Earliest Meeting: Wednesday 2nd September 1903
Final Meeting: Still continues to operate successfully
The South Australia town of Balaklava is located approximately 90 kilometres north of the city of Adelaide on the south bank of the Wakefield River. The town, with a population today of about 2000, was in a prominent position between the copper mine at Burra and the port of Port Wakefield, from where the copper was exported. Although the first Europeans to discover the area were Thomas Burr and John Hill in April 1840, it was James and Mary Dunn who saw the potential of the town and opened a hotel in 1850. This hotel catered for the carriers of copper along the Gulf Road between mine and port. In the early part of the 20th century the town held its inaugural race meeting administered by the Balaklava Racing Club which was founded in 1903.
The photo above, although in the public domain, is shown courtesy of the State Library of South Australia.
The Balaklava Racing Festival takes place each September and regularly attracts a crowd in excess of 10,000. The principal race at the meeting is the Balaklava Cup which, in 2018, takes place on Wednesday 12th September. The annual meeting continues to be one of the most attractive and successful country club meetings in the state of South Australia.
In 2012 the Balaklava Cup was won by Bagman (3/1)
In 2013 the Balaklava Cup was won by Gris Caro (5/1)
In 2014 the Balaklava Cup was won by Longshoreman (13/2)
In 2015 the Balaklava Cup was won by By The Grace (6/1)
In 2016 the Balaklava Cup was won by Little Akie (10/1)
In 2017 the Balaklava Cup was won by Balf’s Choice (11/2)
Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-
London Illustrated News
Racing Illustrated 1895-1899
The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated
Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough
The Sporting Magazine
A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8
Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727
