Hawkesbury.
Hawkesbury. Picture: (Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Hawkesbury Racecourse is located at Clarendon, 60km west of the Sydney CBD between the major centres of Windsor and Richmond and is one of the most historic racing venues in NSW.

Hawkesbury racecourse was built on 200 acres of land in 1865 and racing has been conducted continuously on the Clarendon site by the Hawkesbury Race Club since the first race meeting in 1871. 

Hawkesbury racecourse, located opposite the Richmond RAAF Base, is one of the largest in NSW with a circumference 2070m and a unique straight run of 1000 metres from the 2000m start to the 1000m turn.

Horses then have a run of 500m until they negotiate another right handed turn into the home straight.

The home straight was formerly a short run of only 282m but was extended to 380m with the movement of the winning post to a point closer to the turn out of the home straight in 2013.

The Hawkesbury course also features a chute for the start of 1000m races, giving runners a straight run of 600m to the home turn.

Hawkesbury Race Club conducts 25 race meetings each year with the highlight being its feature stand-alone Saturday race meeting in late April that boasts a program of black type races including the Hawkesbury Gold Cup, Hawkesbury Guineas and Hawkesbury Crown.
Racing and Sports