New pro-Sandown board members elected to the Melbourne Racing Club committee, paving the way for the possible rescue of Historic Sandown, Andrew Clarke reports.
The results of the recent Melbourne Racing Club election have thrown a lifeline to Sandown as both a horse racing and motorsport facility,
Three candidates running on the unofficial ‘Save Sandown’ ticket were elected to the four vacant committee spots, providing a seismic shift in the landscape for the historic club.
Shanyn Puddy, Alison Saville and Nick Hassett all campaigned on a platform to save Sandown, or, at worst, to take its future to a vote of the members.
It is now believed the MRC committee is pro-Sandown.
We’re not sure yet what the plan is for MRC moving forwards, but the lifeline to one of Australia’s most historic motor racing circuits is welcome news to the motor racing community.
More news as it comes to hand.
Sandown History
Horse racing activity at the venue started in 1888 as Oakleigh Park, and in 1892 it was renamed Sandown Park. In March 1904, Australia’s first ever motor race was held there, and the mingling of horsepower has been a feature of the venue ever since.
The venue was abandoned in 1931 during The Great Depression and lay dormant until 1960 when the Victorian Amateur Turf Club merged with the Victorian Turf Racing Association and Williamstown Turf Club and raised enough capital to buy the land and redevelop it. The Light Car Club of Australia built the car racing track and hosted its first race in 1962, three years before the first horse race at the new Sandown Park.
The first Sandown endurance race was held in 1964 and hosted its first Australian Touring Car Championship Race in 1965 making it the oldest venue on the calendar.
