| Melbourne Cup | |
| Location | Flemington Racecourse |
|---|---|
| Date | 7 November 1861 |
| Distance | 2 miles |
| Winning horse | Archer |
| Winning time | 3:52 |
| Final odds | 6/1 |
| Jockey | John Cutts |
| Trainer | Etienne L. de Mestre |
| Owner | Etienne L. de Mestre |
| Surface | Turf |
| Attendance | 4000 |
The 1861 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Thursday, 7 November 1861. [1] [2]
This year was the first running of the Melbourne Cup. [1] Billed as "one of the finest races ever seen upon the course," [3] 57 horses were nominated and there were 20 acceptances. Three were scratched on race day, leaving 17 starters. [4] [5] [6]
Three horses fell due to congestion on the first turn, [5] resulting in deaths to two runners Despatch and Medora. [7] One jockey was knocked unconscious and Joe Morrison sustained a compound fracture to his arm after coming off Despatch. [6] The fall led to changes to the track at Flemington, including lengthening the straight. [5]
Ridden by John Cutts, Archer won the race by six lengths in a time of 3:52. [7] Owned by Etienne L. de Mestre, Archer had been brought to Melbourne from Sydney aboard the SS City of Sydney, which transported several horses to Melbourne. A long-standing folktale was that Archer had walked from Nowra to Flemington. [6] [5]
The race was held not long after news had reached Melbourne of the death of explorers Burke and Wills who had left Melbourne in August 1860. [6]
This is the list of placegetters for the 1861 Melbourne Cup. [1] [8] [9] [3]
| Place | Horse | Age Gender | Jockey | Weight | Trainer | Owner | Odds | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Archer | 5y h | John Cutts | 9 st 7 lb (60.3 kg) | Etienne L. de Mestre | Etienne L. de Mestre | 5/1 | 6 lengths |
| 2 | Mormon | 6y h | W. Simpson | 10 st 1 lb (64.0 kg) | — | James Henderson | 3/1 fav. | 2 lengths |
| 3 | Prince | Aged g | J. Bishop | 8 st 0 lb (50.8 kg) | — | William Pearson | 20/1 | |
| 4 | Antonelli | 3y c | Cowen | 6 st 7 lb (41.3 kg) | — | Mr. Warby | 20/1 | |
| 5 | Toryboy | 4y g | H. Cooke | 7 st 11 lb (49.4 kg) | — | William Cross Yuille | 5/1 | |
| 6 | Flatcatcher | Aged g | Perkins | 9 st 8 lb (60.8 kg) | — | Mr T.J. Bavin | 10/1 | |
| 7 | The Moor | Aged g | Robinson | 8 st 12 lb (56.2 kg) | — | Mr. G. Watson | 12/1 | |
| — | Nutwith | Aged g | S. Waldock | 8 st 12 lb (56.2 kg) | — | Mr. J.D. Fisher | 12/1 | |
| — | Inheritor | Aged g | McCabe | 8 st 7 lb (54.0 kg) | Etienne L. de Mestre | Etienne L. de Mestre | 10/1 | |
| — | Grey Dawn | 4y m | Yeend | 7 st 12 lb (49.9 kg) | — | Mr. Coldham | 25/1 | |
| — | Black Bess | 6y m | James Monaghan | 7 st 11 lb (49.4 kg) | — | Mr. Evans | 50/1 | |
| — | Sorcerer | 3y g | Hughes | 6 st 9 lb (42.2 kg) | — | James Henderson | 33/1 | |
| — | Fireaway | 3y g | H. Howard | 6 st 6 lb (40.8 kg) | — | Mr. Cole | 20/1 | |
| — | Lucy Ashton | 3y f | S. Davis | 6 st 4 lb (39.9 kg) | — | Mr. Coleman | 50/1 | |
| Fell | Despatch | Aged m | Joe Morrison | 8 st 9 lb (54.9 kg) | — | James Henderson | 7/2 | |
| Fell | Twilight | Aged m | Haynes | 7 st 12 lb (49.9 kg) | — | Mr. Coldham | 20/1 | |
| Fell | Medora | 3y f | J. Henderson | 7 st 0 lb (44.5 kg) | — | James Henderson | 16/1 | |
| SCR | Eagle's Plume | 3y c | Lankey | 6 st 7 lb (41.3 kg) | — | John Orr | 20/1 | |
| SCR | Parisan | Aged g | — | 8 st 7 lb (54.0 kg) | — | Mr. T. Chirnside | — | |
| SCR | Defence | 6y g | — | 7 st 12 lb (49.9 kg) | — | Mr. Coleman | — | |
First prize £710, second prize £20. [2]
 | This Melbourne-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
