Gloucester Park Harness Racing

Gloucester Park is a unique and versatile entertainment venue right in the heart of Perth.

Trotting began to be organised in Western Australia in 1910 with the formation of the Western Australian Trotting Association on the 22nd September of that year.

Gloucester Park, the home of harness racing in Western Australia, is located on the banks of the Swan River in the exclusive precinct of East Perth. The course was built in 1929 and completed at a cost of 200,000 pounds; an exceptional feat considering the completion was achieved during the Great Depression.

The course was officially opened by Perth’s Lord Mayor J T Franklin on 15th March 1930. The feature events at that night’s meeting were named after James Brennan and J P Stratton, who are fondly regarded as the Fathers of harness racing in Western Australia.

Each and every Friday night, the best horses in WA hit the track for a share in some of the richest metropolitan stake money in Australasia. Gloucester Park is also home to some of Perth’s most unique dining options, from the ever popular Steelo’s on the ground floor, to the stylishly appointed Beau Rivage Restaurant, perched high in the grandstand with a perfect view of the track and surrounding Swan River.

When you talk about harness racing in Western Australia, the names of horses and stories of the characters evoke a trip down memory lane, punctuated with legends and champions. Many a wonderful horse have graced the track, many a battler has worked hard and struggled to survive; nowhere else in Australia does this unique harness racing spirit present itself more than at Gloucester Park.