1876 Melbourne Cup

Annual horse race in Victoria, Australia April 2022 September 2021 1876 Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup Briseis.jpg Illustration of winning horse Briseis Flemington Racecourse 7 November 1876 2 miles Briseis 3:36.25 13/2 Peter St Albans James Wilson James Wilson Turf ≈75,000 1875 1877 The 1876 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 7 November 1876. This year was the sixteenth running of the Melbourne Cup. The running of this edition of the race is most famous for winning jockey Peter St Albans, whose birth name was Peter Bowden, who became the youngest Melbourne Cup winning jockey at 12 (he was actually a few days shy of his 11th birthday). St Albans taking the ride for the Cup after regular jockey Tom Hales could not make the allocated weight for the horse. The winning horse Briseis, had previously won the Doncaster Handicap at two-years-old, won by two lengths and was the first of three fillies to win the Melbourne Cup. During the 1876 Victoria Racing Club (VRC) Spring Meeting, she also won Victoria Derby on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, also winning the VRC Oaks following the Cup on the Thursday. Briseis (1876) Facts, Stats & Trivia of The Melbourne Cup O'Reilly Paddy 2016 New Holland Publishers Pty Ltd Melbourne 26–27 9781742579054 Briseis was a foal of 1863 Melbourne Cup runner-up Musidora. Briseis won in a field of 33 and "the boy who rode the winner was carried around the pack and is the hero of the day" reported the Australasian Sketcher.25 November 1876 The Melbourne Cup of 1876 IV 6 (Adelaide Edition) Australasian Sketcher 48 South Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244716277 National Library of Australia 30 September 2021 Betting on the race was initially fairly open, with James Wilson's trained horse Feu d'Artifice eventually backed in as a short-priced favourite ahead of Spark. There were 72 entries accepted for the race,The Melbourne Cup and the Non-Acceptors https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240923764 13 January 2026 The Kyneton Observer 12 August 1876 Kyneton, Victoria 2 while a total of 42 runners were declared for the race,Turf Jottings https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/33741660 9 January 2026 The South Australian Advertiser 2 November 1876 Adelaide, South Australia 1 with a field of 33 eventually starting the race, then the largest field in the race's history. Owing to its stablemate's win in the previous race, Torchlight was well backed in the betting ring as one of the favourite outsiders. Rapid Bay and Valentia were withdrawn on the morning of the race, following the withdrawal of boom colt Newminster due to illness. Following the start, Janitor was at the front of the field at the first turn, but as the field traversed the back straight, observers lost sight of the lead horses owing to the dust being kicked up by the field. Eventually Spring Jack was found to be leading the pack, with Aldinga and Timothy near the front. Spring Jack maintained its lead at the far turn, looking to repeat the feats of 1874 winner Haricot to lead from near the start to the end of the race. Before the final turn, Spring Jack had run its race, while the favourite Feu d'Artifice had tried to run on but began to tire. Irish Stew took up the lead as the runners before the runners entered the Flemington straight, giving way to Sibyl to lead as the field made the final turn, but it was Briseis who dashed clear down the home stretch well ahead of Sibyl who finished strongly to grab second place, followed by Timothy. The time of the race was reasonably fast compared to previous editions of the Melbourne Cup, although the horses might have been hampered by the windy and dusty conditions. Previous year's runner up Richmond racing under the new moniker of Clifton after its ownership was transferred to Governor of New South Wales Sir Hercules Robinson, was pulled up and did not finish.The Victorian Derby and Melbourne Cup https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19770043 9 January 2026 The Queenslander 18 November 1876 Brisbane, Queensland 6 The win was the second Melbourne Cup for trainer James Wilson, cementing the St Albans Stud as one of the leading stables of the time, although his two sons had grown too much to continue to ride for the stable. Newspapers of the time praised the "racing festival" as organised by the VRC, claiming that it: has ceased to be a local or metropolitan pastime, for the whole colony participates in it. Year by year, as railway communication has extended to the districts which were previously unconnected with it by the iron road, the number of persons drawn hitherward to witness the most popular event upon the turf has been steadily increasing; and to judge from the subject of the streets during the last few days, the concourse of visitors on the present occasion will be greater than at any corresponding period previously. There is evidently something in the national character which predisposes all classes of the community to feel and exhibit an almost passionate interest in those contests of power and speed which are capable of bringing together a more immense multitude of people than any other spectacle which can be presented to them.News of the Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5908633/245580 9 January 2026 The Argus 7 November 1876 Melbourne, Victoria 4 Full results This is the list of placegetters for the 1876 Melbourne Cup.1876 Melbourne Cup MillersGuide http://millersguide.identika.com.au/1876-melbourne-cup/ millersgudie.identika.com.au 27 May 20221871 to 1880 Melbourne Cup Winners http://www.races.com.au/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-history/past-winners/1871-to-1880-melbourne-cup/#1876 races com au 28 May 2022Victoria Racing Club - The Melbourne Cup https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5908649/245584 9 January 2026 The Argus 7 November 1876 Melbourne, Victoria 6The Cup Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5908784/245598 9 January 2026 The Argus 8 November 1876 Melbourne, Victoria 5-6Second (Cup) Day - Tuesday, Nov. 7 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/139772868/11430090 9 January 2026 The Australasian 11 November 1876 Melbourne, Victoria 10-11THE VICTORIA TURF CLUB SPRING MEETING - The Cup Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/200232783/18346776 9 January 2026 The Age 8 November 1876 Melbourne, Victoria 2-3The Cup Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/5730121 10 January 2026 Illustrated Australian News 29 November 1876 Melbourne, Victoria 187 PlaceHorseAgeGenderJockeyWeightTrainerOwnerOddsMargin1Briseis 3y fPeter St. Albans 6 st 4 lb kg 1 onJames WilsonJames Wilson13/2 2 lengths2Sibyl3y fPhelps 6 st 0 lb kg 1 on Robert Standish Sevior Robert Standish Sevior25/1 1 length3Timothy4y hDonald Nicholson 7 st 0 lb kg 1 onEtienne de MestreEtienne de Mestre10/14Impudence4y hWilliam Enderson 7 st 9 lb kg 1 on Tom JordanGabriel Bennett14/15Emulation4y h Murphy 7 st 8 lb kg 1 on Tom JordanGabriel Bennett20/16Spring JackAged gTaylor 5 st 7 lb kg 1 on William Samuel Cox50/17Sterling5y hT. Wilson 8 st 6 lb kg 1 on William LangThomas Ivory16/18Irish Stew4y gPaddy Piggott 6 st 8 lb kg 1 on James J. Miller8/19Aldinga3y cGeorge Williams 6 st 0 lb kg 1 on Samuel Gardiner14/110Imperial7y gWilliam Yeomans 8 st 10 lb kg 1 on William Samuel Cox12/111Pride Of The Hills3y cSpooner 6 st 4 lb kg 1 on Mr T. Reid50/1Sultan6y hBrickwood Colley 8 st 6 lb kg 1 onJames Wilson Thomas Chirnside & Andrew Chirnside16/1Southern Cross5y mJohn Kavanagh 8 st 6 lb kg 1 onFrank LengFrank Leng33/1Dilke5y hRobert Batty 7 st 12 lb kg 1 onDilke Was supposed to carry 7st 10lb Stephen Moon John Cleeland20/1Mountaineer6y gHughes 7 st 9 lb kg 1 on William Yuillie Jr50/1Feu d'Artifice5y mTom Hales 7 st 5 lb kg 1 on James Wilson Herbert Power4/1 fav. FavouriteJanitor4y hE. Willis 7 st 4 lb kg 1 on James J. Miller50/1Spark4y hE. Bancroft 6 st 12 lb kg 1 on Mr J. Arthur10/1Venus6y mT. Aspinall 6 st 12 lb kg 1 on John Crozier Jr50/1Gas3y fJ. Heywood 5 st 9 lb kg 1 onGas Was supposed to carry 5st 7lb Mr J. Paterson50/1Onyx4y mCharles Ivemy 6 st 10 lb kg 1 on Charles Brown Fisher33/1Nunnykirk4y gKirk 6 st 8 lb kg 1 on Thomas Chirnside & Andrew Chirnside33/1Torchlight5y hSamuel Davis 6 st 11 lb kg 1 onTorchlight Was supposed to carry 6st 8lb William Yuillie Jr20/1Bella4y mW. Motton Jr 6 st 8 lb kg 1 on William Field50/1Fisherman4y hPower 6 st 8 lb kg 1 on Mr J. Keighran25/1Vain HopeAged gNolan 6 st 8 lb kg 1 on Mr J. Hill25/1Kismet4y mHincks 6 st 6 lb kg 1 on Mr A. Bowman50/1The DeerAged gSnarey 6 st 7 lb kg 1 onSnarey Was supposed to carry 6st 4lb Mr L. Barnard25/1Electricity3y cThomson 6 st 1 lb kg 1 on Mr R. Holland25/1Glengarry3y cKing 5 st 10 lb kg 1 on Louis Lawrence Smith50/1DisraeliAged gBraithwaite 5 st 7 lb kg 1 on Mr E. Hunt50/1Gentility3y fEmsworth 5 st 7 lb kg 1 on Mr D.D. Simpson50/1PU Pulled upClifton (late Richmond)4y hRamsay 8 st 0 lb kg 1 on Tom Lamond Hercules Robinson50/1SCR ScratchedValentia 4y h 7 st 7 lb kg 1 on Tom Lamond Hercules RobinsonSCR Scratched Canterbury 4y h 7 st 4 lb kg 1 on Charles Brown FisherSCR Scratched McGregor Aged h 6 st 10 lb kg 1 on Mr E. PagetSCR Scratched Gloom 6y g 6 st 4 lb kg 1 on William PearsonSCR Scratched Volo 3y c 6 st 0 lb kg 1 on Mr A. StewartSCR Scratched El Moro 3y c 5 st 12 lb kg 1 on Samuel GardinerSCR ScratchedRapid Bay 4y h James WilsonJames WilsonSCR ScratchedNewminster 3y c William E. Dakin Thomas Chirnside & Andrew Chirnside Prizemoney First prize £1705, second prize £50, third prize £20. For the first time since 1867, a one-off all gold trophy was presented to the winning owner by retiring chairman of the VRC James Blackwood.VRC - Chairman https://www.vrc.com.au/racing/chairman-secretary-and-ceo/ Victoria Racing Club 13 January 2026 Geelong goldsmith Edward Fischer, an immigrant from Austria, produced the first Australian-made trophy for the race. It was an Etruscan shape with two handles. One side depicted a horse race with the grandstand and hill of Flemington in the background. The opposite side had the words "Melbourne Cup, 1876" and the name of the winning horse.http://www.melbournecup.com/racing/history-of-the-cup/the-loving-cup-trophy/ History of the Cup: The loving cup trophy Melbournecup.com 2014-02-01 1 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120301214629/http://www.melbournecup.com/racing/history-of-the-cup/the-loving-cup-trophy/ dead Millard Dean Jeweller creates Cup that stops the nation https://www.jewellermagazine.com/Article/2819/Jeweller-creates-Cup-that-stops-the-nation Jeweller 10 January 2026 1 November 2012Melbourne Cup trophy has colourful and creative history https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-05/melbourne-cup-trophy-has-colourful-and-creative-history/5057822 abc.net.au Australian Broadcasting Corporation 10 January 2026 1 November 2013 Shipwreck of the City of Melbourne On 11 September 1876, months out from the Melbourne Cup, a total of nine horses were killed aboard the steamship City of Melbourne as the boat travelled from Sydney back to Melbourne ahead of the spring racing season.Rolfe Costa Winners of the Melbourne Cup 2008 Red Dog Fitzroy, Australia 9781742035093 40–41The City of Melbourne in a gale https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5902199 9 January 2026 The Argus 13 September 1876 Melbourne, Victoria 5-6Terrific Storm on the East Coast https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60606414/5986058 9 January 2026 Australian Sketcher 30 September 1876 Melbourne, Victoria 102-103 As the ship approached Jervis Bay, a strong storm hit the ship as well-regarded jockey and horseman Joe Morrison implored the ship's captain B. Paddle to return to Sydney to protect the valuable cargo of racehorses. In heavy seas, the ship's steering wheel broke, forcing the small crew to fashion a temporary steering gear. In poor visibility, the captain took the ship further out to sea as a number of horses suffered either catastrophic injuries or drowned. Among the horses killed were Melbourne Cup fancies Nemesis (winner of the 1876 Metropolitan)The wonder filly and a boy who carved their names into history https://www.smh.com.au/sport/racing/the-wonder-filly-and-a-boy-who-carved-their-names-into-history-20041101-gdk0xb.html 9 January 2026 The Sydney Morning Herald 1 November 2004 and Robin Hood as well as a number of valuable colts and fillies. Heading back to Sydney after two further days at sea, nine of the 11 horses being transported had died, only the efforts of Morrison and the other horsemen on board saving the lives of the two remaining horses.Robinson One of the horses saved later raced under the moniker Robinson Crusoe owing to surviving the voyage. Melbourne bookmarkers later presented Paddle with a coin-filled purse in apparent gratitude for saving them from paying out punters who had backed horses that had died on the fateful voyage. See also Horses Sports Australia Melbourne Cup List of Melbourne Cup winners Victoria Racing Club Australian Racing Hall of Fame Notes References External links 1876 Melbourne Cup footyjumpers.com S.S. City of Melbourne 1876 painted by George Frederick Gregory on Artnet.com 1876 Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup Category:19th century in Melbourne Category:1870s in Melbourne