Horse racing connections

University of Tasmania Family History course - Writing Family History

Week 3 e-tivity - The past interrupted
In this exercise we were asked to write about one moment in the lives of our ancestors. I chose to write about the first race meeting held in New South Wales in 1810. A great (x3) grandfather and a great (x4) grandfather, who probably did not know each other, both had horses taking part in the the three day racing carnival. E-tivities are restricted to no more than 250 words.

Horse racing connections

As we know, family history research can produce unexpected connections. What are the odds of having a third great grandfather and a fourth great grandfather both entering horses in the first race meeting in New South Wales? 

The race meeting at the new racecourse at Hyde Park was a great success attracting large, enthusiastic crowds who gathered to watch three days of racing. Governor Macquarie’s belief that horse racing would provide a place for all colonists to meet may therefore have indirectly impacted upon my family.

Among this crowd was Simeon Lord, a subscriber to the racecourse, who not only attended the races but also entered his horse, Tipsey, in the Ladies’ Cup. No doubt Simeon would have enjoyed watching his horse win the first two mile heat and being placed in the other two, though this effort was not sufficient to win the Cup. 

At the races Simeon may have met another race goer, George Guest, a resident of Van Diemen’s Land who frequently made prolonged trips to New South Wales. George had entered a horse to run on day three of the race meeting and I am sure would have attended the races on other days.

Simeon and George had different business interests and I doubt that their paths would have crossed prior to the race meeting but they certainly could have met at the races. We do know, however, that twenty years later the two families were permanently connected when Simeon’s son married George’s grand-daughter in Hobart.

References:
Posts on horse racing in this blog

NB Horse racing has continued to be an interest in many lines of the family story.

First race meetings in Australia

Melbourne Cup time again. In the past I have added a number of posts to this blog about family connections with the Melbourne Cup and with horse racing in general. Recently I came across articles mentioning Simeon Lord's connection with the introduction of horse racing in New South Wales.

The website of the State Library of New South Wales includes an archived online exhibition - Day at the races: the horse in Australia. In January 1788 five horses arrived in Australia with the First Fleet and by 1810 it was recorded that there were 203 horses in New South Wales. In the early days of the colony horses were rare and expensive and usually only owned by military officers or by free landholders. In October 1810, shortly after Govenor Macquarie arrived in New South Wales, the first official racing carnival was held at the Sydney racecourse, part of the newly created Hyde Park.

One section of the online exhibition states that 'Governor Macquarie inaugurated the first official race meeting at the new Sydney Racecourse. Macquarie saw the racecourse as a perfect neutral meeting place for colonists of all classes: military, convict, emancipist and immigrant.' The racecourse was constructed in August 1810 by members of the 73rd Regiment who came to New South Wales with Macquarie. They 'levelled ground on the eastern edge of the town and marked out the course. The straight commenced at the turn from Park Street into Elizabeth Street, with the grandstand (erected in 1813) and the winning post at the junction of Market and Elizabeth Street, on the present day site of St James Railway Station.' Funding for the project was provided by subscribers.

Searching newpapers in Trove provides details leading up to the first race meeting in Sydney. There is also information about a range of social activities associated with the race meeting.

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 21 July 1810 page 1 has a notice about a meeting of the Subscribers to the Sydney Race Course to meet in the Mess Room of the Officers of the 73rd Regiment on Monday at 10 o'clock.

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 18 August 1810 page 1 contains a report of a dinner attended by the Subscribers to the Sydney Racecourcse to celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Wales. A number of Toasts were drunk during the evening including to the King, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York and the rest of the Royal Family, Lord Mulgrave and the Navy, Sir David Dundass and the Army, His Excellency Governor Macquarie and the Colony, Mrs Macquarie the Patroness of the Races and the Ladies of the Colony, The Turf etc. The comment was made that 'the evening passed with the utmost convivitality and harmony'.
The report continued:

The RACES are fixed for Monday the 15th of October; and three plates of 50 guineas each will be run for during the week; exclusive of several bye-matches, subscriptions, &c.
This Establishment, altogether novel in this Country, bids fair to acquire celebrity and success from the judicious arrangements under which it has been projected, and the distinguished Auspices under which it has been brought forward, besides the advantages which the Country at large is likely to derive from the improvement of the breed of horses, an object, that in a rising Colony may be calculated upon as conducive to its internal interests and prosperity.
Lieutenant Governor O'CONNELL, Lieutenant Wright, and Mr. Williams are the Stewards elect for the present year.         

The following week John Reddington, the Clerk of the Course, issued a warning in The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 25 August 1810 page 1:

The Subscribers to the Race Course are requested not to ride the horses over it that they intend to enter for plates or subscriptions at the ensuing races,nor to suffer their servants to train them over it: Any horse that may be seen in training on the Course will not be allowed to start.--By order of the Stewards.

On 19 September a Bachelor's Ball was held by the Subscribers to the Sydney Race Course and was reported to have been a great success. The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 22 September 1810 page 2.

The Subscribers to the Sydney Race Course held another meeting in the Mess Room of the Officers of the 73rd Regiment on Monday 1 October. The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 29 September 1810 page 1.

Under the heading, A Card, the following notice appeared in The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 6 October 1810 page 3 - 'The Subscribers to the Sydney Race Course are informed, that the Stewards have made Arrangements for two Balls during the Race Week, Tuesday and Friday.--Tickets at 7s. 6d. each to be had at Mr. E. Wills's, George Street.'
On page 4 of the same paper - 'The Public are requested not to bring Dogs on the Sydney Race Course; any found thereon after this Notice will be Shot.'

A week before the racing carnival, The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 13 October 1810 page 2 reminded Subscribers about the two balls then added - 

An ORDINARY for the Subscribers and their Friends each Day of the Races at Mr. Wills's.- Dinner on Table at Five o'Clock.
On Monday the Races commence, and continue Wednesday and Friday. Horses to start each day at one. For general information on the subject of these elegant sports, a Racing Kalendar will be in readiness at nine on Monday morning.-Price 6d.

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 20 October 1810 page 2 has a detailed  report of the three day carnival held at Sydney racecourse (Hyde Park) on Monday 15, Wednesday 17 and Friday 19 October. The report for the second day of the race meeting read:

A Cup, value 50 guineas, given by the Ladies of the Colony, for horses of all ages belonging to Subscribers of the Sydney Race Course. The best of 3 2-mile heats. Three year olds to carry 7 st. 4 lb. 4 year olds 8 st. 1lb. 5 year olds 9 st. 2 lb. and aged 10st.
Mr Lord's b. g. Tipsy (Tipsey) 2 yrs old          1 3 2
Mr Oven's ch. m. Bessie 2 yrs old                 2 4 drawn
Mr Williams' r. g. Strawberry 5 yrs old            3 2 2
Capt. Ritchie's gr. g. Chase 6 yrs old             4 1 1
Colonel O'Connell's bl. g. Carlo 6 yrs old        6 dr
Capt. Piper'sch. m. Miss Kitty aged               5 4 4
A good race between Chase and Strawberry the last two heats.
Mr. Wentworth'sb. g. Gig rode by Mr. Bayley, beat Mr. Broughton's bl. g. Jerry, rode by Capt. Ritchie, 3 miles, 40gs. - Gig won easy.

Additional information about the Ladies' Cup was provided:
The Ladies' Cup, which was of very superior workmanship, won by Chance, (Chase) was presented to Captain Ritchie by Mrs Macquarie; who accompanied by His Excellency, honoured each day's Races with her presence, and who, with her usual affability, was pleased to preface the donation with the following short address:
"In the name of the Ladies of New South Wales, I have the pleasure to present you with this Cup. Give me leave to congratulate you on being the successful Candidate for it; and to hope that it is a prelude to future success, and lasting prosperity"

Races at the racecourse at Hyde park continued until the early 1820s. However there were problems in maintaining the surface of the racecourse as shown in Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 2 February 1811 page 2.

The Non-Subscribers to the Sydney races are hereby strictly forbid driving or riding Horses on the Course, without Permission of the Stewards. It is hoped the Subscribers will see the necessity of keeping on the outer Edge, when they drive or ride round the Course, as the Damage already done to it by Carriages driving near the Posts must be obvious to every person. ( By Order of the Stewards),

The original number of Subscribers was limited to 50 however in 1813 the suggestion was made to hold a ballot allowing gentlemen who were newcomers to the Colony the opportunity to also become Subscribers. Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 17 July 1813 page 2. Another announcement in this issue of the newspaper stated:

None but Subscribers, or their authorised Servants, being entitled to ride on the Race Course, it is hoped that all other Persons will see the Propriety of avoiding the Course, during the Exercising Season, and thereby do away the Necessity for resorting to other Measures for the preserving the Course to its proper Object.
Gentlemen are requested to instruct their Servants not to ride on the Race Course unless for the Purpose of training, until after the Races, as those who are not in training interrupt the regular Exercise of the Horses destined for the public Amusement of the Race Week.

Simeon Lord's horse, Tipsey, was also entered in the race carnivals held in 1811 and in 1812.

On the first day of the three day race carnival in 1811-  held between 12 August and 16 August - Mr Lord's b. g. Tipsey 4 yrs old came second in the two heats of the Subscription Plate (value 50 gs).
Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 17 August 1811 page 2.

 The following year when the races were held from 17 August to 21 August, Tipsey (now 5 years) was again entered in the Subscription Plate but, along with a number of other horses, was disqualified. The report added that despite the heavy rains experienced from the Monday to the Thursday, "the Course was much crowded".
Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 22 August 1812 page 2.

The newspapers provide additional information about Tipsey.
A newspaper advertisement in February 1811 mentioned that two well known geldings, Strawberry and Tipsey, were available for sale. Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 7 February 1811 page 2.

The following year the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 18 January 1812 page 4 reported:

Strayed from Burn's Farm at Botany Bay, about ten days since, a Bay Gelding, black legs, mane and tail, known by the name of Typsey, late the property of Mr. Lord, but now belonging to Major Geils. Any person finding the same and bringing him to Major Geils, will be handsomely rewarded. 

As Tipsey was being raced again by Mr Lord later in the year it would appear that Simeon repurchased the horse.

The book, Horsemen of the First Frontier (1788-1900) by Keith R Binney (2005) includes several pages about Simeon Lord including his involvement with horse racing. (pp148-150).

The Dictionary of Sydney has a short article on the Hyde Park racecourse.

The Australian Racing Report also includes an article on early days of racing in Sydney.

Note. At the end of the report (in The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 20 October 1810 page 2) about the three days of racing at the Sydney Racecourse in October 1810, the following information was also provided:

And afterwards Boshy's Hack ran against G. Guest's (Hack), a three mile heat, for 10gs - A good match, won by Boshy.

Reports in the Sydney Gazettee and New South Wales Advertiser show that George Guest was in Sydney for at least parts of 1810. It is therefore probable that he was the G. Guest whose horse raced Boshy's horse.

More horses in the family

A previous post in 2014 recorded the story of Poitrel, a horse owned by Bill and Fred Moses winning the 1920 Melbourne Cup. Since then I have discovered that another family member trained winners of five Melbourne Cups - Archer in 1861 and 1862, Tim Whiffler in 1867, Chester in 1877 and Calamia in 1878.

Image from South Coast Register

The trainer of these horses was Etienne de Mestre (1832-1916). His father, Prosper de Mestre was born in France and had spent time in the United States before settling in Australia. In 1821 at St Phillip's Church in Sydney Prosper married Mary Ann Black, daughter of Mary Hyde (1779-1864), my great x3 grandmother. Prosper and Marry Ann had ten children - their third son was Etienne Livingstone de Mestre who was born in Sydney on 9 April 1832.

Prosper, a merchant, had property named Terara (Terarra) near the Shoalhaven River. In the 1850s Etienne established a horse stud, stables and racetrack on this property. Etienne had been a jockey and later had considerable success as a trainer. However he also he was not always successful and in 1883 the property was sold to cover his debts.

Etienne had had some success racing horses in Melbourne so in 1861 he took two horses, Archer and his own horse, Inheritor, by steamer to Melbourne for the race which in later years was to become known as The Melbourne Cup. Archer returned the following year and won the race again. Etienne intended that Archer would run in the 1863 race but officials said his application arrived late.

Archer with jockey, John Cutts - ABC

After the refusal to let him race Archer in 1863 Etienne refused to take other horses for the race until 1867 when he entered Tim Whiffler in the race.

Tim Whiffler - ABC

In 1877 Chester was the winner of the Melbourne Cup.

Chester with jockey, Paddy Piggott - ABC

Etienne's final winner in the race was Calamia in 1878.

Calamia with jockey, T Brown - ABC

Winning five Melbourne Cup races as a trainer was a record that Etienne held until the recent successes of Bart Cummings. Etienne de Mestre was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on 12 September 1992 and Australian Racing Museum Hall of Fame in 2002.

Additional information on the web about Etienne de Mestra:
Etienne Livingstone de Mestre - Australian Dictionary of Biography
Archer, first Melbourne Cup winner - Progroup Racing
Australian Connection - de Mestre family tree
The horse that started a legend - Alison Stuart-writer
De Mestre family history
Etienne de Mestre - De Mestre Family story

Books:
My Australian Story: Archer's Melbourne Cup by Vashti Farrer (children's book)
Horsemen of the First Frontier (1788-1900) by Keith Robert Binney

Simeon Lord (horse)

Family history can produce many surprises and puzzles. Recently I read that my great (x3) grandfather, Simeon Lord, had been involved with the early days of horse racing in New South Wales. This will be discussed in another blog post. However when exploring Trove recently I found reference to a racehorse named, Simeon Lord. Needless to say this had to be investigated.

[1] Telegraph (Brisbane) 2 July 1945

Simeon Lord appears to have been raced originally in Queensland in 1945 and later, in 1946, in New South Wales. There are a number of reports, often in country newspapers, listing details of race meetings including the names of horses involved and / or the results. The newspaper article [2] below lists E McKell as the jockey and he rode the horse in many of his races.

[2] Daily Examiner (Grafton) 1 July 1946

This newspaper also provided additional information about the racing career of Simeon Lord.

[3] Daily Examiner (Grafton) 1 July 1946

The results above in newspaper article [2] provide information about the sire and the dam of Simeon Lord. The sire was a horse named Simeon's Fort which further research revealed had been imported from Ireland. In 1928 Simeon's Fort won the AJC Doncaster Handicap and years later sired the 1942 winner of the Doncaster Handicap, Tuhitarata. The dam was a horse named Bachelor's Petal and her pedigree is also available online. Simeon Lord was listed as a four year old. The article refers to the horse as being a "Richmond River owned galloper".

[4] Sydney Morning Herald 21 April 1943

In April 1943 both the Sydney Morning Herald and The Argus announced that at a thoroughbred sale Mr W J Lloyd of Risdon Stud in Warwick had sold four horses sired by Simeon's Fort. One of the horses was by Bachelor's Petal and was sold for 100 guineas. This horse was possibly the horse later named Simeon Lord. The buyer of the horse was R Ramsay.

The newpaper article [1] above discussing the naming of the horse stated "it is in memory of an ancestor that the youngster got his name". Simeon Lord's eldest daughter, Sarah Ann Lord, married Dr David Ramsay in 1825. They had eleven children with ten living to adulthood. If  R Ramsay purchased and named the horse Simeon Lord and was related to this Ramsay family, it would explain the choice of the name.

[5] Daily Examiner (Grafton) 20 May 1946

The above race result in newspaper article [5] provides additional information as the name of the owner is given as R B Ramsay. Searching Trove and Google again I located Mr and Mrs R B Ramsay living on Cheviot Hills Station near Drake in the Richmond River region in the 1940s. R B Ramsay was secretary of the Tabulam Graziers' Association. The Australia Pastoral Directory 1954 in Ancestry has R B Ramsay on Cheviot Hills, Drake, where the property has 1311 head of cattle plus 36 sheep. Articles in Trove show that he was also a veterinary officer. In the above newspaper excerpt the jockey was listed as Alvos. Tommy Alvos rode many horses in races in this region in the 1940s and 1950s until his death from a fall from a horse at Casino in 1958.

I still needed to find out more about R B Ramsay and whether he was a descendant of Simeon as claimed in  newspaper article [1]. I knew that Belinda Cohen had carried out extensive research on Simeon Lord and Mary Hyde and their descendants, especially the Ramsay and de Mestre families, so I checked if Belinda had a Ramsay family tree on her website. I hit gold. I then looked for a member of the Ramsay family with given names beginning with the initials R B who lived in New South Wales during the twentieth century and  I located Roderick Biddulph Ramsay. A Google search for Roderick Biddulph Ramsay and Cheviot Hills, the property owned by R B Ramsay, confirmed that this was the right person. A further search in Google showed that Roderick was born in New South Wales in November 1912. In 1939 he married Dorothy Smith and they lived on the Cheviott Hills property. Roderick died in July 1996. Roderick Biddulph Ramsay was the great, great grandson of Simeon Lord and Mary Hyde.

Purchasing in 1943 a thoroughbred racehorse whose sire had a name that included the name Simeon provided Roderick Ramsay with the opportunity to name the horse after his ancestor who came to Australia in 1791 on the Third Fleet. Simeon Lord was a successful businessman (most of the time) who made the most of the opportunities he came across in the colony. Simeon Lord, the horse, appears to have raced for only two years however, as newspaper article [3] noted he had some success on the race track.  

NB: I can find no substantiation for the statement in newspaper example [1] in this post that "Forebears of the owner arrived in Australia back in 1880".  Roderick's great grandfather, Dr David Ramsay was born in Scotland and married Sarah Ann Lord in Sydney in 1825. Other family members in this line were born in New South Wales. I suspect an error was made in the date or the reference is to a member in another line of the family.

Family connections with the Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is known as "the race that stops the nation". Currently held on the first Tuesday in November, the Melbourne Cup (first run in 1861) was initially run on a Thursday but in 1875 it was changed to a Tuesday (except for 1942, 1943 and 1945 when it was run on a Saturday). Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday for those living in Melbourne but throughout Australia most people stop what they are doing at 3.00pm to watch or listen to the race. The horses in this handicap race run 32,000 metres and come from many countries. The Melbourne Cup has always been a popular racing event with huge crowds attending the event.

In 1920 the Melbourne Cup was won by Poitrel, a horse owned and bred by William Moses (1861-1926) and his brother, Frederick Albert Moses (1863-1942). Trove contains many articles about the racing career of Poitrel, particularly about the lead up to and the running of the Melbourne Cup race. Some of the articles have been transcribed elsewhere in this blog - (Melbourne Cup 1920 and Poitrel wins the Melbourne Cup)

William (Bill) and Frederick (Fred) Moses were sons of Henry Moses (1832-1926). Henry Moses was a son of Uriah Moses (1780-1847) who came to Australia as a convict in 1800. Henry was a successful businessman, landowner and a New South Wales parliamentarian. William and Frederick were both owners of properties in New South Wales. They also bred racehorses, the most successful being Poitrel. An interview with the owners after the 1920 race revealed that the horse had been offered for sale at the Yearling Sales but the reserve price of £300 was not met so the brothers decided to keep the horse themselves. In hindsight this would appear to have been a wise decision. As well as winning the Melbourne Cup Poitrel was second in the Sydney Cup and won the AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Racerate.com provides a record of Poitrel's racing career. Poitrel retired from racing in March 1921 and was sent to the Arrowfield Stud, owned by the Moses brothers, in the Hunter Valley. Arrowfield Stud is now part of the Coolmore Stud. Poitrel died in 1932.

Racing and Sports carries an article about connections of the Moses family with horseracing.

Obituary William Moses - Obituaries Australia

William and Frederick Moses were first cousins of my grandfather.

Melbourne Cup 1920

THE CUP RACE.

"As good a horse as Carbine"' was the claim made by his Sydney admirers for Poitrel, and that there was good justification for holding such a high opinion of him Poitrel demonstrated by his brilliant win in the Melbourne Cup yesterday under his heavy burden of 10 st. To many thousands of those present, Poitrel's success recalled memories of the Cup of 1890, when Carbine, with 10st. 5lb., beat a field of 38 horses. That was the record Cup field. In his Cup Carbine was always among the leading division, and, shooting ahead below the distance, he was not troubled in the run home, winning by two and a half lengths from Highborn, to whom he was conceding 53lb. Poitrel, on the contrary, was in in the rearguard of the field until approaching the home turn, where he moved up quickly. He had several horses ahead of him entering the straight. Poitrel finished with a characteristic resolute run but it was not until the last 50 yards that he caught his stable companion, Erasmus, who was in receipt of 42lb. The judges verdict was a win for Poitrel by half a length. It was a fitting finish to a fine race. The excitement was intense as Poitrel gradually overhauled the leaders and there was a thunderous outburst of cheering when he flashed past the post. No more popular win has been gained in the Cup since Carbine's memorable year, and the cheering lasted until after Bracken had weighed in correctly.  The time-3.25 ¾- was good. It equalled that recorded by Night Watch in 1918, but was a second and a quarter outside the record for the race registered by Artilleryman last year. Artilleryman carried 7st. 6 lb when he won, while Night Watch only had 6 st. 9 lb. Carbine took 3.28¼ in his Cup. Apart from Carbine and Poitrel the only other horse to win the Cup with 10st. or over was Archer, who carried 10st 2lb when he won his second Cup in 1862. Malua had 9st. 6lb. when he won in 1884.

Poitrel has been recognised during the last three seasons as the best horse in Australia, and his great performance yesterday set the seal on his reputation. He is not a big horse, but he is most compactly built, and his conformation, combined with his nice, easy stvle of galloping permits of him handling heavy weights with ease. How fortunate are his owners, Messrs. W and F.A. Moses, to still have   possession of him. Poitrel was bred by them and when submitted for sale as a yearling failed to reach the reserve of 300 guineas. Subsequently a Victorian sportsman, it is stated, negotiated for the colt   but a hitch occurred, and no business resulted. Messrs. Moses then decided to  race the colt themselves. He was only out three times as a two year-old, his first race being in December. His form at that age did not indicate that he would develop into the Australian champion, as he failed to run into a place. Throughout his career Poitrel has not been over-raced, one reason being that occasionally his feet have given him trouble. His first appearance as a three year old was in Sydney Tattersall's Novice Handicap in September when he ran unplaced with 7st. 5lb. In his next start he was third to Modesto and Tresag in the A.J.C Members' Handicap. He started in three other races as a three-year old, winning the A.J.C Holiday Handicap, the A.J.C Summer Cup, and Sydney Tattersall's Club Cup. In the Summer Cup, Poitrel (7st.) finished second, being beaten by a short head by the imported Chantermerle (8st. 12lb.) but the latter was disqualified for interference, and the race was awarded to Poitrel.

It was in the following season that Poitrel began his phenomenal career as a weight-for-age per    

former. His first start that season was in the Rosehill Auburn Handicap in August, when be missed a place. He was a starter in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick in which Gloaming made his sensational debut on the racecourse, but ran unplaced. In his next race he demonstrated his greatness by beating the New Zealand champion, Desert Gold, in the A.J.C Spring Stakes. Desert Gold was an odds-on favourite with Poitrel at 25 to 1 against. After a great race Poitrel wore Desert Gold down and beat her by a head in the then record tune of 2.31. K Bracken rode him in that race, and he has been associated with the horse's successes ever since. Two days later Poitrel started second favourite with 8st. 9lb. in The Metropolitan, won by Kennaquhair (8st 4lb), but could only finish tenth. He failed to run into a place in three other handicap races in the spring, but began the autumn season by winning the A.J.C Autumn Stakes, weight for age, beating amongst others, Kennaquhair and Lanius. It has been the misfortune of Kennaquhair to fill  the role of second to Poitrel on many occasions since. In the Sydney Cup won by Ian Or, Poitrel was eighth with 9st. 6lb. At the same meeting he won the Cumberland Stakes and A. J. C Plate. He commenced his career as a five year old by   running third in Sydney Tattersall's Spring Handicap, won by Prince Viridis. Then   followed his victory over another New Zealand champion in Gloaming in the A.J.C Autumn Stakes. Poitrel, as with   Desert Gold the year before, wore Gloaming down and beat him by a head. He added the Randwick Plate to his successes at that meeting, and in the autumn won the three weight-for-age races at the A .J.C Sydney Cup meeting. He was second in the Sydney Cup with 9st. 9lb. to to Kennaquhair (9st. 5lb.), and was generally considered unlucky to lose. The Australian record time of 3. 22¾ for two miles was re corded in that race.  

This season after running a dead heat in the A.J.C Spring Stakes with Kennaquhair, Poitrel suffered his second defeat in a weight-for-age race in the Craven Plate, Greenstead beating him. He won the Randwick Plate three days later, and was then brought to Victoria. His present visit is the first occasion on which Poitrel has raced in Victoria. Early in his career he came to Melbourne but becoming sore was taken home without racing. He sustained another defeat at weight-for-age in the Melbourne Stakes on Saturday, when Eurythmic and Greenstead   finished in front of him, but he atoned for this failure by his magnificent victory yesterday. In all Poitrel has won 15½ races in 35 starts. He has won £25,827/10/  in stakes, inclusive of £150, the value of the Melbourne Cup trophy. Carbine (£29,476) and Cetigne (£26,616) are the only horses who have won more stake money in Australia than Poitrel. Poitrel is by St Alwyne, sire of Night Watch, who won the Melbourne Cup two years ago. Lady Medallist (Caulfield Cup), Moorilla (Sydney Cup), and St Caewyne (The Metropolitan) are other good winners sired by St Alwyne. Last season St Alwyne was eighth on the list of winning sires with 12 winners of 28½ races, and   stakes amounting to £14,561. He was fourth in the 1918-1919 season with 14 winners of 28 races £15,909 in stakes.   

With the exception of Tasmania, every State in the Commonwealth was represented in the Cup. Poitrel, Kennaquhair, Salitros, Red Cardinal, Fervent, Erasmus, Ecarte, Wirraway and Malurys formed a formidable contingent from New South Wales; Eurythmic did duty for Western Australia, Tangalooma and Syce Knight represented Queensland and Clever Jim Wallash, and Paratoo were South Australian candidates. Victoria claimed the other eight starters.   The race was a triumph for the visitors, as Queen Comedv (third) was the only Victorian horse to finish in the first nine. While Acerington was being taken to the course he was run into by a drag and he   had his near hind leg cut. The injury did not prevent him taking his place in the field.

Unlike the Victoria Derby which was very rough, the Cup race was, according to some of the jockeys who rode in it, remarkably free from interference. There was very little delay at the post. When the horses jumped off Eurythmic appeared to get cut out but be did not lose much   ground. As the field passed the judge's box the first time Salitros, either by design   on the part of his rider or because the colt was eager to go, was making the pace from Malurys, Scabound, Syce Knight, and Erasmus. Eurythmic was about tenth going nicely while Poitrel and Kennaqu hair were at the tail of the field with Wallash. There was little change as they entered the river stretch, where Tangalooma started to move forward. At the mile post Seabound took command from Saltros with Syce Knight, Erasmus, and Double Bezque handy. Eurythmic was in the middle of the field, and Poitrel still a long way back. Rounding the far turn Tangalooma created some surprise by running to the front, and he quickly had an advantage of three lengths over Syce Knight, Erasmus, Queen Comedy and Sali tros, who was commencing to drop back. Daarewin, Red Cardinal, and Eurythmic could be seen at this stage improving their positions. Poitrel had also made up a good deal of ground. Eurythmic made a fast   run on the outside, and his victory was hailed by thousands as he came into the straight just behind Tangalooma, Erasmus, and Queen Comedy. Once heads were turned for home Erasmus shot to the front, as did Artilleryman a year ago, and at the   distance he had a lead of two lengths from Queen Comedy and Eurythmic. When Dempsey called on his mount Eurythmic responded well and momentarily he looked like winning, but he did not sustain his run. Then Poitrel could be seen making a grand run on the outside. Erasmus was going nicely, and at the half-distance he appeared   to have the race won, but Poitrel was not to be shaken off. Finishing most determindly, Poitrel got to Erasmus about 50 yards from the post and beat him home to the accompaniment of ringing cheers bv half a length. Queen Comedy, who ran a splendid race, was two lengths away third and then carme Eurythmic, who, though beaten, put up a good race. Kennaquhair ran well under his heavy weight and was fifth. Salitros was a disappointment, but he was at a disadvantage in trying to lead all the way. Escarte and Red Cardinal also ran below expectations. Eurythmic was galloped on during the race and cut about the legs.

 
Poitrel was a very bad horse for the ring. Those bookmakers are in a position to speak authoritatively describe this year's race as the heaviest betting Cup they have ever known. Poitrel figured at a fairly long price m the early lists, but some time be fore the A.J.C Spring Meeting he was heavily supported for the event, and as he has been a popular selection ever since he   will take a large amount of money out of the ring. As usual early backers received setbacks through the withdrawal of fancied candidates but there were fewer important scratchings than in former years. However the breakdown of Richmond Main won the bookmakers much money. There were some good winners over Poitrel's success. Overnight he figured at 10 to 1 but on the course as much as 12 to 1 was bet against him. He came into strong demand to wards the close, and 8 to 1 was not easy   to obtain at barrier rise. There were many fluctuations in the betting on the course.

Eurythmic ruled as favourite on Cup eve, but soon after wagering began before the first race yesterday Salitros deposed the   Caulfield Cup winner, and he held the position of favourite at the start. A set was made against Red Cardinal on the course early and from 6½ to 1 he receded to 12 to 1 but he firmed later to 8 to 1. Ecarte came in for strong backing yesterday and he hardened three points from his over night quote. Queen Comedy, Acerington, and Drumore were also well backed on the course .  

In winning the Melbourne Cup after running third in the Melbourne Stakes Poitrel repeated the performance of The Parisian, Piastre and Westcourt who each won the Cup after finishing third in the weight-for-age race. Eurythmic's failure added another to the long list of horses who have attempted the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double without succeeding. Poseidon in 1906 is the only horse who has so far won the two Cups.
 
(The Argus 3 November 1920 page 9)
Articles from Trove - http://trove.nla.gov.au

Poitrel wins the Melbourne Cup

POITREL'S OWNERS

Messrs, W. and F. A. Moses, joint owners of Poitrel were not surprised at their victory. They received the congratulations of his Excellency the Governor General, Lord Forster, "We are delighted," they said, "and we think the best horse won. How long have we had him? We bred him at our stud at Arrowfield on the Hunter River, N.S.W. We are first of all breeders, but of course we race a bit, principally at Randwick. The sire was imported, and the dam is a sister of Parsee. Poitrel has had a very successful career, and he is really a wonderful horse. We have not decided what we shall do with him whether we shall race him again or keep him for the stud. Mr. Robinson is the doctor, and it all depends upon what he says. We placed a reserve of £300 on him at the yearling sales,

but as no buyer was prepared to give that amount we kept him, and he has turned out

trumps.He is the first horse we have entered for the Melbourne Cup "

 (Sydney Morning Herald 3 November 1920 page 12) 

A POPULAR VICTORY.

Great Public Demonstration,

That Poitrel should have had so cordial a reception speaks volumes for the sports manlike mood of the crowd. To the great majority of the onlookers, the Cup must have proved a distinctly unprofitable event, but any disappointment which may have arisen from personal losses was lost in admiration of the top weight's magnificent performance, and it is doubtful whether any Melbourne Cup finish has been marked by a scene of greater enthusiasm. Stirred by the sheer prowess of Poitrel, the crowd greeted the victor with deafening cheers, which were sustained and undiminished as Bracken rode his mount in to scale.

 
Poitrel's owners, Messrs. W. and F. A. Moses, were presented with the gold cup by His Excellency the Governor General, Lord Forster laughingly giving each brother one handle to hold, while he voiced his cordial   congratulations. The ceremony was the signal for a renewal of the public demonstration, and many private congratulations were subsequently conveyed to the successful trainer (H. J. Robinson), who awaited Poitrel and his stable mate Erasmus, the second horse, in the birdcage.

(The Argus 3 November 1920 page 10) 

POITREL'S MELBOURNE CUP. 

(By Telegraph.) MELBOURNE. November 4. 

Poitrel's victory in the Cup cost the ring £80,000. The stable were big winners, also one big Melbourne book maker, and also the owner and trainer, who threw in for a big stake.

(Townsville Daily Bulletin 5 November 1920 page 5) 

POITREL TO RETIRE 

 SYDNEY, Sunday. 

Keenly as Messrs. W. and F. A Moses, the owners of, Poitrel, wished for a meeting with Eurythmic, they have decided not to risk a complete breakdown with their champion, and as the injury he sustained last week is not improving, it is practically certain that Poitrel has finished his racing career. Harry Robin son, who has always trained Poitrel, decided to-day that there was practically no hope of the son of St. Alwynne stand ing another race, and, like Poitrel's owners, he would not care to see the equine wonder retire from the turf in a broken down state. Poitrel will go to the Arrowfield stud next season. His stake winnings amounted to £26,919, and it was confidently expected that he would pass Carbine's great total of £29,476. 

(Examiner Launceston 28 March 1921 page 2)

RACEHORSE POITREL DEAD

Brisbane, Tuesday.

Poitrel, which won the Melbourne Cup in 1920, died yesterday at Tarong Station, where he was doing stud duty.  In all he won 18 races, his winning stakes amounting to £26,920.

(Barrier Miner 3 May 1932 page 1)

Articles from Trove - http://trove.nla.gov.au
There are many articles in Trove from newspapers throughout Australia regarding Poitrel and the Moses brothers. 

Other information about Poitrel on the Internet:

 Winners of the Melbourne Cup - Google Books
Poitrel 1920  

Cup day winner stirs memories of Poitrel - Racing and Sports
http://www.racingandsports.com.au/breeding/rsnewsart.asp?NID=229311 

 Poitrel Australian racehorse - Melbourne Cup winner
http://www.racerate.com/Poitrel.htm 

Pedigree of Poitrel
http://www.pedigreequery.com/poitrel