Albion Park Paceway
Albion Park Paceway, also known as The Creek, is the primary harness racing track in Brisbane and home of the Albion Park Harness Racing Club. The Albion Park Harness Racing Club has celebrated over 40 years in racing history. The Albion Park Trotting Club, as it was known, commenced racing in September 1968 and it heralded a new era in the industry in more than one way. The first meeting under lights took place on Saturday the 7th of September 1968, with packed grandstands, near 80 bookmakers and an estimated crowd of over 15,000 people. Night trotting races soon became popular in Brisbane, as the venue was only a stone’s throw away from Brisbane’s CBD and located in the neighbourhood of some of the city’s most affluent suburbs.
The 800 m right-handed track was positioned inside of the unique sand galloping track and the Albion Park Trotting Club became a tenant of the Brisbane Amateur Turf Club which ran thoroughbred racing at Doomben and Albion Park. The Albion Park racecourse was purchased by the Racing Development Corporation (RDC) from the Brisbane Amateur Turf Club (BATC) in 1982 for $9 million. The acquisition was undertaken by the RDC to facilitate the redevelopment of the venue for harness racing.
The Albion Park Paceway Complex is, maintained and operated primarily for harness racing by the Albion Park Harness Racing Club on Monday & Tuesdays and Saturday nights, and greyhound racing by the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club.
Established in 1968, the venue has hosted several Inter Dominions: – the most coveted race on the Australasian racing circuit, contested since 1936. Albion Park has held seven Inter Dominions: – 1972 (Welcome Advice); 1977 (Stanley Rio); 1986 (Village Kid); 1993 (Jack Morris); 2001 (Yulestar) and 2009 (Mr Feelgood). History was also created in 2001 when the club conducted the trotters’ series for the first time with Take A Moment capturing the Grand Final.
There are plans to redevelop Albion Park Paceway in the near future to herald in a new era for the track.