Southside Racing becomes Australia's newest race club

Following the merger between the Cranbourne Turf Club and the Pakenham Racing Club, Australia’s newest race club has been named Southside Racing.

Southside Racing pays tribute to the rich histories of its founding clubs whilst also looking to the future as the club’s identity integrates the racecourses of Cranbourne and Pakenham.

Southside Racing stands as Victoria’s second largest racing club, hosting over 60 race meetings annually and boasting premier training facilities. 

The club is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the region’s landscape both on and off the racetrack. 

Southside Racing will operate four community clubs, offering daily entertainment and hospitality. With more than 500 employees and an annual economic impact exceeding $300 million, Southside Racing serves not only as a premier entertainment and sporting destination but also as a vital economic hub for the region.

The brand rollout for Southside Racing is scheduled over the coming months, marking the beginning of an exciting new era for thoroughbred racing in Melbourne’s southeast region.

Quotes attributable to Sean Clarkson, Chairman, Southside Racing

“The merging of the two clubs is a significant milestone.

“We have large training bases at both Cranbourne and Pakenham, and a lot of industry participants in the south-east as well, so we’re looking forward to improving our offering from the training point of view.

“We’re grateful and thankful to our members for endorsing the merger. We’re looking to provide them with a better race day experience, and some more opportunities to come to the races.”

Quotes attributable to Neil Bainbridge, Chief Executive Officer, Southside Racing

“This is an exciting opportunity for racing in the south-east.

“This is a club that will conduct more than 60 race meetings annually, train 1,500 horses daily, run four gaming venues and offer significant opportunities for our community, and for our members to enjoy racing at two fantastic facilities.

“We look forward to being a significant contributor to the Victorian racing industry not only now, but well into the future.”

Quotes attributable to Andrew Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Racing Victoria

“The main goal is to make racing better for everybody. Better for members, better for fans, better for trainers, better for jockeys, better for the city of Casey and the shire of Cardinia, better for the south side of Melbourne.

“More scale means more efficiency and more money to invest in all of the things that we want to invest in, and it’s more choice for members and fans.

“I love the new brand. Southside is a great name, and it reflects Cardinia and Casey – young, diverse, vibrant, growing parts of Melbourne – so there’s lots to be excited about.”