Thoroughbred Park becomes racecourse number 532 for globetrotting German racing fan
A German horse racing devotee who has visited 531 racecourses around the world, chose Thoroughbred Park as number 532 when he attended Raw Potential Race Day on Friday 23 October 2026.
Werner Malinka, who lives near Dusseldorf, has been going to the races since 1 May 1975, when he visited his first racecourse in Leipzig. He retired on 1 September after a 50-year career as a chemist in the electroplating industry, and has since set out on a three-month journey around Australia and New Zealand.
Malinka is part of a small community of racecourse collectors, the racing equivalent of football’s groundhoppers, who travel the world to experience as many tracks as they can. He documents his travels on his website, Globalturf.
Since arriving in Australia, Malinka has visited racecourses across the country, including Warwick Farm, Flemington, Mornington and Ballarat, before catching the four-hour train from Sydney to Canberra. Between race days, he has packed in the sights.
“I visited South Australia and went to the South Australian Wine Centre, where we had a wine tasting. Then we continued to Alice Springs and then into the outback by bus to Ayers Rock, Uluru. Then we continued to the tropical north to a resort in the rainforest, then made a road trip to the Whitsunday Islands. Amazing snorkelling.” Malinka noted.
Malinka said it was the smaller racecourses, rather than the headline venues, that he enjoyed most. “I like the smaller racecourses compared to the big ones. You get more access to take photos and explore, and the hospitality is much better.”
It is a lesson he has learned over decades of travel. He often chooses to attend racecourses on their quieter days, which gives him even more freedom to explore, meet people and take photographs.
His experience at Thoroughbred Park followed that pattern. After enjoying the warmth and hospitality on Raw Potential Race Day, Malinka took a recommendation to visit Queanbeyan the following Monday. Canberra Racing Club contacted Queanbeyan to let them know he was on his way, and he was shown the same welcome.
“I have loved visiting Canberra Racing Club because you have shown me great hospitality and kindness and such a warm welcome.” Malinka said.
Malinka’s tally includes every racecourse in the United Kingdom, more than 100 in France and 76 in Germany, as well as tracks in Ireland, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai, Barbados and Chile.
He is saddened by news that France has announced it will close a large portion of its racecourses, a country he counts among his favourites for its relaxed racing atmosphere.
Along the way, Malinka has collected some unforgettable racing moments. In Dubai, he watched the races from the rooftop pool of a hotel built at the racecourse. In Japan, he saw jockeys perform a traditional bow of respect before mounting their horses.
In Barbados, he watched horses led to the public beach every morning at 6am to swim in the ocean. In Arosa, Switzerland, he attended racing on a frozen lake, where the ice must be at least 25 centimetres thick to create the track.
He rates Merano in northern Italy, nestled within the mountains, as the most beautiful racecourse in Europe. At Royal Ascot, he saw Queen Elizabeth II watch one of her own horses race.
Canberra Racing Club Head of Commercial and Communications Robbie Ringland said the club was honoured to play a small part in Malinka’s journey.
“As a racing fan, I must say that I am quite jealous of Werner's journey” Ringland said.
"We were delighted to welcome Wermer to our home here at Thoroughbred Park and I hope our warmth and hospitality will put us close to the top of his 532 favourite racecourses."
Malinka continues his journey to New Zealand before returning to Germany at the end of November.
Thoroughbred Park’s next major race day is TAB Melbourne Cup & Big Dance Race Day where corporate hospitality packages are sold out. General admission tickets are available via Oztix.