Australia’s national poet, politician, and accomplished horseman will be remembered at the VRC’s Country Race Day, Flemington, on 20 June 2020, with a race named in his honour, on the sesquicentenary of his death.
Race 9, the Adam Lindsay Gordon Handicap, will be run over 1100 m, for prize money of $100,000.
For further information see the official Racebook for the day,
http://publishingservices.racingaustralia.horse/racebooks/Flemington/
The date has been chosen because it is the nearest race day on which to remember Gordon, who died on 23 June 1870 – 150 years ago.
On 10 October 1868, Gordon distinguished himself by winning three major steeplechase events in one day at Flemington, the final day of the VRC spring steeplechase meeting.
He won the Melbourne Hunt Club Cup on his friend Major Baker’s big brown gelding Babbler, the Metropolitan Steeplechase on Viking, an d then won the Selling Steeplechase in which he rode his faithful Cadger to victory by two lengths. Cadger was then sold to the highest bidder for £40.
A memorial plaque to honour this achievement was unveiled at Flemington Racecourse on 3 November 1956 by then Victorian Governor Sir Dallas Brooks.