It is a race that is said to stop the nation. A race that, every person and company put off work, business and pleasure on hold to view.
It was founded in 1861 by Captain Frederick Standish, former Chairman of the Victoria Turf Club, who wanted to put on a good handicap to rival its counterpart, the Victoria Jockey Club.
The opening of the Melbourne Cup welcomed a crowd approximating at 4000 people but through the hard work of the First Secretary of the Victoria Racing Club (formed as a mixture of the Victoria Turf Club and Victoria Jockey Club) Robert Bagot, the crowd increased and reached 100,000 people by 1880. It is held at the Flemington Racecourse which sits 120,000 and sells out each year.
Not only has the numbers of attendees increased but also the prizes. What started off with prize money that was said to be 710 pounds and a gold watch increased year by year. But in 1985, along with the Royal Visit of the Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the Melbourne Cup prize money reached the $1 million mark for the first time. In 2010 the prize money was set at 6 million Australian Dollars which put the race among the richest races in the world.
The Melbourne Cup is ranked as one of the riches and prestigious 2 mile race in the world. At inception it ran on a Thursday but in 1875 it was moved to every first Tuesday of November, which still continues today.
The social standard of the Melbourne Cup now compared to the beginning has not changed. Very early on it was considered an event to be seen at and experienced for politicians and the rich and famous. Even with Flemington Racetracks rugged and rough atmosphere and conditions at the time of inception it was still viewed as ‘the race’ on the Australian calendar.
The first Melbourne Cup champion was a horse named Archer. Legend has it that Archer walked 500 miles from its stable in New South Wales to compete in the first Melbourne Cup. Archer also came back the following year which he then won again. As a result he has been placed in the records as one of the five horses that have ever won 2 or more Melbourne Cups. However even with Archer’s impressive record he would not be known or remembered as the greatest racehorse in Australia’s history
Although only winning the Melbourne once, of all the horses in the history of the Cup only 2 horses are remembered and given the title of the greatest horses Australia has seen – Carbine and Phar Lap.
Carbine first emerged in the racing world in 1890 where he took the title and won by 2 and a half length over the other horses. This was also the year of the stock market crash which rocked and affected the state. With his win Carbine was viewed as a sign of courage and strength during the hard times. Carbine, also known as ‘Old Jack’ raced 43 times in his career. In those 43 times Carbine won 33 times and was not placed at all during a race once due to a cracked heel.
However in 1895 Donald Wallace (owner of Carbine) fell through hard times and was left with no other option but to sell the much loved horse to the Duke of Portland from England. This was not easy for the public and as Carbine was leaving to his new home thousands of people filled the port docks to see him off.
It was not until 1930 that another horse would emerge to the same level of that Carbine was placed. Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup in 1930 only days after he was almost shot to death. This was also the time of the Great Depression and as a result of his victory after criminals tried to shoot him Phar Lap became a symbol for hope, dreams and prosperity to the Australian public.
Phar Lap entered 51 races during his career. Out of those 51 races he won 37.
However after placing 8th in the 1931 Melbourne Cup David Davis, owner of Phar Lap had him shipped off to America to compete in the richest race in the world, Agua Caliente Handicap. Phar Lap won the competition and set a new record but it would also be the last.
In April 1932 Australia was rocked with devastating news of Phar Lap’s death. His sudden death continues to remain a mystery today however there are those who believed that this great champion was poisoned.
After his death Phar Lap’s heart was donated to the Institute of Anatomy in Canberra but was later moved and now resides in the National Museum of Australia, which many request to see. His skeleton was moved to the New Zealand National Museum but now resides in Wellington’s Te Papa Museum. Phar Lap’s skeletons however were lent back to Australia to celebrate the Melbourne Cup’s 150th year in 2010. After the death, Phar Lap’s body was also prepared and stuffed then placed in the Australia Gallery in Melbourne Museum. A bronze statue was also built in his memory and is now one of the many great features of Flemington Racetrack.
Many argue who was the greatest of both these horses even though both raced in different eras however, there is much more to a champion then the number of races and titles they’ve won. Both Carbine and Phar Lap became far greater than the racehorses but a symbol of encouragement to the Australian public during times of trials, tribulation and war.
Both Carbine and Phar Lap was also 2 of 5 inaugural inductees in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Top Records:
Owners: John Tait (4 wins)
Etienne de Mestre (4 wins) Dato Tan Chin Nam (4 wins)
Trainers: Bart Cummings (12 wins)
Etienne de Mestre (5 wins)
Lee Freedman (5 wins)
Horses: Makybe Diva (3 wins)
Think Big, Rain Lover, Peter Pan
& Archer (2 wins)
Jockeys: Bobby Lewis (4 wins)
Harry White (4 wins)
