TROTTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 182, 6 August 1935, Page 4

TROTTING

PERTH'S WONDER COURSE WEST AUSTRALIA ROMANCE. RACING UNDER ELECTRIG LIGHT. “As a boy 1 often tried to picture Roman chariots madly racing in ancient Olympics. but never did nij mind conjure such thrilling scenes as 1 have witnessed to-night whilst viewing trotting under electric light : n Perth.” Thus did Lord Northeliffe, who vi.-ited Perth at the head of the English Press (Delegation, express himself years ago. .Many improvements have been made since then, until it • an be asserted that, the Perth Trotting Course is the most pretentious light harness track in the world. One of the. romances of modern racing is the story of bow tho West Australian Trotting Association built its palatial night-running course on a mosquito-ridden swamp on the western side of the River Swan, a mile from Perth. Tho surroundings have been transformed into landscape gardens, with promenade terraces, copious lawns, and rare shrubs, and it is now claimed that the course is the most pretentious light-harness track in the world. It is on this course that the lirst of the series of Australasian championships will be held next October, and it is hoped as well to induce American participation, thus making the meeting an international one. An interesting illustrated booklet describing the course, the ‘‘Playground of the People of West Australia.” has been received from the West Australian Trotting Association. It is mentioned that the cost of construction was £200,000, and the most modern Julius win-and-place totalisator has been installed. The race track itself is 88yds. short of half a mile, made of solid oyster shell, with a top-dressing of finely-crushed shell, and it stands out in beautiful white relief at any hour of the day or night. The meetings are conducted on every Saturday night, and the ground has a crowd capacity exceeding 30,000. A copy of the booklet may be obtained (postage free) by writing the secretary, W. A. Trotting Association, Perth.