The Mystique of Randwick Racecourse

The Mystique of Randwick Racecourse

By Mari Sasshou
The Orchard
September 18, 2023

Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse is operated by the Australian Turf Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters. The racecourse is located approximately six kilometres from the Sydney Central Business District in the suburb of Randwick. Besides horseracing, Randwick Racecourse has been used as a venue for many other events including concerts and religious masses.

In 1970, Pope Paul VI celebrated mass at Randwick as part of his pastoral visit to Australia. The Racecourse was also the site of a mass held by Pope John Paul II in 1995 for the Beatification ceremony of Australia's first potential saint Mary MacKillop. It was also the site of the vigil and final mass of World Youth Day 2008 in July 2008. Racing was stopped for several weeks, due to the alterations needed to hold over 400,000 people. This move had been opposed by the Randwick Trainers Association, which holds lease interests over some areas intended to be used for the event. The dispute was resolved, by the federal government and the state government jointly pledging $40 million as reimbursement to the racing industry. The famous racecourse has also appeared in several films, including Mission: Impossible II.

Randwick Racecourse is also used as an exam venue by the University of New South Wales. In addition, the annual Future Music Festival is held at the racecourse.