It has taken me a long time to research and write this book .Over the years, I‘ve had the gentle reminders –“ where are you up, and hurry up I’ll be dead before you publish.”
I had a busy teaching career, as a secondary teacher at St George Girls High School , Kogarah (1977-2011) , served on St George Hospital Board (1985-1988 ) , was a Councillor on Rockdale City Council (1991-1999 )and then a Councillor on Kogarah City Council (1999-2008). I also had obligations to aged parents, who needed increasing attention. Time was at a premium.
I moved to the Moorefield Racecourse in early 1985. In mid- 1992, whilst a Third Ward Councillor at Rockdale City Council , Mr Ray Cunningham from O’Connell Street , Monterey spoke to me about a footpath near his home . The footpath was built in August 1992.
In the course of a number of conversations, Mr Cunningham asked me where I lived. He told me that “he had worked on Moorefield Racecourse during the 1940’s , and could remember quite a lot of information . When I die, the history will die with me.”
I agreed to write the history – so my history will ultimately be written “because a footpath was needed by a Rockdale City Council constituent “….
The St George Leader published an article in the Leader on July 20,1993” History Project Will Chronicle Glory Days When Moorefield was a Mecca For Racegoers.”
My interest was further encouraged when Kogarah Council, agreed in mid- 1997, to demolish the Belgrave Nursing Home in Belgrave Street,Kogarah to replace it with units. This building was the former home of Dr J. Lamrock, Hon Medical Officer to the Moorefield Racecourse, and a race horse owner himself.
In 1995, I was given a photo of Albert Russell, an ex- jockey by his relative , John Rincheval ,a Moorefield jockey. Albert and John were related , and Albert had lived on the Moorefield Racecourse , August 24, 1959-October 12,1973. Albert won the 1933 New Zealand Derby in Canterbury ,as a 16 year old apprentice , riding Nightly . This photo of Albert and Nightly hang in my hallway as a special tribute to him.
In the 1930’s,my late father came to Moorefield to back a horse called Dutiful . My late father had a wonderful knowledge of racing history . and I owe my interest in racing to him . Growing up in Wallsend , Newcastle I could not disturb my father’s Saturday afternoon listening to the races on 2KY. I recall being taken as a child to the races in Newcastle and to Randwick, as well as visiting a Hunter Valley Horse Stud.
And so a history, which could have been lost, will live on in printed form in the near future, and in the memories of local residents.
Anne Field
Kogarah .
