About Us
Pinjarra Harness Racing Club a 1,000 metre harness racing track in Western Australia, located only 1 hour from Perth CBD in the picturesque town of Pinjarra.
Race meetings are held every Monday throughout the year.
CURRENT COMMITTEE
President
Barry Warwick
Vice Presidents
Warren Robinson and Geoff Fuller
Committee
Gavin Turner, Ted Russell, Frank Nafranec,
Graham Cox, Merv Cox and Mark Lee
Our History
The Pinjarra Harness Racing Club is the largest regional Harness Racing Club in Western Australia and one of the largest Regional Harness Racing Club in Australia. Pinjarra Harness Racing Club was founded on 28 September 1950, after a meeting was convened in the Mechanics Hall at Pinjarra by Messrs Doug Green and Arthur Brown (Murray Roads Board Chairman) to form a trotting lcub in Pinjarra.
An attendance of 62 enthusiasts carried the following two motions. It was moved by Colin Smith, seconded by Bethel Nancarrow that a trotting club by formed, subsequently it was moved by Arthur Edward, seconded by John Munday that the trotting club be named the Pinjarra Trotting Club.
Nominations for the Committee members resulted in the following being elected.
President – GO Mengler,
Business Prop, Dwellingup
Vice President – GD Simpson,
Orchardist, Pinjarra
Committee – AH Phillips, Business Prop, Mandurah
CC Smith, Studmaster, Coolup
WD Green, Engine Driver, Pinjarra
J Munday, Farmer, Pinjarra
TE Bassett – Scarfe, Farmer, Pinjarra
AJ Brown, Farmer, Pinjarra
AF Edward, Sawmiller, Nth Dandalup
WP Grogan, Schoolbus Prop, Dwellingup
E Marsden, Farmer, Waroona
Secretary – GW Brimson, Plumber, Pinjarra
Treasurer – KN Jeffrey, Accountant, Pinjarra
Note – The members of the inaugural committee contributed a combined total of 107 years of Committee service, including John Munday(27 years) and Ted Marsden (25 years).
The clubs first race meeting held on 10 March 1954, and the opening ceremony was performed the club Patron, Sir Ross McLarty, KBE, MLA. Invitations were extended to the Premier, Mr A Hawke(father of Bob), together with several other prominent politicians, community leaders and members of kindred trotting clubs.
The feature race on the programme, the Pinjarra Handicap, carried a stake of one hundred and twenty five pounds($250.00), plus a trophy donated by Bert Blythe, and the six supporting races also carried trophies. All other other races were named after adjoining townsites – Coolup, Dwellingup, Holyoake, Keysbrook and North Dandalup.
The first winner on the programme was Vioro, owned and trained by Club Vice President, George Simpson, and driven by Alan Woodworth. Vioro started from the back makr of 48 yards.
Admission to the track was seven shillings(70 cents) for gents and five shillings (50 cents) for ladies. Race books cost 1/6 (15 cents).
John Munday was responsible for preparation of the track for the opening meeting. John served on the committee for 27 years, including a term as President, became a Life Member in 1975, and attended meeting until the age of 101.
The first Pinjarra Cup was run on 9 February 1955. It was a race for 2.18 and better class pacers, and was run over 1& 1/2 miles for a stake of one hundred and fifty pounds($300) and a trophy. The race was won by Royal Path, driven by Bernie Cushing. Bernie won his second cup behind Forbes Adios in 1972, and the following year his son Robbie was successful behind Frosty Willow.
In 1958 the club made a request to the Western Australian Trotting Association to hire their mobile barrier. Pinjarra was the first country club to use the mobile barrier.
On Monday 26 November 1990, the club officially opened its new 1,000m track.
Keith Read, MLA for Murray who was deputizing for the Minster for Racing and Gaming, Mrs Pam Beggs, MLA.
