1886 Melbourne Cup

Annual horse race in Victoria, Australia May 2022 May 2022 1886 Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup 1886.tif The finish of the 1886 Melbourne Cup from the grand stand Flemington Racecourse 2 November 1886 2 miles Arsenal 3:31.0 20/1 William English Harry Rayner William Gannon Good Turf ≈140,000 1885 1887 The 1886 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 2 November 1886. This year was the twenty-sixth running of the Melbourne Cup. The race was won by four-year-old stallion Arsenal, who had been lightly raced in 1886 after running unplaced in the 1885 Melbourne Cup. For owner William Gannon the proprietor of Petty's Hotel in Sydney, the Melbourne Cup was his greatest sporting triumph and it was said that he was generous with his winnings giving "money away with both hands, and few who needed and deserved had to ask twice."The Late Mr. William Gannon https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227719980 11 February 2026 Sportsman 7 August 1894 Melbourne, Victoria 1 Entries and odds From an initial subscription of 143 entries, 38 runners had paid the final entry fee. The top-weighted runner was 1884 Melbourne Cup winner Malua. Ridden by its owner John Ord Inglis, Malua had won ten races in its career including the Newmarket Handicap and Adelaide Cup in 1884, as well as the Australian Cup at Flemington earlier in 1886. It was thought though that the handicap of 10 st 0 lb kg 1 on might be a little too for the horse to feature among the placegetters.The Melbourne Cup Horses https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/23307330 12 February 2026 Sportsman 1 November 1886 Melbourne, Victoria 1Flemington Anticipations https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/21376418 12 February 2026 The Leader 30 October 1886 Melbourne, Victoria 17-18 The horse that Malua beat in the 1884 race, Commotion was a popular choice among observers, although its odds went out to 25/1 in the betting markets due to injury concerns. The 1885 Melbourne Cup winner Sheet Anchor was seen as an outside chance of winning the race again for owner Martin Loughlin, while 1885 runner-up Grace Darling was similarly thought of as an outside chance at 33/1. Instead it was 1885 third placegetter Trenton that was more fancied to reverse its fortunes in the race. Having been blocked in its run to finish third, experts suggested that it would be hard to beat one year later, although there were concerns it had pulled up lame earlier in the spring racing season. Following wins in the Caulfield Stakes, Moonee Valley Cup, and Melbourne Stakes, Isonomy was the form runner of the field and had been backed into odds of 6/1. Winner of the Metropolitan Handicap, Bohemian was thought that the two-mile distance might be too far for it, but from the Sydney horses, it was James White's Trident that had been supported into overall favouritism of 5/1 to win the Cup. Trident had been purchased by White from Etienne de Mestre's auction sale for £800 and as a three-year-old won the 1886 AJC Derby at Randwick. The horse backed up and won the Craven Plate and Randwick Plate in the same week. Ahead of the Melbourne Cup, Trident was the short-priced favourite to win the Victoria Derby, winning the race and equalling the race record time, despite some interference from stablemate Volcano. Champion jockey Tom Hales rode Trident in those wins and was again booked to ride the horse in the Melbourne Cup.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 Poet Banjo Paterson penned a poem titled Dream of the Melbourne Cup published by The Bulletin in the lead up to the race where he imagined Trident winning the race.Banjo Paterson Banjo Paterson A Dream of the Melbourne Cup https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-507886574/view?partId=nla.obj-507934349#page/n8/mode/1up 12 February 2026 The Bulletin 30 October 1886 Sydney, New South Waltes 9 Of the other runners, it was doubted that many would feature in the finish, with the chances of Arsenal discounted as it was not "likely to develop staying abilities." Hexham had finished second behind Claptrap in the Hotham Handicap and was yet to register its maiden victory, while Bravo had finished a distant third behind Isonomy and Boolka in the Melbourne Stakes. Isonomy won a dead heat run off race by three lengths over Boolka to claim the Melbourne Stakes.The Racing Carnival - Derby Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227689599/23307334 Sportsman 1 November 1886 Melbourne, Victoria 5 Caulfield Cup winner Ben Bolt was thought to have good stamina for a Cup runner and seemingly liked the longer distance events. From the lighter-weighted runners, Little John was seen as a strong chance, especially with veteran jockey Sam Cracknell as its rider. The race thumb|"Instantaneous photograph" of the race published in the Australian Sketcher. thumb|Map of the Flemington Racecourse showing the placing of runners published in The Argus. A final field of 28 runners gathered for the start on a warm, partially sunny afternoon. Following the drop of the flag, Silvermine gained the early lead entering the course proper, and was joined by Metal and Boolka, while Little John brought up the rear of the field. Bravo joined the leaders as they headed for the first turn, with Silvermine and Bravo running side by side as the turned to run down the river side of the course. Silvermine maintained the lead until it was joined by Hexham about a mile from the winning post, while Metal suffered interference and dropped back. Stablemate of the favourite Trident, Hexham gained a lead of two lengths over the favourite, with Arsenal running ahead of a pack including Lord William, Crossfire, Bravo, Kitewa, Meteor, Myall King, Ben Bolt and Bohemian. With half a mile to go, Trident took the lead momentarily, but Hexham took it straight back, while Arsenal continued to draw closer. As the runners took the final turn into the straight, Hexham's race was done and Arsenal started to sprint home. Lord William had the rails run, with Meteor, Ben Bolt, Silvermine, Sheet Anchor and Trenton forming the chasers behind Arsenal and Trident. Down the straight, Arsenal had jumped to what looked like a winning lead, while Trident wilted and faded, eventually finishing fourth. Going past Trident were Trenton who almost drew level with Arsenal in the final fifty yards, with Silvermine finishing third a length in front of Trident. Sheet Anchor finished a commendable fifth, while Malua came home strongly to finish eighth. The win was just Arsenal's second career victory. It only other win was as a two-year-old in the Criterion Stakes held over five furlongs. The horse had been sold by to publican William Gannon by New South Wales parlimentarian William Pearson following its poor performance in the 1885 Melbourne Cup. Gannon sent the horse to be trained by Harry Raynor at Randwick Racecourse, with the trainer assisted by young jockey William (Billy) English. The pair had decided against racing Arsenal in any of the lead up races, so the victory in the Cup coming off a long spell was a surprise to many observers. After arriving in Melbourne a week before the race, Arsenal "would not touch his oats," with its connections advised to "put a pony" in the stall with the horse.Bernstein D.L. The First Tuesday in November 1969 William Heinemann Ltd Melbourne 45 Following the race, rumours circulated that Arsenal was not the horse sold by Pearson in 1885, rather it was James Wilson's horse Off Colour who had been withdrawn from the 1883 event now racing under the Arsenal moniker. No protests were lodged though and the rumour was only perpetuated by those that had lost money on other runners, due to the so-called mysterious and secretive preparation of the horse, and the way it had improved without any public racing.The Arsenal-cum-Off Colour Yarn https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227679004/23307338 12 February 2026 Sportsman 10 November 1886 Melbourne, Victoria 1 The winning jockey, Billy English from Maitland, New South Wales, was only 19-years-old when he won the Cup. Telling the press: I settled him comfortably into his stride without bustling him. I let him go comfortably will coming into the turn into the straight, when I again took hold of him, and he went away with a dash of foot that I thought we could win. I saw after a few yards that Trenton was keeping stride for stride with Arsenal. I could not get any farther away, and I was very glad he could not get any nearer. I was very glad to keep him where he was. Arsenal did his best and I knew he would. He was all out at the finish. He was fit and well today, and is never likely to be a better horse than when he won the Cup. A new grandstand increased capacity at Flemington, as well as other improvements including an electric public address system led to an estimated attendance of just short of 150,000 people.Cup Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220481309/23401733 13 February 2026 Weekly Times 6 November 1886 Melbourne, Victoria 4-5 Dignitaries in attendance included the colonial governors of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. The VRC reported gate receipts of £3617, over £600 more than the previous year. Like in previous years, the attendees were entertained by the Australian Military Band conducted by Signor Zelman between races. This would be the last Melbourne Cup where James White employed renowned Sydney trainer Michael Fennelly to train his horses. The pair had previously combined to win the 1883 Melbourne Cup with Martini-Henry. Fennelly would die of cancer in August 1887 at 47-years-old.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 Full results This is the list of placegetters for the 1886 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/#1886 Races 29 May 20221881 to 1890 Melbourne Cup Winners http://www.races.com.au/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-history/past-winners/1881-to-1890-melbourne-cup/#1886 races com au 12 November 2021WINNERS AND PLACED HORSES IN MELBOURNE CUP. 1861-1913 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155526601 12 January 2026 Winner 28 October 1914 Melbourne, Victoria 4Cavanough Maurice The Melbourne Cup 1978 0727004859 445 81886 Melbourne Cup MillersGuide http://millersguide.identika.com.au/1886-melbourne-cup/ millersguide.identika.com.au 4 February 2026 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20220319123148/http://millersguide.identika.com.au/1886-melbourne-cup/ 19 March 2022Melbourne Cup Winners - 1881-1900 https://www.vrc.com.au/racing/melbourne-cup-winners-honour-roll/1881-1900/ Victoria Racing Club 5 November 2025Rolfe Costa Winners of the Melbourne Cup 2008 Red Dog Fitzroy, Australia 9781742035093 62–63Reubertstein The History of the Melbourne Cup from 1861 to 1894 James J. Miller Melbourne, Australia 44–47 1895The Cup Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198356664/21376485 12 February 2026 The Leader 6 November 1886 Melbourne, Victoria 19-20The Racing Carnival - The Cup Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196015034/18433721 13 February 2026 The Age 3 November 1886 Melbourne, Victoria 5-6The Cup Day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11578320/277813 13 February 2026 The Argus 3 November 1886 Melbourne, Victoria 7-9 PlaceHorseAgeGenderJockeyWeightTrainerOwnerOddsMargin1Arsenal4y hWilliam English 7 st 5 lb kg 1 onArsenal Was supposed to carry 7st 4lbHarry RaynerWilliam Gannon20/1Long neck2Trenton NZL5y hAlec RobertsonRobertson Sometimes spelled Alick Robertson 9 st 5 lb kg 1 onTom LamondWilliam Cooper12/11 length3Silvermine5y hTeddy McGrade 7 st 10 lb kg 1 on Isaac Foulsham Mr H.R. Falkner14/12 lengths4Trident3y cTom Hales 7 st 7 lb kg 1 on Michael Fennelly James White5/1 fav. Favourite5Sheet Anchor8y hBrickwood Colley 9 st 0 lb kg 1 onThomas WilsonMartin Loughlin33/16Myall King4y gCasey 6 st 9 lb kg 1 onJohn MayoJohn Eales100/17Crossfire3y fJ. Bence 7 st 1 lb kg 1 onTom Brown William A. Long100/18Malua7y hJohn Ord Inglis 10 st 0 lb kg 1 onJohn Ord InglisJohn Ord Inglis14/19Bohemian5y hGallagher 8 st 0 lb kg 1 onTommy JonesTommy Jones25/110Ben Bolt5y hMick O'Brien 7 st 10 lb kg 1 onP. KellyMr W. Strickland8/111Bravo3y cCampbell 6 st 6 lb kg 1 onBrennanMr W.E. Royd50/112Hexham4y hHuxley 6 st 6 lb kg 1 onHexham Was supposed to carry 6st 5lbMichael Fennelly James White25/113Lord William3y cJim Gough 6 st 9 lb kg 1 onW. DugganMr W. Duggan50/114Meteor6y hFiddes 7 st 11 lb kg 1 onJ.D. RobertsonMr R.K. Maitland8/115Cyclops4y hWilliamson 7 st 8 lb kg 1 onCyclops Was supposed to carry 7st 7lbW. PrestwychMr F. Henty33/116Britisher8y gFallon 7 st 13 lb kg 1 onThomas WilsonMartin Loughlin20/117Little John6y hSam Cracknell 6 st 11 lb kg 1 onW. MoranMr W. Moran10/118Boolka6y hOlds 7 st 11 lb kg 1 onLittleJohn Was supposed to carry 7st 10lbH. BellamyMr S. Miller100/119Recall4y hTed Gorry 6 st 11 lb kg 1 onJames ScobieMr R. Orr100/120Commotion8y hPower 9 st 9 lb kg 1 onFrancis F. DakinWilliam Pearson25/121Lancer6y gB. Williams 7 st 9 lb kg 1 onThomas IvoryMr J.R. Smith50/122Kitawa4y hCox 7 st 9 lb kg 1 onPhillipsMr T. Coffey50/123Jack Roach5y gD. Williams 6 st 2 lb kg 1 onJackRoach Was supposed to carry 6st 0lbMr J. Calvert50/124Isonomy4y hQuinn 8 st 3 lb kg 1 onJ.H. HillMr M. Locke6/125Highland Chief4y hMorrison 6 st 0 lb kg 1 onN. Campbell Richard Gilbert Talbot100/126Monte Christo4y hBob Ellis 7 st 9 lb kg 1 onMichael Fennelly James White40/127Grace Darling6y mJ. Williams 8 st 11 lb kg 1 onJ.G. ReidMr J.G. Reid33/1LastMetal5y hTommy Sanders 7 st 2 lb kg 1 onJames RedfearnMr M. Jacobs100/1SCR Scratched Silver King 5y h7 st 8 lb kg 1 on W. Baines William ForresterSCR Scratched Quintin Matsys 7y h7 st 5 lb kg 1 on William E. Dakin William E. DakinSCR Scratched Maddelina 3y f7 st 3 lb kg 1 on A. Davis William A. LongSCR Scratched Kings Own 5y h7 st 2 lb kg 1 on Mr H. KinsellaSCR Scratched Lesbia 7y m6 st 11 lb kg 1 on Harry Chifney Mr O. BarnettSCR Scratched Fish O' Silver 4y h6 st 6 lb kg 1 on Stodden William J. ClarkeSCR Scratched Kingfish 3y c6 st 0 lb kg 1 on Joe Monaghan Mr W.H. StocktonSCR Scratched Menotti 3y c6 st 0 lb kg 1 on H. Yeend William J. ClarkeSCR Scratched Salvo 5y h6 st 9 lb kg 1 on T. Rennisop Mr T. BennisonSCR Scratched Affluence 4y h6 st 6 lb kg 1 on H. Tothill Mr J. Pile Prizemoney For the 1886 race, the Victoria Racing Club increased the prize money awarded, adding £2000 to the winner's sweepstakes, while also increasing the second prize by £200 and third prize by £100. First prize £2865, second prize £500, third prize £300. See also Horses Sports Australia Melbourne Cup List of Melbourne Cup winners Victoria Racing Club Notes References External links 1886 Melbourne Cup footyjumpers.com 1886 Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup Category:19th century in Melbourne Category:1880s in Melbourne