| Melbourne Cup | |
| Location | Flemington Racecourse |
|---|---|
| Date | 4 November 1879 |
| Distance | 2 miles |
| Winning horse | Darriwell |
| Winning time | 3:30.75 |
| Final odds | 33/1 |
| Jockey | Sam Cracknell |
| Trainer | William E. Dakin |
| Owner | William Algernon Guesdon |
| Surface | Turf |
| Attendance | 80,000 |
The 1879 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 4 November 1879.[1]
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.[2][3]
The "national handicap race of Australia"[4] saw a field of more than 30 potential runners from an initial entry of 122 acceptances.[5][4] 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dark grey colt Suwarrow was installed as short-priced favourite, with the horse trained by Bob Howie.[6] After being withdrawn the previous year, 1877 Cup favourite Savanaka was again one of the fancied runners, although the horse was now the top-weight with Richmond, who was runner-up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.[4] 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.[3]
Following a number of race day withdrawals, 27 runners greeted the starter, in bright sunny conditions after morning cloud dissipated.[3] A soft sea breeze did not pick up much of the dust that had marred previous runnings of the race.[7] 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.[2][3][7] There were some complaints that Riverton had caused interference racing alongside Suwarrow during the final mile, but not protests were lodged.[7] Two two top-weighted horses Savanaka and Richmond didn't feature prominently in the race.[7]
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.[8] Darriwell had previously won races at Flemington including the 1878 Spring Handicap, 1879 Brunswick States and another race in March 1879.[2] The horse was unplaced in the previous year's Melbourne Cup won by Calamia, and unplaced in the inaugural running of the Caulfield Cup.[7] Guesdon was the first Tasmanian owner to win the Melbourne Cup, and was a previous committee member of the Tasmanian Racing Club.[9] 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.[10] It was said that Darriwell was "plain in appearance" and "the last horse anyone would select for a two-mile race."[7][11]
Full results
This is the list of placegetters for the 1879 Melbourne Cup.[12][13][1][8][4][2][3][7]
| Place | Horse | Age Gender |
Jockey | Weight | Trainer | Owner | Odds | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darriwell | 5y h | Sam Cracknell | 7 st 4 lb (46.3 kg) | William E. Dakin | William Algernon Guesdon[a] | 33/1 | ½ length |
| 2 | Sweetmeat | 4y h | Donald Nicholson | 7 st 1 lb (44.9 kg) | Thomas Ivory | 7/1 | Head | |
| 3 | Suwarrow | 3y c | George Williams | 6 st 3 lb (39.5 kg)[b] | Robert Howie | Robert Howie | 13/4 fav. | |
| 4 | Columbus | 7y h | Barr | 7 st 7 lb (47.6 kg) | Edward Alfred Johnson-Boe | 50/1 | ||
| 5 | Wellington | 4y h | William Murphy | 8 st 2 lb (51.7 kg) | Edward Alfred Johnson-Boe | 10/1 | ||
| 6 | Colima | 5y m | Roarty | 6 st 12 lb (43.5 kg) | William Forrester | 100/1 | ||
| 7 | Riverton | 4y h | John Kilduff[c] | 6 st 8 lb (41.7 kg)[d] | John Whittingham | 20/1 | ||
| 8 | Monarque | 4y h | J. Williams | 6 st 12 lb (43.5 kg) | Frank Leng | 33/1 | ||
| 9 | Secundus (late Highlander) | 4y h | O'Connor | 6 st 7 lb (41.3 kg) | John Mayo | 4/1 | ||
| 10 | Falmouth | 3y c | J. Gainsford | 6 st 4 lb (39.9 kg) | George Donnelly | George Donnelly | 50/1 | |
| 11 | The Wandering Jew | 3y c | Geoghegan | 6 st 0 lb (38.1 kg) | Tom Jordan | James Eden Savill | 33/1 | |
| 12 | Waxy | 7y g | Kelly | 6 st 9 lb (42.2 kg) | Ike Carslake | James Liddell Purves | 33/1 | |
| 13 | Democrat | 6y h | Gordon | 8 st 2 lb (51.7 kg) | James White | 100/1 | ||
| 14 | Savanaka | 5y h | Tom Hales | 9 st 3 lb (58.5 kg) | James Wilson | Herbert Power | 5/1 | |
| 15 | Lord Harry | 8y g | Brickwood Colley | 8 st 4 lb (52.6 kg) | Mr M. Loughlin | 12/1 | ||
| N/a | Richmond | 7y h | Walker | 9 st 3 lb (58.5 kg) | Eli Jellett | 25/1 | ||
| N/a |  Le Loup (NZL)
|
5y h | William Yeomans | 8 st 4 lb (52.6 kg) | William E. Dakin | Mr G. Fraser | 33/1 | |
| N/a | Strathearn | 5y h | Sam Davis | 7 st 8 lb (48.1 kg) | John Tait | John Tait | 25/1 | |
| N/a | Tom Kirk | 8y g | J. King | 7 st 7 lb (47.6 kg) | Mr W. Frederick | 20/1 | ||
| N/a | Levant | 5y h | Braithwaite | 7 st 7 lb (47.6 kg) | Mr A. Davies | 50/1 | ||
| N/a | Glenormiston | 5y h | J. Williamson | 7 st 3 lb (45.8 kg) | William Filgate | William Filgate | 33/1 | |
| N/a | K.C.B. | 4y h | Deasy | 6 st 8 lb (41.7 kg)[e] | John Tait | John Tait | 100/1 | |
| N/a | Tidal Wave | 4y h | Vouchier | 6 st 4 lb (39.9 kg) | Stephen Mahon | Stephen Mahon | 100/1 | |
| N/a | Roland | 4y h | Burton | 6 st 0 lb (38.1 kg) | Stephen Mahon | Stephen Mahon | 100/1 | |
| N/a | Terrific | 3y c | Greville | 5 st 12 lb (37.2 kg) | Mr J. McPhail | 100/1 | ||
| N/a | Caractacus | 3y c | G. Riley | 5 st 12 lb (37.2 kg) | Etienne de Mestre | Etienne de Mestre | 100/1 | |
| N/a | Pollio | 3y c | Fallon | 5 st 9 lb (35.8 kg)[f] | Mr G. Livingstone | 100/1 | ||
| SCR | His Grace | 3y c | N/a | 7 st 0 lb (44.5 kg) | Mr J.R. Cowell | |||
| SCR | Fau-blas | 3y c | N/a | 6 st 4 lb (39.9 kg) | James Liddell Purves | |||
| SCR | Earl of Mar | 4y c | N/a | 6 st 2 lb (39.0 kg) | Mr Jeffrey | |||
| SCR | Caspian | 3y c | N/a | 6 st 2 lb (39.0 kg) | James Wilson | Alexander K. Finlay | ||
| SCR | Geide Olgothach | 3y c | N/a | 6 st 0 lb (38.1 kg) | James J. Miller | |||
| SCR | Adventurer | 3y c | N/a | 5 st 11 lb (36.7 kg) | Mr F. Wentworth | |||
| SCR | Chatterbox | 3y c | N/a | 5 st 10 lb (36.3 kg) | Louis Lawrence Smith | |||
| SCR | Credit | 4y h | N/a | 5 st 12 lb (37.2 kg) | N/a | William J. Clarke | ||
| SCR | Zambesi | 4y h | N/a | 6 st 10 lb (42.6 kg) | N/a | Andrew Chirnside | ||
| SCR | Narrabri | 3y c | N/a | 5 st 7 lb (34.9 kg) | N/a | Mr J. Evans | ||
| SCR | First Water | 3y c | N/a | 6 st 4 lb (39.9 kg) | Tom Jordan | William 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.[1]
See also
Notes
- ^ A Tasmanian businessman, Guesdon used the alias "W. Rawlinson" for his racehorse ownership.[14]
- ^ Was supposed to carry 6st 1lb
- ^ Also known as Jack Kilduff
- ^ Was supposed to carry 6st 3lb
- ^ Was supposed to carry 6st 7lb
- ^ Was supposed to carry 5st 7lb
References
- ^ a b c "1879 Melbourne Cup MillersGuide". millersguide.identika.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d "The Cup Day". The Herald. Melbourne, Victoria. 5 November 1879. p. 4.
- ^ a b c d e "Second Day - Tuesday, Nov 4". The Australasian. Melbourne, Victoria. 8 November 1879. p. 11. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Victoria Racing Club - The Melbourne Cup". The Argus. Melbourne, Victoria. 4 November 1879. p. 6. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "The Melbourne Cup". The Australasian. Melbourne, Victoria. 12 July 1879. p. 10.
- ^ Ibbett, Ian (23 December 2017). "1879 – The Blood of Sappho". Kings of the Turf. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Cup Day". The Argus. Melbourne, Victoria. 5 November 1879. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Melbourne Cup Winners - 1861-1880". Victoria Racing Club. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Obituary - Mr W.A. Guesdon". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 22 December 1926. p. 10.
- ^ "Sporting News - The Turf". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia. 15 February 1919. p. 7. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ Rolfe, Costa (2008). Winners of the Melbourne Cup. Fitzroy, Australia: Red Dog. pp. 44–45. ISBN 9781742035093.
- ^ "1871 to 1880 Melbourne Cup Winners". races com au. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Cavanough, Maurice (1978). The Melbourne Cup (8 ed.). p. 445. ISBN 0727004859.
- ^ "Darriwell". The Tasmanian. Launceston, Tasmania. 15 November 1879. p. 9. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
External links
- 1879 Melbourne Cup footyjumpers.com
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