1869 Melbourne Cup

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1869 Melbourne Cup

The 1869 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race held at Flemington Racecourse on Thursday 4 November 1869. It was the ninth running of the event, and the day was one of Melbourne’s early public holidays. Thirty-three horses were declared to run, but several were scratched due to injuries, including Barwon, The Fly and Manuka.

A field of 26 started. Warrior, a Sydney-trained horse owned by Austin Saqui and trained by Robert Sevior, with Joe Morrison as jockey, won at odds of 10/1. The winning time was 3:40.00. The Monk finished second and Phoebe third, with Palmerston finishing sixth after missing the start. Early leaders included Bishopsbourne, Sheet Anchor and Traverton, and Circassian led along the straight before Warrior took the lead.

There was a collision near the final turn when Paddy’s Land was pushed by Circassian, injuring the jockey. Saqui reportedly won more than £10,000 from betting on Warrior. Prize money for the race was first £1,190, second £50, third £20. Attendance was about 25,000.