Forbury Park Raceway

Forbury Park Raceway, viewed from above St. Clair, Dunedin.

Forbury Park Raceway, looking northeast across the city.

Forbury Park Raceway is a horseracing venue in the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is located close to the Pacific Ocean coast in the suburb of Saint Kilda.

The raceway was initially developed in 1870 on an area of reclaimed swamp, with a one-mile track leased to the Dunedin Jockey Club. The site was used for both galloping and saddle trotting events until 1898, at which time the Dunedin Jockey Club moved to a new venue at Wingatui, near Mosgiel.

Light harness racing began at Forbury in 1909, at about which time the track was reduced to approximately 1100 yards (1000 metres). The installation of floodlights in 1960 saw the advent of night trotting. The venue is currently used for both harness racing and greyhound racing, as well as for other large-scale outdoor events. It is one of the country's main trotting venues.

Forbury Park has also hosted Long Track Motorcycle Speedway, hosting the New Zealand Long Track Championship seven times from 1982-1988. The first four championships were won by legendary New Zealand rider Ivan Mauger.

References

• Herd, J. and Griffiths, G. J. (1980) Discovering Dunedin. Dunedin: John McIndoe.