South Canterbury RC
Contact the club
- Secretary
- Paul Hinsley
- Postal
- Box 352, Timaru
- Phone
- 03 684-3400
- Fax
- 03 688-6582
- hinz@timaru.co.nz
South Canterbury Racing Club, racing at Phar Lap Raceway, Timaru, conducts three race meetings each season - June, July, December.
The South Canterbury Racing Club raced for nearly a Century as the South Canterbury Jockey Club, before a name change in 1975 to the Timaru Racing Club. In 2007 as a consequence of a merger with the neighbouring Geraldine Racing Club the name South Canterbury Racing Club was adopted.
Steeplechasing was a popular sport in South Canterbury and three of the first ten Grand National Steeplechases (1877, 1881 and 1883) were run at the Club's Washdyke Course. A South Canterbury Jockey Club programme for 1885 shows a seven-race programme which included three jumping events. The Timaru Cup was first run in 1875 and was a prestigious flat event in Southern racing circles. The first winner of the Cup was “Castaway”.
Bullock wagons, pioneers, water and strawberries help describe some of the history, scenery and character to be experienced as you travel through Timaru District and along South Canterbury's Heritage Trails. South Canterbury lies in the centre of the South Island. Bounded by the Rangitata River to the north and the Waitaki River to the south and stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Southern Alps, South Canterbury contains a bounty of riches. Wonderful scenery throughout makes a fitting frame for everything from vividly-coloured lakes to the simple buildings of the first European settlers.
Now racing at Phar Lap Raceway, (formally known as Washdyke Racecourse but renamed after the great Phar Lap who was born near the Course at Seadown), the South Canterbury Racing Club continues it’s long tradition of providing good racing surfaces, both Summer and Winter.
With its 150 year celebrations looming on the horizon (2008), plans are well under way to mark this special year for the Club and the Timaru District.
As well as racing, the South Canterbury Racing Club has a large range of clothing and merchandise under the banner of “Phar Lap”, ranging from pens, caps, tee shirts and jackets to mention just a few items.
