1873 Melbourne Cup

The 1873 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Thursday, 6 November 1873.

This was the thirteenth running of the Melbourne Cup.

Don Juan's victory was a controversial one. Immediately following the race Don Juan's victory was called into question and a protest was lodged. The Sydney Mail reported on 22 November that the protest claimed the horse was a year older than his stated four years of age. There were also rumours that Don Juan was substituted for a better horse. The protest was dismissed and the rumours were never proven.

Following morning showers, a final field of 24 horses started the race. Protos and Calaba were in front at the first post, with Protos maintaining its lead in front of King Tom and Lapidist down the back straight. King Tom took the lead approaching the final turn, but it was Don Juan that lead the field down the final straight. Don Juan pulled away to win easily, the betting favourite saluting ahead of Dagwood who held off a fast-finishing Horatio.

Don Juan won by three and a half lengths in a new record time of 3:36.0.

Three horses were injured in the race with Horatio badly splitting a hoof, while Hamlet broke down during the race. It was reported that Index returned to the paddock lame.

For trainer James Wilson it was his first Melbourne Cup victory coming after three second-place finishes. The owner of the horse was listed as "Mr W. Johnstone" which was a known alias of Melbourne bookmaker Joe Thompson. Don Juan had been listed for sale before the spring season and had been sold to grazier Joe Inglis, but remained at the stables of James Wilson until after the spring season. Thompson won so handsomely on the race that he directed some winnings to charity and built himself a mansion in East Melbourne which he named Don Juan House in tribute to the winning horse. Don Juan had also won the Caulfield Handicap and the Essendon Stakes in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup.

Then Governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson's horse Fitz-Yattendon finished the race in eighth place, with the governor one of the distinguished attendees at the race.

Newspaper reports of the race were limited by the withdrawal of free passes to the racecourse provided by the Victoria Racing Club, leading both The Argus and The Australasian to reduce their coverage and complain about the lack of access.

A new grandstand was opened in time for the running of the race, housing 3,000 people at the foot of the hill overlooking the final part of the course. Designed by civil engineer Robert Cooper Bagot, the secretary of the Victoria Racing Club, it was nicknamed "Bagot's Cowshed."

Full results This is the list of placegetters for the 1873 Melbourne Cup.

PlaceHorseAgeGenderJockeyWeightTrainerOwnerOddsMargin1Don Juan 4y hWilliam Wilson James Wilson Mr W. Johnstone3/1 3½ lengths2Dagworth 5y h George Donnelly Etienne de Mestre Mr. R. Bloomfield20/1½ length3Horatio 4y h M. Thompson Etienne de Mestre Etienne de Mestre 5/14 The Arrow 4y h H. Lewis John Tait John Tait10/15 King Tom 4y h Samuel Davis Mr P. Lewis14/16 Ace of Trumps 5y h Sam Cracknell Tom Jordan Mr W. Gerrard50/17 Dolphin 5y m Nolan Mr W. Pearson 50/18 Fitz-Yattendon 3y c Duggan Hercules Robinson 8/1 Hamlet 5y h Thomas Enderson Mr J. Crozier Jr 14/1 Priam 5y h G. Thomson Mr H. Herbert 25/1 Lancer 5y hTom Hales Thomas Joseph Ryan 10/1 Exile (late Lapdog) Aged g Gardener Mr S.G. Bowler 50/1 King of Clubs 4y h J. Jellett Eli Jellett 10/1 McCallum Mohr 4y h William Enderson John Tait John Tait 20/1 Early Morn 6y h M. Bryan John Coldham 14/1 Calaba 4y h T. Hill Mr R. Holland 20/1 Protos 6y g Haughtey Mr S.P. Winter 33/1 Index Aged g Swannell Mr E. Gough 50/1 Benjiroo 5y h Chalker Mr C.S. King 12/1 Lapidist 3y c H. Grubb William Filgate William Filgate 50/1 Victorian Aged g Robert Batty Mr K. Brown 20/1 Lothair 5y h John Kean Mr Cassidy Mr R.J. Hunter 50/1 4y g A. Ross Andrew Chirnside 50/1 Bismarck Aged g J. Green Eli Jellett 50/1

Prizemoney First prize £1360, second prize £50, third prize £20.

1873 Melbourne Cup

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