1864 Melbourne Cup

The 1864 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Thursday, 3 November 1864.

This year was the fourth running of the Melbourne Cup, and the first to be raced under the control of the Victoria Racing Club.

Lantern, jockeyed by Samuel Pope Davis, carried just to defeat Poet and Rose of Denmark finished third. The race was run in heavy going and Lantern's time of 3 minutes and 52 seconds equalled the 1861 Melbourne Cup for the slowest winning time. Trained by William Filgate, Lantern then became the first horse to win the Cup and the VRC Derby in the same year though unlike today the Derby was run after the Cup. The Derby was run a day after the Cup and after winning there he returned to win over a mile the next day to win three races in three straight days. Lantern was put down after he broke down in the Ballarat Cup days later.

In heavy conditions, Saturn led the field at the first turn after the horses had passed in front of the grandstand for the first time. Poet and Lantern then took up the front running before the final turn with Lantern winning by a length-and-a-half from Poet, while Rose of Denmark finished third before three horses passed the post for fourth. The judges awarded fourth to Gwendoline.

Bred in South Australia, Lantern was owned by Hurtle Fisher, a committee member of the Victoria Racing Club and was commonly known as "The Squire of Maribryrnong" due to his extensive stud and training grounds.

Full results This is the list of placegetters for the 1864 Melbourne Cup.

PlaceHorseAgeGenderJockeyWeightTrainerOwnerOddsMargin1Lantern3y cSamuel Davis William FilgateHurtle Fisher15/11½ lengths2Poet4y hW. Perkins Isaac Pear20/12 lengths3Rose of Denmark4y mH. Howard Hurtle FisherHurtle Fisher10/14Gwendoline3y fThomas Pullar Mr W. Treacy25/15Ebor6y hDenis Fountain James WilsonMr J.C. James15/16Musidora5y mWilliam Simpson James WilsonJames Wilson4/1 Barwon5y hJ. Henderson Joseph Harper6/1 Falcon5y hJoe Morrison Philip Dowling8/1 PlayboyAged gDowling Patrick Keighran20/1 Banker4y hSam Waldock Joseph Harper10/1 Glenyuille4y hHolmes Mr Cook15/1 Saturn6y hLang Mr T. Henty8/1 Flying BuckAged gJ. Carter Mr Bavin10/1 Chrysolite4y mRedman Hurtle Fisher20/1 AttilaAged gParslow Mr C. Day25/1 Fleur-de-Lis5y mGrimwood Mr Holmes10/1 Freestone3y cGreen Mr D. Robinson10/1 Roebuck3y cBateman Philip Dowling7/2 Bedouin3y gHarry Chifney Mr Jeffrey20/1Sir LancerStag

Prizemoney First prize £734, second prize £20.

1864 Melbourne Cup

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