Northerly his racing colours of yellow, black Maltese Cross and quartered cap earned him the nickname of "The Fighting Tiger". After winning a string of minor races in Perth, Northerly burst on the scene with his victory in the 2000 Railway Stakes in his native Perth where he accounted for the state's best milers by nearly three lengths. Following a first-up second in 2001 in the unsuitably short Australia Day Stakes in Perth, Northerly arrived in Melbourne for an autumn campaign aimed at the Australian Cup. He won his first race in Melbourne, the Carlyon Cup over 1,600 metres, by almost
The Racecourse used for horse racing in 1733; previously the site had been a smithy for the Prior of Durham. At its peak, the course had a stone grandstand and attracted 90,000 spectators for a two-day event in 1873. The Racecourse was also used for other sports in the Nineteenth Century, notably cricket and the Durham Regatta. The land is now owned by the University, which has used it as sports field since the nineteenth century. On 16-17 June 2012 the Racecourse hosted the Olympic torch as part of the London 2012 relay. Durham Miners' Gala was first held at the Racecourse