Ipswich Turf Club

Prior to 1848, there were no organised sporting events held in Ipswich.  Horse racing events had been held in Brisbane from 1841, with squatters of the Ipswich district participating there.  A committee was formed on 9th May 1848 , with £50 of subscriptions raised within a few hours; however, it was not until the end of the year that the first race.

Boxing Day was the traditional day of sport, with horse racing being a popular event of the day.  On the 26th December 1848, the first race in Ipswich had eight entries, with James England's horse coming in first, with its own receiving a silver watch as his prize.  The second race of the day had five entrants and a prize of a five guineas saddle, won by Martin Byrne's horse Doctor.  More races were held that afternoon: a Mr Morris' black colt, Black Joe, competed against a Mr Ginger's bay horse, Haha, which won.  Mr Turner, known as "Scotchie the Sawyer", meet with an accident in the fourth race, when his horse ran straight into a tree.  The rider, attended by Dr Dorsey, recovered.  On the 27th December, another race was held for a saddle, with Martin Byrne's Kate wining against four other horses.  New Year's Day, 1849, two more races were held.  Both were between Mr Bentley's horse and Richard Lovell's Old Dick.  Although the betting favoured Bentley's horse, Lovell's won both races.

The races held over the festive period of 1848 / 1849 were not repeated the following Boxing and New Year's days.  At a meeting held at the Queen's Arms Hotel on 19th January 1850, it was decided to hold an annual horse race on Tuesday 11th June 1850.  The committee formed included John Balfour, Francis Bigge, Walter Gray, George Thorn (treasurer and secretary), W.O'G. Haly, R.J. Smith, Mr Ivory, and McQuarie McDonald.  Subscriptions of £107/6/0 were soon raised.

Contractor Colin Peacock was tasked with constructing a racecourse, which was near completion by 22nd May (horse boxes were constructed later), and the track was announced one of the best in the Colony.  Additional subscriptions were raised, taking the total to £200 with a further £50 expected in entrance fees.  Stewards William Wilson, John Balfour, Francis Bigge, Charles B. Atherton, John Rankin, Colin J. MacKenzie and Walter Gray were appointed.  The judge was R.J. Smith and the clerk of the course was George Thorn.  In the lead up to the event, 30 horses were in training and with so many races proposed and entries received, a second day was added to the meeting.

On the first day, five races were held at various distances from five to six miles.  The first race was for the Ipswich Cup, valued at 30 sovereigns.  The Ipswich Cup was won by Foxhunter.  The second race was for the Maiden Plate, won by Blue Bonnet.  Race three, the Welter Stakes, valued at 25 sovereigns, was won by Major.  Race four, the Hack Hurdle, was a steeplechase with a prize of 25 sovereigns.  The final race of the day, the Hurry Scurry, was won by Jeanette, whose owners received 10 sovereigns.

The second day saw an enthusiastic crowd attend for six races.  The Publican's Purse (worth 30 sovereigns) was won by Foxhunter, who had won the Ipswich Cup the previous day (Foxhunter's second win was not as impressive as the first - the only other entry, Harkaway, was withdrawn).  Foxhunter again won the next race, the Squatters' Plate, valued at 20 sovereigns.  The Ladies' Purse, valued at 20 sovereigns, was won by Sir William.  Race four, the Consolation Stakes, valued at 15 sovereigns, was won by Othello.  The fifth race, the Hack Stakes, was won by Wallaby, and the final race of the meet saw Jeanette once again come in first in the Hurry Scurry.

On the 13th June 1850, private trotting matches were held at the racecourse.

Northern Races were held on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of May 1851.  Newmarket rules were used and all riders were to wear jockey costumes.

At a meeting held in Ipswich on 11th June 1852, it was decided to form a club, the 'North Australian Jockey Club', with Francis Bigge M.L.C. as chair.  Bigge recommended fixed dates for the annual races (three days, starting on the second Tuesday of May) and the adoption of the Homebush Rules, which were considered more suitable for the colony than the Newmarket Rules.

Installation of an auto ray photo-finish camera was completed in September 1949, making Bundamba the only course, outside Brisbane to have the technology. It was used for the first time in the Ipswich Amateur Turf Club's Cup meeting on Saturday 3 June 1950.