The Melbourne Cup – as we know it – was first run in 1956 against the backdrop of a city gripped by Olympic fever.
Just 10 weeks after the new £80,000 ($2.64m adjusted for inflation) facility opened before a record crowd of 6500 people, a massive crowd again poured into Sandown Park for the running of the Olympic Year Melbourne Cup. Lured in part by “the most attractive programme in Melbourne,” another big crowd descended on Sandown Park. Some travelled in brand new FE Holden fresh off the recently opened manufacturing plant in Dandenong; some on ‘Red Rattlers’ and ‘Blue’ trains from platform 6 at Flinders Street (including the 6.45pm special) to Spring Vale station – Sandown Park station had closed over 12 months earlier and wouldn’t be reopened until 1965 – while others took the parous coaches from Batman Avenue.
Gentlemen paid 5 shillings (women 3 shillings) to view the 10 race card, the first of which jumped at 8pm. Punters made full use of the facilities with win, place and quinella tote betting available, along with a busy betting ring of around 50 bookmakers offering win, place and concession betting.
The £725 ($24,000) Cup final was race 6 on the card and was set to jump at 9.24pm. Despite being beaten in her semi-final, fastest heat winner New South Wales pup Fawn Loot started favourite for the race, pipping the fastest semi-final winner The Jink (holding off the fast finishing Rocketeer) as the punter’s elect.
The runners headed along the grass track to the handicap boxes at the 555 yard start for the historic first edition of the world’s greatest greyhound race. Here is how the Sporting Globe’s greyhound scribe Frank Morley described and eventful final as well as the controversial aftermath.
Sporting Globe, Wednesday 28 November 1956
“Found” Time In Cup Final
By Frank Morley
Max Johnston’s Rocketeer (Rocket Jet-Whispering Lass), 8/1, 8 yds, trained by E. Patterson, “found” lengths on his heat and semi-final qualifying second placings to win the 555 yards Olympic Year Melbourne Cup final at Sandown Park.
The final was marred by three runners crashing at the first turn, but it was very doubtful whether the mishap affected the ultimate result anyway.
NSW puppy Fawn Loot (17/4, 8 yds) led round the first turn from Rocketeer with the rest of the field well bunched.
Style Bird (8) bored wide and suddenly she, Bogamee (8) and Dinah Jet (8) were spreadeagled on the track.
Fawn Loot led to near the third turn, where Rocketeer overhauled her.
Fawn Loot kept close with perfect railing on the home turn, but Rocketeer raced right away at the finish to win by three lengths in 30.60, with Barnie’s Joy (6) four lengths third.
Rocketeer had been neaten three lengths by Yonokie in his heat and half a length by The Jink in his semi. He has now recorded three wins and five seconds in eight starts to date.
Rocketeer earned £500, a gold cup and canteen of cutlery, Fawn Loot £125, Barnie’s Joy £80 and Meadow Moon £20, for fourth.
The Jink (9/4, 8 yds), displaced from final favouritism by Fawn Loot, was bumped in the first turn scrimmage and again on the back stretch but he would have been busy catching the leaders had he gained a clear run. He didn’t begin too well.
Presentation of the prize money cheques and trophies was most effective except for one important detail – officials overlooked calling Max Johnston to the ceremony and trainer E. Patterson was the recipient.
It was a big disappointment to Max, who has been a stalwart breeder-owner for many years.
Things have changed a lot in the 65 years since, not the least of which is the prize money which in 2020 is worth $630,000 including $435,000 to the winner.
But the greatness of the TAB Melbourne Cup isn’t defined by the prize money on offer. The Cup has been won by some of the greats of the track, including 10 Victorian Greyhounds of the Year and six Victoria Hall of Famers, as well as five Australian Greyhounds of the Year and three Australia Hall of Famers, as state made all the more remarkable given the Australian honours were only implemented at the turn of the century.
The 2020 TAB Melbourne Cup will be run on Friday 27th November.
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Inaugural Melbourne Cup winner Rocketeer with his gold trophy, now on display at Sandown Park.
Note: The above pic of Rocketeer is the only photo we have of Rocketeer and the original Melbourne Cup. The header pic of this article is the start of the 1957 Cup won by Hall of Famer Rookie Rebel (5). The number 7 is Style Bird who also contested the 1956 Cup. Please contact the club if you have any photos or memorabilia of the early Cups.
