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Old pictures of Racing in Perth

West Australian Racing

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  • RIORIO    14,892 posts
    great pics..I had a close look at the 4th photo and the attendant on the stairs is still there as a security guard now!!!!

    Ridersonthestorm33, rustyh likes this post.

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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,404 posts
    worse era of fashion....EVER!!! :-))
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  • LuckyLongshotsLuckyLongshots    4,270 posts
    image

    1985 (before Burswood was built)

    image

    1937 (Note the shape of the track)
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    VillageKid, houdini65 likes this post.

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  • LuckyLongshotsLuckyLongshots    4,270 posts
    Perth Cup 1925
    image

    image

    image

    Perth Cup Day 1975
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    Building Ascot grandstand (1969)
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    VillageKid likes this post.

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  • LuckyLongshotsLuckyLongshots    4,270 posts
    edited March 2015
    All credit for these photos is The State Library of WA (just linking to online images)

    Does anyone know what the building to the far right of the El Dorado float/Mercedes is?  Looks like a grandstand of sorts?

    bookielover likes this post.

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  • AquanitaAquanita    566 posts
    LL that building is the old Leger Grandstand that I would frequent in my formative punting years as I could not afford the entry to the Enclosure, or at least the entry fee would take too much if my punting bank.

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

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  • spinkingspinking    3,937 posts
    that lucky is the old ledger stand if you didn't want to pay full admission to the course proper it was cheaper to get into the ledger

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

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  • LuckyLongshotsLuckyLongshots    4,270 posts
    Aquanita said:

    LL that building is the old Leger Grandstand that I would frequent in my formative punting years as I could not afford the entry to the Enclosure, or at least the entry fee would take too much if my punting bank.

    spinking said:

    that lucky is the old ledger stand if you didn't want to pay full admission to the course proper it was cheaper to get into the ledger

    Thanks guys, is that Leger Stand similar to the stand in the 4th pic of the 1st post?  The stand in front of the East Perth Power Station?
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  • G-MacG-Mac    1,667 posts
    Superb. Great work LL. Thanks for finding and positing.
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  • G-MacG-Mac    1,667 posts

    I like the pic of the three in flares.

    The bird in the middle looks like she's done her arse and it's only race 3. We've all been there...

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  • paraleticparaletic    3,750 posts
    you can still see remnants of that carpet at Belmont
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  • LuckyLongshotsLuckyLongshots    4,270 posts
    paraletic said:

    you can still see remnants of that carpet at Belmont

    I don't think anyone would be surprised  :D
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  • LuckyLongshotsLuckyLongshots    4,270 posts
    Horse racing at Marble Bar 1983
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    Richmond Raceway - East Fremantle 1986
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    Racing at Broome (1980)
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    Ascot (1974)
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    image

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  • bookieloverbookielover    2,657 posts
    edited March 2015
    The bloke with the two sheilas wouldn't be Falcon would it?? Or Rio? Or Diva's dad?  


    In the last photo of the bookies ring, the surname of the bookie under the green umbrella is Nixon. Anyone know who he was, what happened to him and is he still alive?
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  • spinkingspinking    3,937 posts
    I can not be sure bookie but keith rings a bell

    bookielover likes this post.

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  • bookieloverbookielover    2,657 posts
    Great stuff LL.
    I love the history of racing, with a particular emphasis on the bookies of the past 120 years.

    I'm currently reading a book the history of jumps racing in Australia called "Over the Hurdles" written by John Adams. John is a good mate and a lovely bloke to boot. The book is filled with amazing facts from the inception of Jumps racing  in Australia till 2012 when it was first published.

    John has been commissioned by the Victorian Bookmakers Association to write a history of the bookies and major punters in Victoria, over the last Century. It will have interviews from many retired bookies who worked years ago and many who operate today. John has been working on it for over two years.

    The book should be ready for release by this years Spring carnival and promises to be a fascinating insight into the bookies both big and small and some of the bigger punters, who worked and bet in the Victorian betting rings.

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

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  • runyonrunyon    576 posts
    Just to show how times have changed. In 1974 Perth had a population of about 700 000 and a crowd of 43000 turned up for the Perth Cup. Now we've got a population of around 2 million and only get about 15000 to the Cup

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    Was in the Ledger when Runyon won the Perth Cup! Grew up in the ledger from about the age of 7! Occasionally my dad would get free tickets for 'inside' and then we would all have to dress up such was the occasion.Listening to Bert Bryant etc in the eastern states ring also a delight. No direct telecasts those days!

    runyon likes this post.

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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    Loved the ledger grandstand too , there was something about the action going past you and on the way to the finishing line... Even today I dont mind watching a race from 2 or 3 hundred metresfrom the winning post .. That's been installed from the ledger days. The Belmont ledger was called the 'Corral' for a while too I think. Free admission was the key. Plenty of Bookmakers and runners between the 2 bookies rings , there was never a dull moment.
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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,404 posts
    yes BL it was keith Nixon...he and his wife Noreen were well known in racing circle. good bookie too, you could get set for anything you wanted.
    I think he's fielding in the big ring "up there".

    bookielover, Livy1959 likes this post.

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  • RIORIO    14,892 posts
    bookielover said:

    The bloke with the two sheilas wouldn't be Falcon would it?? Or Rio? Or Diva's dad?  





    In the last photo of the bookies ring, the surname of the bookie under the green umbrella is Nixon. Anyone know who he was, what happened to him and is he still alive?
    Wasn't me bookie, but by the looks of the "short hair" and clogs there is every chance it could be one of my slightly older brothers!!
    ;)

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  • LuckyLongshotsLuckyLongshots    4,270 posts
    edited March 2015
    Anyone know when the Belmont Grandstand was extended?
    (you can see in these two images, it went from 7 bays to 13 bays)

    image
    image


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  • RIORIO    14,892 posts

    Did it get extended or just start falling down and they had to put more supports in it??

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  • LuckyLongshotsLuckyLongshots    4,270 posts
    Some great old pics

    Apprentices waiting to be called before the stewards at Ascot for failing to attend the jockey apprentice school (1964)
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    Hmmm....
    Laurie Connell with "The Zucchinis" troupe in front of the Bunbury Cup Special Train
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    Perth Cup Day 1895, showing the old grandstand and patrons on the lawns in the foreground
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    McLarty's stock floats parked on corner of Great Eastern Highway and Epsom Avenue Belmont
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    Jockey Norm Coombe in his home-made sweat box
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    VillageKid, houdini65 likes this post.

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  • LuckyLongshotsLuckyLongshots    4,270 posts
    RIO said:

    Did it get extended or just start falling down and they had to put more supports in it??

    Definitely looks extended to me, you can look at the concrete standing area in the front, is definitely longer in the second picture.
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  • Piston_BrokePiston_Broke    2,047 posts
    edited March 2015
    a very young John Hawkes with Runyon, it was actually Runyons 2nd trip to Perth T J Smith bought him over 1 or 2 years earlier

    image
    image
    slwa_b3104350_15.jpg
    760 x 517 - 121K

    runyon likes this post.

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  • tonytony    2,424 posts
    Lincolnism said:

    So what is that big building where Burswood was built. .. an abbatoir?

    Cement/lime plant.

    G-Mac, [Deleted User] likes this post.

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  • LeglessLegless    5,108 posts
    edited March 2015
    1947 Perth Cup - 1st Jan
    Winner - Sydney James
    Jockey - Glen Davies
    Trainer - R.P. Burns
    Owners - Mr & Mrs G.D Elliot
    syd james 2.jpg
    523 x 701 - 127K
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  • spinkingspinking    3,937 posts
    some great old pics for sure norm or uncle norm as he was known to us lived in :-*
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  • spinkingspinking    3,937 posts
    oneil parade redclifee I think I can still remember that homemade sweat box in his yard I will let craig his son also a ex jockey know about this photo
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