Building work started in 1927 and the new Northolt Park pony race track was opened by the Earl of Harewood with his wife the Princess Royal on Whit Saturday 1929.
It was billed as the start of 'a new era' in sport in the Metropolitan area. Entry to the top price Tattersalls enclosure was 10/-, with public stands at 4/- and entry to the course for 1/6. Special trains were laid on from Marylebone and Paddington costing 1/3 for a third class return with LNER's advertisements boasting that their service from Marylebone to Northolt Park station arrived nearest to the grandstands. For the growing number of motorists, there was parking for 6,000 cars at 2/- each.
The most valuable event that day was the Northolt Park Handicap, with a first prize of £175, which was run over seven furlongs. Among the spectators was Miss Pola Negri the film star. She led the first winner, Empress, to the unsaddling enclosure and then was besieged by a battery of cameramen. In an interview, Miss Negri said,
"This is my first experience of racing in England, but I like it so much that I have made up my mind to buy some ponies and horses and race them myself."
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