Darwin Racecourse is situated in the lush, tropical surrounds of Fannie Bay in the Northern Territory, and plays host to the Darwin Cup.
Located less than 6km from the Darwin CBD, Darwin Racecourse is approximately a 10-minute car ride or 32-minute train trip from Darwin City.
The track dimensions of Darwin Racecourse are as follows:
* Circumference: 1780m
* Home Straight: 340m
* Surface: oil-mixed sand track
* Direction: anti-clockwise
The Darwin Cup was first held in 1956 and has continued to grow with the race becoming the biggest sporting event in the Northern Territory. More than 20,000 people attend every year, while horses contest the Darwin Cup over 2000m under handicap conditions. The 2018 edition carried $200,000 in prize money.
Wood is one of five horses to win multiple Darwin Cups in succession. Wood would capture the race four years in a row between 1959-62. Others include Lord Tiny (1975-76), Kerr Street (1983-84), Lothaway County (1994-95) and Hawks Bay (2012-13). Lothaway County’s 1995 victory would be a dead-heat alongside Kingston Reserve.
Darwin Racecourse hosts 39 race days each year and offers a vast array of dining options for race goers. The three-course luncheon in the Ted Bailey Grandstand is a popular way to enjoy a premium meal at the venue.
It is hardly a secret that Darwin weather is hot with temperatures averaging around the 30-33-degree mark. The Darwin Turf Club understands comfort is important which is why men have the option to wear a jacket or not when entering the Ted Bailey and Sid Parker Stand etc.
Due to its popularity, interstate visitors can stay at Darwin Turf Club’s official accommodation partner’s hotel, with Mantra Darwin offering stylish hotel rooms, studio rooms and apartments. There is also a lagoon-style pool and gym which is a big reason to make the trek to the Northern Territory for the Darwin Cup.
