at HorseBetting.com.au are consistently keeping readers up to date with all the news coming out of Victorian country racing. Here is the latest Warrnambool racing news:
Warnambool horse track tips
Throughout the season our expert tipsters at HorseBetting.com.au will do their best to find you all the best bets and quaddie numbers – particularly during the May Racing Carnival. Check out all the latest Warrnambool horse racing tips:
Warrnambool racecourse address & how to get there
Warrnambool Racecourse is located at 2-64 Grafton Road, Warrnambool, VIC, 3280 and is approximately 260km from the Melbourne CBD.
Located to the south-west of the Melbourne city centre towards the coast, Warrnambool Racecourse isn’t the easiest horse racing track to navigate your way to, so unless you’re local it’s best to be prepared with a plan of action.
If you’re travelling from Melbourne you need to travel via the Princes Highway or Hamilton Highway, which usually takes three hours. However, if you’d prefer to take a more scenic route, you can utilize the Great Ocean Road, which adds an extra three hours to your journey.
If you’d rather not drive to Warrnambool from the city, public transport is available at Southern Cross Station to Warrnambool Station. From there, you simply need to make your way to the course proper, with buses regularly scheduled to arrive at Koroit St Interchange or Warrnambool College, both of which are short walks to the track.
Warnambool race course dimensions, barriers, starting points
Warrnambool Racecourse is known as on of the more expansive circuits in Victorian racing, with a circumference of 2066m and a home straight of 305 metres, usually allowing for all participants to get their chance.
The barrier guide gives tremendous details on where some of the key starting positions are, for example:
- The 1400m and 1700m starting points both disengage from a chute position, with maximum field sizes of 16 throughout the entire track.
- Meanwhile, the 1000m-1300m starting points all have only one turn before veering into the home straight. While the staying trips over the 2000m, 2200m, and 2350m all start on the home straight.
Major races held at Warnambool
The beginning of May is a horse racing pundits dream, with the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival a ‘must attend’ event on the horse racing calendar.
The Grand Annual Steeplechase has been a tradition since 1872 and continues to provide the main target for jumps horses in Australia, with the likes of Gold Medal (2021, 2018), Regina Coeli (2017, 2015), Al Garhood (2011, 2010) and Hibernian Prince (2002, 2001) winning the race on two occasions in recent years.
The Warrnambool Cup (2350m) and Wangoom Handicap (1200m) are steeped in their own respective history, usually produce capacity fields, and provide a terrific appetizer to Australia’s most historic hurdle race.
The Warrnambool Racing Club has recently introduced a $304,000 staying feature on the flat course around Brierly Paddock known as the Jericho Cup (4600m), dedicated to the heroic Light Horsemen and their horses, The Walers, for their deeds in the Middle East from 1914-1919.
The Jericho Cup takes place on the fourth Sunday after the Melbourne Cup and entry is free for all veterans in attendance.
How to bet on Warnambool races
Australia’s top online bookmakers provide the best options for betting on Warrnambool races and racing across the nation.
Online betting sites give punters all the best promotional offers and consistently suit your needs in regards to form analysis and best available prices for any given runner, even those at Warnambool.
Whether it be for race-day or futures markets, you can jump on board with any of the following bookmakers and check out our reviews to see what suits your needs.
Bet365 (bet365 racing review), Ladbrokes (Ladbrokes racing review), and Unibet (Unibet racing review) are just some of the best available options, with most App available on Android and iOS smartphones.
If you’d rather bet in person, make sure you check out the betting ring at Warrnambool Racecourse, with all your local bookies likely to be represented to go along with regular TAB facilities.
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