Definition
The 1909 Melbourne Cup refers to the 49th running of the Melbourne Cup, an annual Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The race is contested over a distance of 3,200 metres (approximately 2 miles) on turf.
Overview
The 1909 edition took place on Tuesday, 2 November 1909, in accordance with the tradition of holding the race on the first Tuesday of November. The event attracted a large crowd of spectators and featured a field of horses drawn from across Australia and New Zealand. The race was organized by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC), which oversees the Melbourne Cup and associated racing fixtures.
Etymology/Origin
The term “Melbourne Cup” originates from the name of the host city, Melbourne, and the word “Cup,” denoting the trophy awarded to the winner. The year “1909” simply designates the calendar year in which this particular running of the race occurred.
Characteristics
- Date and Venue: 2 November 1909, Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne.
- Distance: 3,200 metres (≈ 2 miles) on a left‑handed, turf track.
- Race Type: Handicap race for Thoroughbreds aged three years and older.
- Field Size: The exact number of starters in the 1909 race is not definitively recorded in the available sources.
- Winning Horse: The winner of the 1909 Melbourne Cup was Lord Cardigan.
- Winning Jockey: The jockey who rode Lord Cardigan to victory was Walter “Wally” Hicken (also known as “Wally” Hicken).
- Winning Trainer: The horse was trained by Charles “Charlie” Hutchinson.
- Winning Time: Precise timing records for the 1909 race are not readily available; official timing to the nearest second was not consistently published at the time.
- Prize Money: The total purse for the 1909 Cup was approximately £5,000, with the winner’s share being a significant portion of this amount.
- Attendance: Contemporary newspaper reports estimated that between 70,000 and 80,000 spectators were present, reflecting the event’s status as a major social and sporting occasion in Australia.
Related Topics
- Melbourne Cup – The overarching annual race of which the 1909 event is a part.
- Flemington Racecourse – The permanent venue for the Melbourne Cup and one of Australia’s premier horse‑racing facilities.
- Victoria Racing Club (VRC) – The governing body responsible for the organization and regulation of the Melbourne Cup.
- Australian Thoroughbred Racing – The broader sport and industry context, encompassing breeding, training, and racing practices in Australia.
- Historical Winners of the Melbourne Cup – A chronological list of race winners, providing comparative insight into the 1909 edition.
Note: Certain specific details (e.g., exact field size, precise winning time, and complete prize distribution) are not confirmed in readily accessible historical records; where information could not be verified, it is either omitted or qualified accordingly.