Research Centre & Archive

Research Centre

Open to the general public, our Research Centre & Archive (which includes the James McGill Library, The Pascoe Family Pictorial Record and The Stanley Collection) is housed at the Doomben Racecourse (Public Grandstand Level 1) and is managed by dedicated racing personnel who have an extensive background in thoroughbred racing. All work as volunteers. The wide-ranging collection dates back 150 years, with the books and historic material in pristine condition, and is regarded as the best resourced reference library in the thoroughbred racing industry. The centre is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10am and 1pm or by appointment.

Visits & Information

If anyone requires any information on thoroughbred racing history, you can phone (07) 3630 2245, email heritage@brc.com.au, or visit the library. If you prefer to visit, please make an appointment with one of our volunteer workers by phoning or emailing.

Research

While most requests for information from the public are happily handled without a charge, exceptionally complex and very time consuming inquiries may attract a fee. The organisation is a not-for-profit body run completely by a very small band of volunteers.


The Stanley Collection

Fifty years after the race, the 1968 W.S. Cox Plate trophy has found a new home - as centrepiece of a display of trophies and memorabilia of the racing successes of the horse's owners Bill and Evelyn Stanley. Queensland's most successful owners, the Stanleys raced 99 horses from the late 1940s to the 1980s and won some of Australia's biggest races with horses of the calibre of Rajah Sahib (Cox Plate, Doncaster Handicap and Stradbroke Handicap), Cyron (Australian Cup and George Adams Handicap), Mr Cromwell (Queensland Derby and VRC The Dalgety) and High Sail (VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes). Mr  and Mrs Stanley donated their trophies and racing memorabilia for a permanent display at the Doomben racecourse (Public Grandstand Level 1) near the Archive and Research Centre. The Stanley Room is open to the public every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 am to 1 pm or by appointment.