Racing WA Harness History
Harness Racing in WA
James Brennan marked the start of organised harness racing in Western Australia when he called a public meeting that led to the formation of the Western Australian Trotting Association (WATA) in September 1910. Prior to this, the only regular harness racing was conducted at the annual Perth Royal Show.
Meetings of the WATA began at Belmont Park and Claremont Showground in 1911. In 1913, the meetings were conducted at the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) ground with night meetings commencing in 1914 – the world’s first meetings under electric lights.
The Western Australian Trotting Association
Harness racing continued at the WACA until 1929 when a new course was opened under the name of Brennan Park. The name was changed in 1935 to Gloucester Park. Harness racing also commenced at Richmond Raceway in East Fremantle in 1928.