Menangle Park Paceway
Encyclopedia
Menangle Park Paceway is a harness racing
track operating in Menangle Park, New South Wales
, Australia
.
, it was requisitioned as an army camp used for the Australian Light Horse. The facility was returned to the owners for horse racing
, until 18 November 1941, when the racecourse was again taken over by the military during World War II
.
The racecourse was converted into a military camp, providing camping and training facilities for Royal Australian Air Force
constructed an aerodrome
at the site in 1942, which went through the middle of the racecourse, which was known as Menangle Aerodrome. The aerodrome was a satellite aerodrome for RAAF Station Schofields
and the runway was 5000 feet (1,524 m) long and 150 feet (45.7 m) wide. Seven splinterproof pens and five concealed hideouts were constructed at the aerodrome. The site was also used as an aircraft park for HMS Nabthorpe
, a Royal Navy
Mobile Operational Naval Air Base
, based at Schofields.
After the abandonment of Menangle aerodrome, the site was a location for scenes for the film Smithy based on the historic flight of Charles Kingsford Smith
. The NSW Trotting Club acquired the site in 1952 and redeveloped the racecourse as a paceway, which officially opened on 26 September 1953.
The newly re-constructed Menangle Park Paceway (opened in 2008) is the fastest and largest harness racing circuit in Australia at 1400 metres, and is now the major harness racing venue in New South Wales, hosting major events such as the Miracle Mile. In 2011, the track saw the first sub 1:50 mile ever run in Australasia, with Smoken Up running 1:48.5 in the Len Smith Mile.
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
track operating in Menangle Park, New South Wales
Menangle Park, New South Wales
Menangle Park is a village in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Menangle Park is located 56 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
History
The Menangle Park Racecourse was opened in 1914 and after the outbreak of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, it was requisitioned as an army camp used for the Australian Light Horse. The facility was returned to the owners for horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, until 18 November 1941, when the racecourse was again taken over by the military during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The racecourse was converted into a military camp, providing camping and training facilities for Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
constructed an aerodrome
Aerodrome
An aerodrome, airdrome or airfield is a term for any location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve cargo, passengers or neither...
at the site in 1942, which went through the middle of the racecourse, which was known as Menangle Aerodrome. The aerodrome was a satellite aerodrome for RAAF Station Schofields
RAAF Station Schofields
RAAF Station Schofields was an aerodrome built by the Royal Australian Air Force between 1942-1944 at Schofields, New South Wales, Australia during World War II.The aerodrome was constructed for use as a satellite aerodrome for RAAF Station Richmond...
and the runway was 5000 feet (1,524 m) long and 150 feet (45.7 m) wide. Seven splinterproof pens and five concealed hideouts were constructed at the aerodrome. The site was also used as an aircraft park for HMS Nabthorpe
HMS Nabthorpe
HMS Nabthorpe was a Royal Navy Mobile Naval Operating Air Base at the Royal Australian Air Force base RAAF Station Schofields at Schofields, New South Wales...
, a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Mobile Operational Naval Air Base
Mobile Naval Air Bases
Mobile Operational Naval Air Bases were a series of mobile units first formed in 1944 to provide logistical support to the Fleet Air Arm aircraft of the Royal Navy's British Pacific Fleet towards the end of World War II....
, based at Schofields.
Units based at Menangle Aerodrome
- No. 1 Squadron RAAFNo. 1 Squadron RAAFNo. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
- No. 15 Squadron RAAFNo. 15 Squadron RAAFNo. 15 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force light bomber and maritime patrol squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in January 1944 and initially flew anti-submarine patrols off the east coast of Australia. From September that year elements of the squadron took part in the New...
- No. 23 Squadron RAAFNo. 23 Squadron RAAFNo. 23 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force is a non-flying base operations and training squadron headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, Queensland. The Squadron was formed in 1937 and saw action during World War II as a bomber squadron.-History:No...
- No. 83 Squadron RAAFNo. 83 Squadron RAAFNo. 83 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. It was formed in 1943 as a 'home defence' squadron and provided air defence to several locations in Queensland, the Northern Territory and New South Wales before being disbanded in 1945.-Squadron history:No. 83...
- No. 164 Radar Station RAAF
After the abandonment of Menangle aerodrome, the site was a location for scenes for the film Smithy based on the historic flight of Charles Kingsford Smith
Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith MC, AFC , often called by his nickname Smithy, was an early Australian aviator. In 1928, he earned global fame when he made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia...
. The NSW Trotting Club acquired the site in 1952 and redeveloped the racecourse as a paceway, which officially opened on 26 September 1953.
The newly re-constructed Menangle Park Paceway (opened in 2008) is the fastest and largest harness racing circuit in Australia at 1400 metres, and is now the major harness racing venue in New South Wales, hosting major events such as the Miracle Mile. In 2011, the track saw the first sub 1:50 mile ever run in Australasia, with Smoken Up running 1:48.5 in the Len Smith Mile.