1887 Melbourne Cup

Annual horse race in Victoria, Australia May 2022 May 2022 1887 Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup Flemington Racecourse 1 November 1887 2 miles Dunlop 3:28.50 20/1 Thomas Sanders John Nicholson Richard Donovan Hard Turf 83,000 1886 1888 The 1887 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 1 November 1887. This year was the twenty-seventh running of the Melbourne Cup. Won by five-year-old stallion Dunlop at odds of 20/1. With the addition of £2,500 to the winner's sweepstakes, the race was now the richest race in Australia. Entries and odds From an initial subscription of 128 runners, only 24 entries had paid the final fee to run in the Melbourne Cup.The Melbourne Cup Forfeits https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227677939/23307740 16 February 2026 Sportsman 26 October 1887 Melbourne, Victoria 5Victoria Racing Club Spring Meeting - Second (Cup) Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197162911/18436730 The Age 1 November 1887 Melbourne, Victoria 5 James White's runner Trident was the nominal top-weighted runner having won the Australian Cup in the autumn, but the horse would be withdrawn before the race following its run in the Melbourne Stakes, leaving Sardius carrying 8 st 5 lb kg 1 on at the top of the handicap list. Algerian, The Australian Peer, Silver Prince, Oakleigh, and Remus had all been heavily backed in the lead-up to the race, but it would be seven-year-old horse Meteor that would assume overall favouritism at 5/1. Oakleigh had won the Caulfield Cup ahead of a disappointing Silvermine,Flemington Anticipations https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196496625/21386537 15 February 2026 The Leader 29 October 1887 Melbourne, Victoria 17 with Remus in second.The VRC Spring Meeting - Derby Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227686761/23307744 16 February 2026 Sportsman 31 October 1887 Melbourne, Victoria 1 Silvermine though had improved by the start of the VRC Spring Meeting, defeating Dunlop to win the Melbourne Stakes. It was said that Silvermine was an "unlucky" horse and that it would more as soon finish high in the placegetters without winning. It was said that Dunlop had improved over the spring racing season, but Algerian would have the better run of the two horses. Three-year-old colt The Australian Peer was strongly backed following its win in the Victoria Derby, where it beat Abercorn at even weights.Cup Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7908196/280417 16 February 2026 The Argus 1 November 1887 Melbourne, Victoria 7 A few weeks earlier, Abercorn had won the AJC Derby at Randwick Racecourse in a canter,Ibbett Ian 1887 – The King of Kirkham! https://www.kingsoftheturf.com/1887-the-king-of-kirkham/ Kings of the Turf 16 February 2026 2 February 2018 where Niagara had also finished ahead of The Australian Peer. Niagara had suffered interference in the Victoria Derby when Tranter stumbled and bumped Niagara off its stride down the Flemington straight. The Charmer was the only filly in the race, with many owners not electing to run mares in the arduous race. Previous Cup runners Silvermine, Meteor and Recall were again entered into the race. Recall was seen as one of the better outside chances to win the race, with odds wound in to 14/1 by the start of the race. It was reported that Sardius was only entered in the race to win a wager for the owner that the horse would merely start the Melbourne Cup. In a first for the race, no Victorian-bred runners remained in the field following final acceptances.Sporting Topics https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227686844/23307748 Sportsman 31 October 1887 Melbourne, Victoria 5 The race A small field of just 18 runners went to the starting post following a few withdrawals on race day. It was the fewest runners since the 1874 Melbourne Cup. Silver Prince had the quickest start and was the leading runner at the first turn ahead of Algerian, The Charmer, Tranter, Remus, Thunderbolt, Pakeha, The Australian Peer and Recall. Along the riverside, Silver Prince maintained its advantage, increasing the pace, while Sardius brought up the rear of the field. Algerian joined Silver Prince in the lead, with Remus in third in front of The Charmer and a large pack about a mile from the winning post. Cranbrook made a run to take third, while the leading pair battled for the advantage. Silver Prince was close on the rails, and with half a mile to go Algerian had a slight lead with Cranbrook and Dunlop coming around the outside. At the final turn, Silver Prince and Algerian were still locked together, with Cranbrook and Dunlop still applying pressure. Down the Flemington straight, the two leaders started to fade having run their race too soon. Dunlop took over the lead ahead of Silvermine, with The Australian Peer ahead of the chasing pack. Alec Robertson coaxed an effort out of Silvermine to draw close to Dunlop, but the Tasmanian-bred horse didn't have one more kick to take the lead. Jockey Thomas Sanders leading home Dunlop to win ahead of Silvermine by a length in the fastest Melbourne Cup time of 3:28.5. The Australian Peer finished strongly to take third, ahead of Niagara. Sardius had broken down and failed to finish. Bred in South Australia, Dunlop was trained by John Nicholson, the brother of jockey Donald Nicholson who had died in a race fall during the 1886 Caulfield Cup.The Winning Jockey https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/21386604 25 February 2026 The Leader 5 November 1887 Melbourne, Victoria 20 This would be the last Melbourne Cup race for jockey Alec Robertson. Winner of the 1884 Cup on Malua, Robertson had been third (1885) and second (1886) with Trenton. Robertson died following a fall on 2 January 1888. Silvermine was also killed in the same incident.Ibbett Ian 1886 – Trident Trumps a Future Baronet! https://www.kingsoftheturf.com/1886-trident-trumps-a-future-baronet/ Kings of the Turf 12 February 2026 1 January 2018 Full results This is the list of placegetters for the 1887 Melbourne Cup.1881 to 1890 Melbourne Cup Winners http://www.races.com.au/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-history/past-winners/1881-to-1890-melbourne-cup/#1887 races com au 29 May 2022Reubertstein The History of the Melbourne Cup from 1861 to 1894 James J. Miller Melbourne, Australia 47–49 18951887 Melbourne Cup MillersGuide http://millersguide.identika.com.au/1887-melbourne-cup/ millersguide.identika.com.au 16 February 2026 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20220317042557/http://millersguide.identika.com.au/1887-melbourne-cup/ 17 March 2022 PlaceHorseAgeGenderJockeyWeightTrainerOwnerOddsMargin1Dunlop5y hThomas Sanders 8 st 3 lb kg 1 onJohn NicholsonRichard Donovan20/11 length2Silvermine6y hAlec RobertsonRobertson Sometimes spelled Alick Robertson 8 st 3 lb kg 1 on Isaac FoulshamWilliam Cooper14/11 length3The Australian Peer3y cTed Gorry 7 st 5 lb kg 1 on Harry Rayner William Gannon6/1½ length4Niagara NZL3y cTrahan 7 st 5 lb kg 1 onNiagara Was supposed to carry 7st 3lb Isaac FoulshamWilliam Cooper20/15Abercorn3y cTom Hales 7 st 7 lb kg 1 on Thomas Payten James White20/16Recall5y hPower 7 st 5 lb kg 1 on Mr R. Orr14/17Oakleigh5y hFielder 7 st 4 lb kg 1 on Martin Loughlin7/18Algerian5y hT. Nerriker 7 st 1 lb kg 1 on Mr G. Osborne6/19Remus5y hSam Cracknell 6 st 11 lb kg 1 on Mr S.G. Cook15/110Silver Prince NZL4y hCochrane 7 st 3 lb kg 1 on William Robinson15/111Cranbrook3y cO'Keefe 6 st 12 lb kg 1 on Thomas Payten James White20/112Thunderbolt NZL5y hM. Gallagher 7 st 8 lb kg 1 on William Robinson25/113Jebusite3y cHowie 6 st 6 lb kg 1 onJebusite Was supposed to carry 6st 3lb Mr J. Cohen100/114Meteor7y hFiddes 7 st 2 lb kg 1 on Mr R.K. Maitland5/1 fav. Favourite15Tranter NZL3y cO'Connor 6 st 6 lb kg 1 on William E. DakinEdwin Mitchelson20/116Pakeha3y cO'Connor 6 st 6 lb kg 1 on A. Davis Mr A. Harvey40/117The Charmer3y fO'Neil 6 st 10 lb kg 1 on Mr S.G. Cook50/1DNF Did not finishSardius7y hBurton 8 st 5 lb kg 1 on Mr S. Nathan50/1SCR Scratched Trident 4y h9 st 8 lb kg 1 on Thomas Payten James White SCR Scratched Frisco 4y h7 st 3 lb kg 1 on Mr T. SampsonSCR Scratched Enfilade 3y c6 st 12 lb kg 1 on Harry Yeend William RobinsonSCR Scratched Affluence 5y h6 st 11 lb kg 1 on Mr J. PileSCR Scratched Escutcheon NZL 3y c6 st 9 lb kg 1 on William E. Dakin Edwin MitchelsonSCR Scratched Lord William 4y h7 st 7 lb kg 1 on Mr C.R. Ord Prizemoney With the Victorian economy booming, the Victoria Racing Club increased the prize money awarded for a second year, adding £2500 to the winner's sweepstakes and including a trophy valued at £100. The trophy was a golden horseshoe mounted on a plush stand. First prize £3155, second prize £500, third prize £250. See also Horses Sports Australia Melbourne Cup List of Melbourne Cup winners Victoria Racing Club Notes References External links 1887 Melbourne Cup footyjumpers.com 1887 Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup Category:19th century in Melbourne Category:1880s in Melbourne