1881 Melbourne Cup

1881 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
Engraving of the finish line of the 1881 race
LocationFlemington Racecourse
Date1 November 1881
Distance2 miles
Winning horseZulu
Winning time3:32.5
Final odds50/1
JockeyJim Gough
TrainerTom Lamond
OwnerCharles McDonnell
SurfaceTurf
Attendance≈100,000
Image of Zulu, published in the Australasian Sketcher.

The 1881 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 1 November 1881.[1]

This year was the twenty-first running of the Melbourne Cup. The race was won by 50/1 outsider, four-year-old stallion Zulu, trained by Tom Lamond.[1][2][3]

Entries and odds

When nominations closed for the race in June, 120 entries had paid the initial fee.[4] Easy winner of the 1881 Victoria Derby, Darebin started as the betting favourite, with a number of competitors in that race either not fancied or withdrawing from the final field for the Melbourne Cup.[5] 1881 AJC Derby winner Wheatear was considered an outside chance in the race, with the horses it defeated in that race, Monmouth and Sardonyx two of the horses withdrawn on race day.[2] Wheatear did win the Melbourne Stakes on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, having not been entered into the Victoria Derby.[2] In the paddock before the start, most observers fancied Waxy and Odd Trick, as well as the betting favourite Darebin.[6]

The race

The final field of 33 runners gatherered for the start, which was delayed when Coreena bolted and ran for more than a mile before being brought under control.[7] It would be Somnus leading the field early, ahead of Wheatear, Santa Claus and Bathurst. Somnus held the lead at the first turn, before Santa Claus took over near the end of the riverside straight. Paddy Piggott had taken Sweetmeat through the field to challenge for the lead, but before the final turn Zulu had challenged Santa Claus and taken over the running from the front. Waxy challenged Zulu ahead of Darebin, with Darebin's challenge falling short in the final mile,[7] dropping back into the pack much to the cheers of the bookmakers.[6]

Just before the field entered the Flemington straight, Wheatear's chances evaporated owing to a dog running across the course into the path of the large field. Wheatear fell, giving his jockey Emsworth a nasty spill although he was uninjured,[8] while Suwarrow fell over him in the mayhem.[2][9] The jockey of Suwarrow, 19-year-old John Dodd was severely injured and subsequently died from his injuries. Dodd had been thrown from the saddle and other horses galloped over him while he on the turf.[10]

Trainer of Wheater Tom Lamond might have rued his misfortune, but at the very moment the fall occurred, his other horse the "lame pony" Zulu[11] was successfully defying all attempts to run him down,[2] leading by as much as two lengths.[6] The small black horse hanging on down the straight to win by close to a length ahead of The Czar who had run on near the finish ahead of a fast-finishing Sweetmeat ahead of the pack which included Waxy and Trump Yoss.[7][6][8]

Zulu was one of a number of horses brought to Melbourne for the spring by trainer Tom Lamond. With a light weight and at long odds, Zulu's win was a surprise to many,[6] with many bookmakers offering upwards of 100/1.[11] Lamond, who was largely responsible for preparing Archer on behalf of Etienne de Mestre for his two Melbourne Cups, finally had one of his own.[2][3] Zulu was owned by Taree grazier Charles McDonnell who had sent the horse to be trained by Lamond in 1880.[3]

Zulu's rider was lightweight jockey Jim Gough was just 14-years-old in his first Melbourne Cup race.[3]

The Melbourne Cup was Zulu's first major race win, having won only the Parramatta Handicap and Birthday Handicap as a three-year-old, also winning the Country Purse at Hawkesbury, and the Squatters Handicap at Randwick earlier in the 1881 spring racing season. Living up to its moniker as a "lame pony", Zulu limped back to the weighing yard to half-hearted cheers from the stands.[6]

Full results

This is the list of placegetters for the 1881 Melbourne Cup.[12][13][14][1][3][15][5][7][16][6]

Place Horse Age
Gender 		Jockey Weight Trainer Owner Odds Margin
1 Zulu 4y h Jim Gough 5 st 10 lb (36.3 kg) Tom Lamond Charles McDonnell 50/1 ¾ length
2 The Czar 5y h Trahan 6 st 9 lb (42.2 kg) Joe Morrison Joe Morrison 20/1 ¾ length
3 Sweetmeat 6y h Paddy Piggott 9 st 0 lb (57.2 kg) Thomas Ivory Thomas Ivory 14/1
4 Waxy 6y h Donald Nicholson 6 st 1 lb (38.6 kg) James Monaghan Richard Rouse 4/1
5 Trump Yoss 6y g Tom Hales 7 st 5 lb (46.7 kg) Tom Brown William A. Long 20/1
6 Creswick 4y h John Gainsford 6 st 13 lb (44.0 kg) Harry Rayner Patrick Brennan 20/1
7 First Water 5y h Wyman 8 st 7 lb (54.0 kg) Tom Jordan William Pile 20/1
8 Odd Trick 6y h Walker 7 st 9 lb (48.5 kg) Thomas Wilson William Robert Wilson 7/1
9 Carmen 4y m K. Russell 5 st 12 lb (37.2 kg) Mr H. Herbert 20/1
10 Greyhound 3y c Kelby 5 st 9 lb (35.8 kg) J. Griffin Mr E.E. Jones 100/1
11 Santa Claus 3y c Bowes 5 st 9 lb (35.8 kg) Mr D. Macpherson 12/1
12 Darebin 3y c Power 7 st 0 lb (44.5 kg)[a] Francis F. Dakin Francis F. Dakin 3/1 fav.
13 Chatterer 4y h William Murphy 7 st 0 lb (44.5 kg) Joe Morrison John Whittingham 200/1
N/a Wellington 6y h William Yeomans 8 st 11 lb (55.8 kg) Joe Morrison Mr C.G. Baldock 20/1
N/a Savanaka 7y h Brickwood Colley 8 st 7 lb (54.0 kg) J. Hill John Crozier Jr 20/1
N/a  Sir Modred (NZL) 4y h Rawlings 8 st 4 lb (52.6 kg) H. Goodman Mr H. Driver 100/1
N/a Lord Burghley 6y h Francis 7 st 11 lb (49.4 kg) Thomas Ivory Thomas Ivory 50/1
N/a Waterloo 4y h Mick O'Brien 7 st 8 lb (48.1 kg) P. Heywood Donald Smith Wallace 20/1
N/a Bathurst (late Telephone) 4y h Williamson 7 st 7 lb (47.6 kg) Michael Fennelly James White 25/1
N/a Canary 4y h Sullivan 7 st 5 lb (46.7 kg) Harry Chifney Mr M. Jacobs 50/1
N/a The Wandering Jew 5y h Burton 7 st 1 lb (44.9 kg) Etienne de Mestre Mr J.K. Maitland 12/1
N/a Pawnbroker 5y h George Williams 6 st 11 lb (43.1 kg) H. Tothill Robert Trivess Moore 50/1
N/a Pollio 5y h Pearse 6 st 7 lb (41.3 kg) William Lang Mr G. Livingstone 20/1
N/a  Somnus (NZL) 3y c Sam Cracknell 6 st 7 lb (41.3 kg) H. Goodman Mr H. Driver 25/1
N/a Orient 4y h Riley 6 st 6 lb (40.8 kg) Etienne de Mestre Etienne de Mestre 20/1
N/a Guinea 4y h Sheehan 6 st 4 lb (39.9 kg) Etienne de Mestre Etienne de Mestre 25/1
N/a Duchess 4y m Young 5 st 9 lb (35.8 kg)[b] James Wilson Messrs. Skene Bros 10/1
N/a Coreena 3y f Ricketson 5 st 10 lb (36.3 kg) Mr H. Burrell 100/1
N/a Bandalbion 4y h Connors 6 st 10 lb (42.6 kg) Dan Melhado 100/1
N/a The Cockney 3y c Barr 5 st 7 lb (34.9 kg) Mr T. Coker 100/1
Last Oxalia Aged m Phillips 5 st 10 lb (36.3 kg)[c] Mr R. Alexander 12/1
Fell Suwarrow 5y h John Dodd 8 st 3 lb (52.2 kg) Robert Howie Robert Howie 50/1
Fell Wheatear 3y c Emsworth 6 st 12 lb (43.5 kg) Tom Lamond Frank Osborne 25/1
SCR Respite 4y h N/a 7 st 7 lb (47.6 kg) N/a Mr A. Davies
SCR Warlock 6y h N/a 7 st 6 lb (47.2 kg) A. Selman Mr J. Paterson
SCR Monmouth 3y c N/a 6 st 13 lb (44.0 kg) N/a James White
SCR Sir Peter 5y h N/a 6 st 9 lb (42.2 kg) Thomas Wilson Martin Loughlin
SCR Spectre 3y c N/a 5 st 8 lb (35.4 kg) Tom Jordan William Pile
SCR Somerset 3y c N/a 6 st 10 lb (42.6 kg) James Wilson Mr E. Lee
SCR Royal Maid 3y f N/a 6 st 8 lb (41.7 kg) James Wilson William Branch
SCR Sardonyx 3y c N/a 5 st 7 lb (34.9 kg) James Monaghan Fitzwilliam Wentworth
SCR Primrose 3y f N/a 5 st 7 lb (34.9 kg) N/a Thomas Chirnside
SCR Sangfroid 3y c N/a 5 st 13 lb (37.6 kg) Tom Brown William A. Long
SCR Spinningdale 3y f N/a 6 st 9 lb (42.2 kg) Tom Lamond Thomas Chirnside
SCR Wizard 4y g N/a 5 st 13 lb (37.6 kg) A. Selman Mr J. Paterson

Prizemoney

First prize £1805, second prize £200, third prize £100.[1]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Was supposed to carry 6st 12lb
  2. ^ Was supposed to carry 5st 7lb
  3. ^ Was supposed to carry 5st 7lb

References

  1. ^ a b c d "1881 Melbourne Cup MillersGuide". millersguide.identika.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Ibbett, Ian (26 December 2017). "1881 – Wheatear and The Grange Stud". Kings of the Turf. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Melbourne Cup Winners - 1881-1900". Victoria Racing Club. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  4. ^ "The VRC nominations". Launceston Examiner. Launceston, Tasmania. 13 June 1881. p. 3. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b "The Cup Day". The Argus. Melbourne, Victoria. 1 November 1881. p. 6. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "The Cup Day". The Argus. Melbourne, Victoria. 2 November 1881. pp. 5–7. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d Reubertstein. The History of the Melbourne Cup from 1861 to 1894 (1895 ed.). Melbourne, Australia: James J. Miller. pp. 34–36.
  8. ^ a b "Melbourne Cup". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 4 November 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  9. ^ "The Cup: a timeline of shocks and stars". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales. 31 October 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Fatal Fall From a Racehorse". The Argus. Melbourne, Victoria. 16 November 1881. p. 5. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  11. ^ a b Roberts, Janine (7 July 2019). "Zulu – the dark horse". Mid Coast Stories. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  12. ^ "1881 to 1890 Melbourne Cup Winners". races com au. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  13. ^ "WINNERS AND PLACED HORSES IN MELBOURNE CUP. 1861-1913". Winner. Melbourne, Victoria. 28 October 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  14. ^ Cavanough, Maurice (1978). The Melbourne Cup (8 ed.). p. 445. ISBN 0727004859.
  15. ^ Rolfe, Costa (2008). Winners of the Melbourne Cup. Fitzroy, Australia: Red Dog. pp. 50–51. ISBN 9781742035093.
  16. ^ "Second Day - Tuesday Nov. 1". The Australasian. Melbourne, Victoria. 5 November 1881. pp. 10–12. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
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