Innovation

Canterbury Park Racecourse has been the scene of many innovations: the first photo finish camera in 1946, the first mobile barrier stalls in Sydney in 1948, the first metropolitan racing success for a woman trainer in 1957, Sydney’s first TAB meeting in 1964, and the first night racing meeting in Sydney in 1999 (despite strong local opposition to the latter).

Some of the innovations that occured at Canterbury Park are;

1940        Canterbury Park Turf Club was the first sports club to offer women a full membership

1946        Australia’s first photo finish camera is installed at Canterbury on 16th March

1948        Australia’s first electric mobile starting barriers are introduced at Canterbury on 10th July after various trials

1957        The first metropolitan racing success for a woman trainer in 1957

1964        Sydney’s first TAB meeting in 1964

1984        Jane Spence became the first female to ride a winner on a Metropolitan course. She achieved this milestone at Canterbury Park

1994       Chris Downy, the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing, placed the first telephone bet with prominent bookmaker Larry Hawke Canterbury Park Racecourse paving the way for telephone betting     

1999        Sydney’s first night racing meeting (despite strong local opposition) held at Canterbury Park.