About

About the Northam Race Club

The Club hosts approximately 16 race meetings per year from May to November. The majority of race dates are held midweek on either Wednesday or Thursday. There are five feature weekend race meetings throughout the year that are abundant with on-course entertainment, fashions and of course some of WA’s best galloping action on the track.

First of the feature meetings is the Northam Stakes, the opening event of the year. The Northam Stakes is the Club’s first Black-type rated race for the season. Following is the annual WA DAY Cup run on the public holiday in early June, with Tunes by the Track and Kids Big Day Out in September. Sunday Session is in early October followed by the Club’s second listed race – the Northam Cup in late October.

The Club also hosts non race day events throughout the year and is available for all of your function, venue and event hire needs. Call our office to discuss further.

Our Team

President

Dr Kevin Christianson

Vice President

Sherryl Wolfenden

Treasurer

Raelene Harris

Committee

Mia Davies, Gail Bowen, Peter Richards, Garry Dallimore and BJ Smith

Life Members

Dr KA Christianson, RD Leeson, AL Marwick, L Dimasi, BJ Smith, Mrs S Smith and RM Smith

Patrons

Vacant

Club Manager

Catherine Armstrong

Track Manager

Daniel Tylor, Track staff – Gary Armstrong and Kian Portlock

Administration Officer, Promotions and Events Officer

Kym Blechynden

History

To celebrate its 150th year, The Northam Race Club released Racing Over the Scarp and Beyond in November 2013. The book was researched and written by local historian Jan James. It documents the establishment of racing in the state with a focus on the Clubs and towns over the Scarp, particularly the Northam Race Club and pays homage to the notable men and women who were instrumental to the growth of thoroughbred racing and the Club in the early years.

A meeting to form the club was held at Tom Wildings hotel (now The Avon Bridge Hotel) Capt. James MacLean Dempster, presided over the meeting where, it was proposed by Jacob Delmage, seconded by Thomas Lockyer and carried unanimously, “That annual races be established at Northam. the first of which to take place on Monday, November 2, 1863, according to the Turf Club rules; the decision of the stewards in all cases to be final”.

That the following gentlemen be requested to act as stewards—Augustus Lee Steere, Charles. E. Dempster, William Chidlow, Jacob Delmage, Samuel E. Burges and James Roe and as clerk of the course, Mr Andrew Dempster.

The book is available for purchase from the Club direct for $9.95

Track Features

The racecourse proper has a diameter of 2017mm 25m wide and is 100% Kikuyu with loam base and excellent subsoil drainage. The home straight is 425m with a 5% camber on the home turn and a 2-3% camber in the straight.

Photography

Western Racepix– a professional service in racing photography where you can access and view a range of professional thoroughbred racing images. Western Racepix provides a friendly and professional service to the entire WA horse racing industry. We aim to provide high quality products at a reasonable cost, and in a timely manner. Western Racepix is the official on-course photographer at the Northam Race Club.

Stay Up To Date With The Latest Updates and Event Info

The Club hosts approximately 22 race meetings per year from May to December. The majority of race dates are held midweek on either Wednesday or Thursday. There are five feature weekend race meetings throughout the year that are abundant with on-course entertainment, fashions and of course some of WA’s best galloping action on the track.