[citation needed] In 1908, a clay-and-cinder track, 1.81 kilometres in length, was built around the horseracing course, which was used for speedway racing by both cars and motorcycles until the early 1920s.
Due to delays during the horse races, the final was postponed until 8 October and was won by Fred Howarth driving a Sizaire-Naudin.
[4] In 1909, the first powered flight in Australia took place there in a Wright Model A aeroplane named "The Stella".
Although only flying 120 yards (110 m) at 15 feet (4.6 m), it is acknowledged by Australian historians[6] and the Aviation Historical Society of Australia, that the definition of flight established by the Gorell Committee on behalf of the Aero Club of Great Britain gives Colin Defries credit as the first to make an aeroplane flight in Australia.
A 20-page booklet entitled The History of Aviation Souvenir Australian Tour by Ambrose Pratt, under direction of J & N Tait (price 6d), was issued at the time.