Jorrocks (horse)
Jorrocks, nicknamed The Iron Gelding, was a famous Australian-bred racehorse from the 1800s. He was a bay Anglo-Arabian gelding, foaled in 1833 in New South Wales. He was bred by Henry Bayly at Bayly Park and stood about 14.2 hands high. His sire was Whisker (GB) and his dam was Matilda, by Steeltrap (GB).
Jorrocks had several owners and trainers, with John Higgerson as his longest-serving trainer and sometimes rider, and "Old" Brown also involved in his early career. He began racing late, winning a sweepstakes at Coolah in 1838 as a five-year-old. He later raced at Windsor and changed hands to Richard Rouse Sr.
His first major successes came in the early 1840s. In 1843 he won the AJC Metropolitan Stakes and the Cumberland Plate at Homebush, and the Champion Cup the following spring. He became especially famous in 1846, when he won 30 of 31 starts, carrying at least nine stone (57 kg) over two- to three-mile races. He was the leading stake winner in New South Wales eight times.
Over the years he added many important wins, including the Cumberland Cup (twice) and other big prizes at Homebush, Bathurst and in Sydney, often racing over two or three miles in heats and carrying heavy weights. He continued racing into his late teens, with his last notable victories in 1851.
Jorrocks retired to Clifton Stud in Richmond, New South Wales, and died there in August 1860 at the age of 27. He remained a beloved figure in Australian racing, inspiring poems and stories. In 1965, a memorial stone was placed at his grave at the Richmond air base, which had been part of the Clift Stud.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:55 (CET).