1879 Melbourne Cup

Annual horse race in Melbourne, Victoria April 2022 November 2021 1879 Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup Melbourne_Cup_1879_illudtrations.tif Illustrations of the race published in The Illustrated Australian News Flemington Racecourse 4 November 1879 2 miles Darriwell 3:30.75 33/1 Sam Cracknell William E. Dakin William Algernon Guesdon Turf 80,000 1878 1880 The 1879 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 4 November 1879. This year was the nineteenth running of the Melbourne Cup. The race was won by Darriwell in a then record time of 3:30.75, beating the time of Chester from 1877. Entries and odds The "national handicap race of Australia" saw a field of more than 30 potential runners from an initial entry of 122 acceptances.The Melbourne Cup https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/143008896 The Australasian 12 July 1879 Melbourne, Victoria 10 Following its clear win in the Victoria Derby on the Saturday, dark grey colt Suwarrow was installed as short-priced favourite, with the horse trained by Bob Howie.Ibbett Ian 1879 – The Blood of Sappho https://www.kingsoftheturf.com/1879-the-blood-of-sappho/ Kings of the Turf 15 January 2026 23 December 2017 After being withdrawn the previous year, 1877 Cup favourite Savanaka was again one of the fancied runners, although the horse was now the top-weight with Richmond, who was runner-up in the 1875 Melbourne Cup as a three-year-old. Wellington returned for another shot at the Cup, and would again be listed at short odds, despite carrying a greater weight handicap. Following a win in the 1878 Metropolitan Handicap in Sydney, Democrat was considered something of an outside chance, with 1879 Metropolitan winner Secundus rated a better chance. New Zealand-bred runner Le Loup was less-fancied by some observers following its efforts when it missed the start in the Melbourne Stakes, finishing third behind First King on the Saturday before the race. The race Following a number of race day withdrawals, 27 runners greeted the starter, in bright sunny conditions after morning cloud dissipated. A soft sea breeze did not pick up much of the dust that had marred previous editions of the race. Riverton, Monarque, Tom Kirk, Darriwell and Suwarrow had the best of the start, with Suwarrow leading at the first turn. Suwarrow extended its lead down the riverside, with Riverton trying to bridge a gap of a couple of lengths. At the final turn it appeared that Darriwell had taken the lead, but Suwarrow still maintained an advantage on the inside. It was in the Flemington straight that Darriwell made a decisive move, with jockey Sam Cracknell piloting the horse forward to pass Suwarrow to win. Sweetmeat came through late to finish second, with Wellington fourth behind Suwarrow. There were some complaints that Riverton had caused interference racing alongside Suwarrow during the final mile, but not protests were lodged. Two two top-weighted horses Savanaka and Richmond didn't feature prominently in the race. Darriwell has bred in Victoria by John Ord Inglis and sold as a colt to Tasmanian businessman William Guesdon. The horse raced with little success in Tasmania and was sent back to Victoria to be trained by William E. Dakin, a former British cavalry officer. Darriwell had previously won races at Flemington including the 1878 Spring Handicap, 1879 Brunswick States and another race in March 1879. The horse was unplaced in the previous year's Melbourne Cup won by Calamia, and unplaced in the inaugural running of the Caulfield Cup. Guesdon was the first Tasmanian owner to win the Melbourne Cup, and was a previous committee member of the Tasmanian Racing Club.Obituary - Mr W.A. Guesdon https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/29470235 The Mercury 22 December 1926 Hobart, Tasmania 10 It was reported that Guesdon didn't back his horse for large sums of money to win the race, having been convinced by Dakin that the other horse in his stable, Le Loup, had a greater chance at winning the race.Sporting News - The Turf https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5630795 16 January 2026 The Advertiser 15 February 1919 Adelaide, South Australia 7 It was said that Darriwell was "plain in appearance" and "the last horse anyone would select for a two-mile race."Rolfe Costa Winners of the Melbourne Cup 2008 Red Dog Fitzroy, Australia 9781742035093 44–45 Full results This is the list of placegetters for the 1879 Melbourne Cup.1871 to 1880 Melbourne Cup Winners http://www.races.com.au/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-history/past-winners/1871-to-1880-melbourne-cup/#1879 races com au 12 November 2021Cavanough Maurice The Melbourne Cup 1978 0727004859 445 81879 Melbourne Cup MillersGuide http://millersguide.identika.com.au/1879-melbourne-cup/ millersguide.identika.com.au 15 January 2026 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20220314100135/http://millersguide.identika.com.au/1879-melbourne-cup/ 14 March 2022Melbourne Cup Winners - 1861-1880 https://www.vrc.com.au/racing/melbourne-cup-winners-honour-roll/1861-1880/ Victoria Racing Club 5 November 2025Victoria Racing Club - The Melbourne Cup https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5961962/253879 15 January 2026 The Argus 4 November 1879 Melbourne, Victoria 6The Cup Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244743273 The Herald 5 November 1879 Melbourne, Victoria 4Second Day - Tuesday, Nov 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/143011917/15089865 16 January 2026 The Australasian 8 November 1879 Melbourne, Victoria 11The Cup Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5962073/253894 16 January 2026 The Argus 5 November 1879 Melbourne, Victoria 5-6 PlaceHorseAgeGenderJockeyWeightTrainerOwnerOddsMargin1Darriwell5y hSam Cracknell 7 st 4 lb kg 1 onWilliam E. DakinWilliam Algernon GuesdonRawlinson A Tasmanian businessman, Guesdon used the alias "W. Rawlinson" for his racehorse ownership.Darriwell https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198902676 15 January 2026 The Tasmanian 15 November 1879 Launceston, Tasmania 933/1 ½ length2Sweetmeat4y hDonald Nicholson 7 st 1 lb kg 1 on Thomas Ivory7/1 Head3Suwarrow3y cGeorge Williams 6 st 3 lb kg 1 onSuwarrow Was supposed to carry 6st 1lbRobert HowieRobert Howie13/4 fav. Favourite4Columbus7y hBarr 7 st 7 lb kg 1 on Edward Alfred Johnson-Boe50/1 5Wellington4y hWilliam Murphy 8 st 2 lb kg 1 on Edward Alfred Johnson-Boe10/1 6Colima5y mRoarty 6 st 12 lb kg 1 on William Forrester100/1 7Riverton4y h John KilduffKilduff Also known as Jack Kilduff 6 st 8 lb kg 1 onLordHarry Was supposed to carry 6st 3lb John Whittingham20/1 8Monarque4y h J. Williams 6 st 12 lb kg 1 on Frank Leng33/1 9Secundus (late Highlander)4y hO'Connor 6 st 7 lb kg 1 on John Mayo4/1 10Falmouth3y c John Gainsford 6 st 4 lb kg 1 on George Donnelly50/1 11The Wandering Jew 3y cGeoghegan 6 st 0 lb kg 1 on Tom Jordan John Eden Savill33/1 12Waxy7y gKelly 6 st 9 lb kg 1 on Ike Carslake James Liddell Purves33/1 13Democrat6y hGordon 8 st 2 lb kg 1 on James White100/1 14Savanaka5y hTom Hales 9 st 3 lb kg 1 on James Wilson Herbert Power5/1 15Lord Harry8y g Brickwood Colley 8 st 4 lb kg 1 on Mr M. Loughlin12/1 Richmond7y h Walker 9 st 3 lb kg 1 on Eli Jellett25/1 Le Loup NZL5y h William Yeomans 8 st 4 lb kg 1 on William E. Dakin Mr G. Fraser33/1 Strathearn5y h Sam Davis 7 st 8 lb kg 1 on John Tait John Tait25/1 Tom Kirk8y g J. King 7 st 7 lb kg 1 on Mr W. Frederick20/1 Levant5y h Braithwaite 7 st 7 lb kg 1 on Mr A. Davies50/1 Glenormiston5y h J. Williamson 7 st 3 lb kg 1 on William Filgate William Filgate33/1 K.C.B.4y h Deasy 6 st 8 lb kg 1 onKCB Was supposed to carry 6st 7lb John Tait John Tait100/1 Tidal Wave4y h Vouchier 6 st 4 lb kg 1 on Stephen Mahon Stephen Mahon100/1 Roland4y h Burton 6 st 0 lb kg 1 on Stephen Mahon Stephen Mahon100/1 Terrific3y c Greville 5 st 12 lb kg 1 on Mr J. McPhail100/1 Caractacus3y c G. Riley 5 st 12 lb kg 1 onEtienne de MestreEtienne de Mestre 100/1 Pollio3y c Fallon 5 st 9 lb kg 1 onPollio Was supposed to carry 5st 7lb Mr G. Livingstone100/1 SCR ScratchedHis Grace3y c 7 st 0 lb kg 1 on Mr J.R. CowellSCR ScratchedFau-blas3y c 6 st 4 lb kg 1 on James Liddell PurvesSCR ScratchedEarl of Mar4y c 6 st 2 lb kg 1 on Mr JeffreySCR ScratchedCaspian3y c 6 st 2 lb kg 1 on James WilsonAlexander K. FinlaySCR ScratchedGeide Olgothach3y c 6 st 0 lb kg 1 on James J. MillerSCR ScratchedAdventurer3y c 5 st 11 lb kg 1 on Fitzwilliam WentworthSCR ScratchedChatterbox3y c 5 st 10 lb kg 1 on Louis Lawrence SmithSCR ScratchedCredit 4y h 5 st 12 lb kg 1 onWilliam J. ClarkeSCR ScratchedZambesi 4y h 6 st 10 lb kg 1 onAndrew ChirnsideSCR ScratchedNarrabri 3y c 5 st 7 lb kg 1 onMr J. EvansSCR ScratchedFirst Water 3y c 6 st 4 lb kg 1 onTom JordanWilliam Pile Prizemoney The Victoria Racing Club increased the prizemoney for the second and third placegetters for the 1879 race, where previously (since 1868) the third place runner would receive their initial stake returned. First prize £1645, second prize £200, third prize £100. See also Horses Sports Australia Melbourne Cup List of Melbourne Cup winners Victoria Racing Club Notes References External links 1879 Melbourne Cup footyjumpers.com 1879 Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup Category:19th century in Melbourne Category:1870s in Melbourne Category:Long stubs with short prose