A little about our proud history
Harness racing in West Gippsland began in on New Year's Day 1889, at Drouin, with a Trot event run by the Buln Buln Turf Club. Trot events then featured at various thoroughbred meetings throughout the district, before a club was formed at Warragul in the late 1930's. This club was known as the Warragul and District Trotting Club, and was registered with the VTDA (an organisation run by John Wren, of "Power Without Glory" fame). The course used was the grass gallops track at the Warragul Showgrounds, the exact location of today's venue. The first race meeting was held on Saturday, November 18, 1939, and the club conducted the first country Derby in Australia three months later, with the Warragul Derby for pacers and for trotters. After a break owing to WWII, the club and racing resumed at the Showgrounds in 1946, and continues to this day. Warragul is the eldest club based east of Melbourne, pre dating Healesville (Yarra Glen), Cranbourne, and now defunct clubs such as Traralgon and Leongatha.
1950 Victoria Trotters Derby
For the first time, the Victoria Trotters Derby was held away from Melbourne in 1950. Owing to the InterDominion Carnival being held in Melbourne, the Trotting Control Board programmed some of its feature races at country tracks. Warragul received the Victoria Trotters Derby, won by Precaution. Incidentally, the club also staged the Derby in 1962, won by Wonwondah.
Night trotting
In the early 1950's, the forward thinking club elected to start night trotting at Warragul. And what a winning move it was. Thousands turned out in the pouring rain to see the lights tested for the first time, and the opening night, in April 1952, attracted a massive crowd. Warragul became the fourth night venue in Victoria, and continued to race under lights until 1987, when a move to day racing became necessary after the original 666-metre track was rebuilt to 805 metres. Although night trotting doesn't attract the crowds now that it used to, Warragul can look back with pride at its 35-year history of night racing.
Dan Talbot
For 44 years, Dan Talbot faithfully served our club as Secretary. He took on the role in 1950, and led the club through its night racing period, developing it into one of Victoria's best trotting clubs. A well-liked and respected administrator, Dan retired at the end of the 1993/1994 season. Although he passed away a handful of years ago, his legacy remains at Warragul. Our club rooms, and function centre, bears the name "Danny's the Venue", in honour of Dan and his years of dedication. Dan also served for 50 years as honourary Secretary of the Showgrounds Committee of Management.
