RACING was held at Homebush in the west of Sydney from 1841-59 after the poor quality of the `sandy course’ at Randwick caused its abandonment. During the late 1850s the Australian Jockey Club decided to refurbish the Randwick track where racing had been held from 1835-38 and course was ready for use by 1860. Racing certainly boomed with the new amenities and events such as the AJC Derby, first run in 1861, the Sydney Cup (1866), the Doncaster Handicap (1866) and the Epsom Handicap (1865) added much lustre to the sport.