DOWLING FOREST RACECOURSE  
A venture to increase the number of racing opportunities for amateur riders like Norman Wilson and the more famous W S Cox led to the Victorian Amateur Turf Club being formed. Their inaugural meeting was held at Dowling Forest on 26th March 1876.
  That first meeting was held on a Friday and the 6 race card contained 5 jump races. The principal race was the Victoria Gold Cup over 3 miles and proved to be a triumph for Sailor, owned by A Chirnside.  
Such was the success of that first meeting that the amateurs moved their attention to Caulfield. The Victoria Cup was held and won again by Sailor, and just 3 years later the Caulfield Cup was born.
   

 

 
If you have badges, racecards, pictures of the racecourse or further details about the course, including your memories, then email johnslusar@fsmail.net