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At the Kentucky Derby or the Epsom Derby, money changes hands pretty fast, even before you can say “horses”. The races in Sydney too hum with so much activity. In fact, horse riding in Sydney is quite popular, one of the most popular of the various sports in Sydney. About Horse Riding In Sydney Horse riding in Sydney has a long and illustrious history. Records say that the very first race meeting in Sydney took place way back on 15th of October, 1810. This meet was a part of a three-day carnival hosted by the 73rd Regiment of the army. Incidentally this was also the time when horse riding in Australia was gaining in popularity. Records also say that Hyde Park, now a bustling hub of modern Sydney was the first of the race courses in Sydney. The race meeting at Hyde Park also comprised of a race ball, apart from the races of course, and this heralded the tradition of races in Sydney doubling up as social events. The racing event at Hyde Park continued till 1813, that is till the 73rd Regiment was shifted to erstwhile Ceylon. The next official race meet was held in Sydney in1819 and this continued only till 1821. This on-again off-again state of horse riding in Sydney, particularly as a competitive sport, however did not dampen the interest level in the sport. This was evident from the setting up of the Sydney Turf Club in 1825, the first racing club in Australia. The club ensured that the races in Sydney became regular and brought in greater level of participation. The Sydney Horse Riding Calendar The Sydney race courses see a lot of activity all throughout the year and especially during the Easter, when racing action reaches almost a frenzy. The most prominent of the horse races in Sydney is the Golden Slipper, which also happens to be the wealthiest race for two-year olds. Running strong since 1957, the Golden Slipper was worth AUD 3 million in 2006 and is regarded as one of the greatest races in Australia, after the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate. This race is held at the Rosehill Gardens, one of the finest of the destinations for horse riding in Sydney. Apart from the Golden Slipper, there’s also a four-day Easter Racing Carnival at Randwick Racecourse, one of the premier sports venues in Sydney. The Sydney folks are sports fanatics to a boot and the soaring popularity of horse riding in Sydney is evident from the way they cheer their thoroughbreds to the finishing line.
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