1867 Melbourne Cup

The 1867 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Thursday, 31 October 1867.

This year was the seventh running of the Melbourne Cup. Just like in 1866 the race saw two horses with the same name take part. Both horses were called Tim Whiffler. To avoid another mix up the horses were referred to as 'Melbourne Tim' and 'Sydney Tim'. 'Sydney Tim' was trained by Etienne de Mestre who trained Archer to win the first two Melbourne Cups. 'Sydney Tim' won the AJC Derby on route to a 2 length win as 5/2 favourite. 'Melbourne Tim' ran fifth while Exile the previous year's runner up finished third. The Tim Whiffler's who ran in this race are not to be confused with Tim Whiffler son of 'Sydeney Tim' who won the Great Northern Derby in New Zealand in 1881 nor an English sire also named Tim Whiffler who was brought to Australia and sired future cup winners Briseis and Darriwell. The winning time of 3:39.0 was at the time the fastest winning time in the race's history.

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) received 65 entries for the race. Following declarations 30 runners were nominated for the race, although three horses were scratched before race day, leaving a field of 27 horses to start under grey skies. There were criticisms that some of the Sydney-trained horses had been harshly weighted by the VRC Handicapping Committee, but the punters disgreed, installing Sydney Tim as clear favourite despite the heavy weight handicap. The next most fancied runner was fellow Sydney-trained Fireworks from the stable of previous year's winner John Tait.

The attendance at Flemington was "greater than seen before" for the race. Following a false start where Lancashire Witch went on a solo gallop and subsequently did not return to the start in time, Fireworks was slow to start behind the field. Along the back of the course, 1865 Melbourne Cup winner Toryboy alternated the lead with Barwon and Rip Van Winkle, until they were joined by Exile and Sparrowhawk. In the final mile of the race, Sydney Tim went forward as Exile led the horses into the Flemington straight. Sydney Tim took the lead down the straight, out-galloping the field to win by two lengths from Queen of Hearts.

The win was the third Melbourne Cup for owner/trainer Etienne de Mestre who had previously stated that he would never return to the race following the controversy surrounding the entries for the 1863 Melbourne Cup.

Full results This is the list of placegetters for the 1867 Melbourne Cup.

PlaceHorseAgeGenderJockeyWeightTrainerOwnerOddsMargin1Sydney Tim Whiffler5y hJohn Driscoll Etienne de MestreEtienne de Mestre5/2 2 lengths2Queen of Hearts3y fT. Bennett Sam Waldock30/11 length3ExileAged gBobby Waterman Dan Melhado 20/14Glencoe3y cCoker John Tait 12/15Melbourne Tim Whiffler5y hJoe Morrison Walter Craig 50/1Falcon6y gCharles Stanley John Tait 20/1StropAged gGill William Field 25/1Cowra5y mThompson Edward Meade Bagot 20/1Nimblefoot4y gJoe Carter Walter Craig 33/1Barwon8y hH. Cooke John Cleeland 20/1Crusader4y hNunn Mr Adcock 100/1North Australian4y hHolmes Ratcliffe Pring 33/1Sparrowhawk6y gHarry Chifney William Pearson 25/1WoodmanAged gThomas Pullar Mr J. Holmes 50/1CedricAged gTunstall Mr J. Lamb 100/1Poetess5y mArch Hill Mr F. Hobson 33/1Mary AnnAged mJ. Hill Mr J. Whitehead 100/1Toryboy10y gS. Davis Mr J. Walker 20/1ShenandoahAged mAlf Hill John Cleeland 33/1Fireworks3y cGreene John Tait 3/1Lady Jane4y mJ. Taylor Mr F. Howell 100/1Protection6y g Francis Mr J. Holmes 50/1Rip Van Winkle3y c Mathieson Mr G. Lewis 25/1The Fly3y f Jamieson Charles Brown Fisher 12/1LastPrivateerAged gH. Taylor Mr J. Rule 10/1Smuggler5y hA. Davis Charles Brown Fisher 50/1Lancashire Witch3y fJ. Adderley Louis Lawrence Smith50/1Rose of Australia5y mMr J. EalesHarbinger3y cMr T. GordonPalladium3y fSam Waldock

Prizemoney First prize £1130, second prize £20.

1867 Melbourne Cup

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