1882 Melbourne Cup

1882 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
Painting of The Assyrian by Fred Woodhouse Sr
LocationFlemington Racecourse
Date31 October 1882
Distance2 miles
Winning horseThe Assyrian
Winning time3:40.00
Final odds33/1
JockeyCharles Hutchins
TrainerJohn Eden Savill
OwnerJohn Eden Savill
SurfaceTurf
Attendance≈80,000

The 1882 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 31 October 1882.[1]

This year was the twenty-second running of the Melbourne Cup. The race, won by The Assyrian was held during a heavy gale and rain.[2]

Entries and odds

There were 128 nominations for the race,[3] with 25 runners headed for the start following a number of withdrawals. The top weight was given to Darebin, running in its second Melbourne Cup. Owned and trained by Francis F. Dakin, had won the Melbourne Stakes on the Saturday before the Cup, winning by a couple of lengths in front of Belmont, while John Eden Savill's runner The Assyrian was unplaced well back behind the winner. Veteran runner Odd Trick was also in good form, winning the Hotham Handicap in the race following Darebin's win.[4] Etienne de Mestre had brought a number of horses from Sydney for the VRC Spring Meeting, winning the Victoria Derby with Navigator, ahead of Segenhoe, one of three wins on the day for champion jockey Tom Hales.[4] With Navigator withdrawn before the day of the race, the betting favourite was de Mestre's Sweet William who was booked to be ridden by Hales. Winner of the 1882 Caulfield Cup Little Jack, and William Branch's Mistaken were also near the top of the betting charts, with both being trained by previous Cup winning trainer James Wilson.[4][5] Of the heavy-weighted runners, some fancied 1879 Sydney Cup winner Savanaka who was running in its fourth Melbourne Cup, including a second place finish in 1877, while also highly regarded was Cunnamulla who had also won the Sydney Cup earlier in the year.[3]

The race

Cup Day had dawned fine, but was accompanied by a hot wind. A cool change blew through Melbourne just after noon, bringing with it heavy rain which fell all afternoon through the running of the race.[5][6] The start was delayed slightly due to Cunnamulla kicking out at other runners, including the favourite Sweet William. It was thought that Sweet William had been injured by the incident.[5][7][8] Cunnamulla was moved to the outside of the field as a result of the incident.[6] Following the dropping of the flag for the start, Flying Jib got the best of the early running, with Stockwell taking the advantage at the first turn. Stockwell would lead the field for more than the first mile of the race, ahead of Gudarz and Sylvanus. Stockwell maintained its lead into the final straight, followed by Gudarz, The Assyrian and Darebin. Just behind those four runners were Sweet William and Segenhoe with the remainder of the field out of contention. In the straight, The Assyrian joined both Stockwell and Darebin in the lead and with a final effort, The Assyrian took the lead on the outside to win by a half a length. Stockwell held on to second place ahead of a fast-finishing Gudarz, with Sweet William fourth. The last three runners to finish were First Water, Pollio and Sting.[7] Observers noted that had a more experienced jockey ridden Stockwell, that the horse would have likely maintained its lead to the end of the race, with the rain-sodden ground providing excuses to a number of the more-fancied runners that failed to feature in the finish.[6][8]

Racing under the name Rothschild when owned by William Pile, The Assyrian had previously run in the 1880 Melbourne Cup, finishing well down in the field behind winner Grand Flaneur.[9] Bred in South Australia, the horse was sold at auction to John Eden Savill who had renamed the horse. A noted artist and theatre manager, Savill ran Adelaide's Lockleys Stud during his time in Australia.[9] It was reported that Savill had sold the horse to his friend James Allison for £300 in the lead up to the race. Allison had lost betting on The Assyrian to win the Caulfield Cup and might have lost more betting against the horse in the Melbourne Cup.[6][10][11] The win in the Melbourne Cup was The Assyrian's third, following two wins in Adelaide in 1881.[11] It was the second time a South Australian bred horse had won the Melbourne Cup.[11]

The defeat of both Gudarz and Sweet William was especially costly for Etienne de Mestre who had heavily backed both horses in doubles betting with Navigator to win the Victoria Derby.[12]

Attendance estimates were that more than 80,000 people were at the racecourse, less than the previous year's exhibition inflated numbers.[5] Although it was reported that it was the largest attendance ever seen on the flat, the area inside the racecourse.[6][8]

Full results

This is the list of placegetters for the 1882 Melbourne Cup.[13][14][15][1][9][16][7][3][17][5][6][8]

Place Horse Age
Gender 		Jockey Weight Trainer Owner Odds Margin
1 The Assyrian 5y h Charles Hutchins 7 st 13 lb (50.3 kg) John Eden Savill John Eden Savill 16/1 ½ length
2 Stockwell 4y h Reilly 7 st 5 lb (46.7 kg) H. Tibballs Thomas Reibey 15/1 ½ length
3 Gudarz 4y h J. Gainsforth 7 st 7 lb (47.6 kg) Etienne de Mestre Etienne de Mestre 30/1 Head
4 Sweet William 4y h Tom Hales 7 st 11 lb (49.4 kg) Etienne de Mestre Etienne de Mestre 4/1 fav.
5 Darebin 4y h Power 9 st 9 lb (61.2 kg) Francis F. Dakin Francis F. Dakin 16/1
6 King of the Vale 3y c Sam Cracknell 6 st 4 lb (39.9 kg) William Lang Mr J.A. Lang 16/1
7 Santa Claus 4y h Trahan 7 st 9.5 lb (48.8 kg)[a] P. Dowling Mr H. James 40/1
8 Brunette (late Cuticara) 3y f Bob Ellis 6 st 2 lb (39.0 kg) Tom Lamond Mr B.M. Osborne 100/1
9 Segenhoe 3y c Murphy 7 st 12 lb (49.9 kg) Michael Fennelly James White 100/1
10 Sylvanus 3y c Raynor 6 st 13 lb (44.0 kg) Etienne de Mestre Etienne de Mestre 20/1
11 Cunnamulla 4y h Teddy McGrade 8 st 2 lb (51.7 kg) Tom Brown Mr W.H. Hall 20/1
N/a Lord Burghley 7y h Paddy Piggott 8 st 12 lb (56.2 kg) Thomas Ivory Thomas Ivory 50/1
N/a Savanaka 8y h William Yeomans 8 st 9 lb (54.9 kg) John Eden Savill John Crozier Jr 20/1
N/a The Drummer 4y h Williamson 8 st 1 lb (51.3 kg) Joe Monaghan Fitzwilliam Wentworth 30/1
N/a Odd Trick 7y h Burton 7 st 12 lb (49.9 kg) T. Wilson Mr C. Wilson 12/1
N/a Lord Lisgar 5y h Thomas 7 st 7 lb (47.6 kg) T. Thomas Francis Robert Lewis Rossi[b] 20/1
N/a Jessie 3y f Davis 7 st 6 lb (47.2 kg) Bruce Mr P.J. McAlister 30/1
N/a Little Jack 3y c Moore 6 st 8 lb (41.7 kg) James Wilson William Branch 8/1
N/a Standard Bearer 3y c Quinn 6 st 7 lb (41.3 kg)[c] Tom Jordan Tom Jordan 20/1
N/a Flying Jib 4y h Barr 6 st 6 lb (40.8 kg) W.H. Gray Mr W.H. Gray 100/1
N/a Mistaken 3y c Jim Gough 6 st 6 lb (40.8 kg) James Wilson William Branch 5/1
N/a Anglesey[d] 3y c Boase 6 st 8.5 lb (42.0 kg)[e] W. Prestwich Mr S.G. Cook 100/1
N/a First Water 6y h Brickwood Colley 8 st 6 lb (53.5 kg) John Eden Savill John Crozier Jr 50/1
N/a Pollio 6y c Kilby 7 st 13 lb (50.3 kg) T. Jones Mr E. Weeks 25/1
N/a Sting 4y h M. O'Brien 7 st 10 lb (49.0 kg) T. Jones Mr E. Weeks 16/1
SCR Commotion 4y h N/a 9 st 3 lb (58.5 kg) Joe Morrison William Pearson
SCR Belmont 3y c N/a 6 st 3 lb (39.5 kg) James Wilson William Branch
SCR Essex 3y c N/a 6 st 2 lb (39.0 kg) James Wilson William Branch
SCR Calma 3y c N/a 6 st 1 lb (38.6 kg) P. Heywood Donald Smith Wallace
SCR The Queen 4y m N/a 6 st 0 lb (38.1 kg) W. Clare Mr S. Page
SCR Navigator 3y c N/a 7 st 9 lb (48.5 kg) Etienne de Mestre Etienne de Mestre
SCR Boolka 3y c N/a 7 st 2 lb (45.4 kg) H. Burrell Mr H. Burrell
SCR Guesswork 3y c N/a 7 st 2 lb (45.4 kg) William E. Dakin Thomas Elder

Prizemoney

First prize £1710, second prize £200, third prize £100.[1]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Was supposed to carry 7st 7lb
  2. ^ Sometimes known as Captain Rossi
  3. ^ Was supposed to carry 6st 4lb
  4. ^ Sometimes spelled Angelsea
  5. ^ Was supposed to carry 6st 4lb

References

  1. ^ a b c "1882 Melbourne Cup MillersGuide". millersguide.identika.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  2. ^ "WINNERS AND PLACED HORSES IN MELBOURNE CUP. 1861-1913". Winner. Melbourne, Victoria. 28 October 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Cup Day Preparations". The Argus. Melbourne, Victoria. 31 October 1882. p. 9. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "The Derby Day". The Argus. Melbourne, Victoria. 30 October 1882. p. 9. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Second Day - Tuesday, Oct 31". The Australasian. Melbourne, Victoria. 4 November 1882. pp. 10–11.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "The Cup Day". The Argus. Melbourne, Victoria. 1 November 1882. pp. 7–9. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  7. ^ a b c Reubertstein. The History of the Melbourne Cup from 1861 to 1894 (1895 ed.). Melbourne, Australia: James J. Miller. pp. 36–38.
  8. ^ a b c d "The Cup". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria. 1 November 1882. pp. 1-2 (supplement). Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  9. ^ a b c "Melbourne Cup Winners - 1881-1900". Victoria Racing Club. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  10. ^ "The Assyrian Astoundment". Sportsman. Melbourne, Victoria. 8 November 1882. p. 1. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  11. ^ a b c "VRC Spring Meeting - Cup Day". Sportsman. Melbourne, Victoria. 8 November 1882. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  12. ^ Ibbett, Ian (27 December 2017). "1882 – The Fall of the Master of Terrara!". Kings of the Turf. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  13. ^ "1881 to 1890 Melbourne Cup Winners". races com au. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  14. ^ "WINNERS AND PLACED HORSES IN MELBOURNE CUP. 1861-1913". Winner. Melbourne, Victoria. 28 October 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  15. ^ Cavanough, Maurice (1978). The Melbourne Cup (8 ed.). p. 445. ISBN 0727004859.
  16. ^ Rolfe, Costa (2008). Winners of the Melbourne Cup. Fitzroy, Australia: Red Dog. pp. 52–53. ISBN 9781742035093.
  17. ^ "Turf Quotations". The Leader. Melbourne, Victoria. 21 October 1882. pp. 18–19.
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