1873 St Patrick's Day Races at Dalby
On 17 Mar 1873 the McLaran horse, Bronzewing, ran in the St Patrick's Cup at Dalby. The mare started in at least 2 heats, finishing second and third.
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Dalby Herald and Western Queensland Advertiser
15 Mar 1873 Details of the St Patrick's Day Races programme, to be, held on Monday 17 Mar 1873. Second race: In a "Catch Weights" race, the horse may carry whatever weight the owner wishes and there is no need for the jockey to weigh in after the event. This terminology resulted in the saying "Catch as catch can". Persons of note in the list of race club officials: Judge: Mr. P. Landy was an alderman on the Dalby Town Council in 1873. He became mayor in 1874 and again between 1876 and 1879. He had recently opened the Royal Hotel. Steward: Mr Thos. McGoldrick, was publican of The Clarence Hotel where the St Patrick's Day Ball was held on the night of 17 Mar 1873. Was McGoldrick well-qualified for position of steward? He had the previous week been successfully sued in court for possessing a horse, rightfully owned by William Barden of Boggabilla. Dalby Herald and Western Queensland Advertiser
15 Mar 1873 Nominations for St Patrick's Day Races, held on Monday 17 Mar 1873, including "M. McLaren's brown mare, Bronzewing." This lists Malcolm McLaran as the owner of Bronzewing, an entrant for the St Patrick's Cup. It is likely that Donald was the beneficial owner, as claimed in the 1924 Dalby Herald article below. Dalby Herald and Western Queensland Advertiser
22 Mar 1873 The St Patrick's Cup was run in 3 heats over a mile. Bronzewing ran 2nd in the first heat, 3rd in the second heat and either did not start or failed to finish in the third heat. Here, Bronzewing is listed as "M'Larens' ", suggesting that the horse may have been owned by both Malcolm and Donald. Perhaps Alexander and Duncan had interests in the horse as well. Thomas Goldrick and his brother appear to have had a reasonable day, their horses ran two 2nd's, a 3rd, a 4th and 1st in the (hurriedly assembled) second Hurry Scurry. No doubt Thomas profited from sales of refreshments on course and later at the St Patrick's Day ball held at his hotel. There is no further mention of Bronzewing in the Dalby Herald, so she may never have raced again. As Bronzewing had run 2 heats of a mile in the one afternoon, it is not surprising that she did not back up for the final. I recall that up to the 1960's, horses occasionally ran in more that 1 race on the same afternoon. It rarely if ever happens today. |
51 years after the 1873 St Patrick's Cup, this article appeared on Page 5 of the Dalby Herald on 30 May 1924. Dalby's Diamond Jubilee celebrations were in full swing.
Here are selected portions of the article:
Here are selected portions of the article:
HALF A CENTURY GONE
QUEENSLAND'S FIRST RACES. DALBY MEETINGS IN 1873.
Mr C. J. McLaran - SEE COMMENT 1. - of Dalby, has kindly made available to the 'Herald' a copy of the first issue of the Queensland Turf Register, which was published in 1873, by "Yarraman," the printing being carried out by the Courier General Machine Printing Office; George street, Brisbane.
On looking through the advertisement one is struck with courteous and pleasant form in which the bookmakers of 50 years ago appealed to their customers. For instance: "James Fenton returns his thanks to the sporting public of Queensland for past favors, and begs to say that he will take his annual trip to Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Warwick, etc., when he will have books open on the Sydney Derby and Metropolitan, Metropolitan and Melbourne Cup, when he trusts by laying liberal odds that he will meet with a continuance of their support."
Another reads: "E. E. Jones of Tattersall's, Sydney, has books, open on all the principal events in Australia. Any favors from his Queensland friends will be promptly attended to, and they may always depend upon receiving the highest current odds." Apparently the Sydney bookmakers used to make annual trips to Queensland to canvass business for the big southern events, but Queensland is now well supplied with its own layers of odds.…. etc
The Dalby St. Patrick's Day races, on March 17th, 1873, is the first meeting in the City of the Plains of which there is any record in the Turf Register. The programme consisted of seven events, a Maiden Plate £10, St. Patrick's Cup £7, Dalby Handicap of £15 (2 miles), Hack Stakes of £5, and a couple of hurry scurry races. The Maiden Plate was won by Mr Morgan Cavanagh's Carbine, whose career has been covered in recent issues of the Dalby 'Herald.' Cavanagh also won the St. Patrick's Cup with a chestnut gelding called Jemmy Slow.
Mr W. McLaran's - SEE COMMENT 2. - bay mare Bronzewing ran third in the Cup! Mr McLaran was the father of Mr. C. J. McLaran, who has preserved for so many years the copy of the first Queensland Turf Register, which was handed down to him from his father. It is not improbable that there is no other copy of the first edition in existence. The Dalby Handicap went to a horse called Confederate, owned by Mr J. Monaghan. The Dalby annual race meeting, held on July 16th and 17th, 1873, was a £270 programme, the principal event being the Dalby Town Plate of 75 sovs, distance twice round the course. …. etc
Comments on this newspaper article:
1. "Mr C.J. McLaran" I suspect should have been Mr M.L. McLaran, 3rd son of Donald McLaran. He was commonly known as Callum. It is unlikely to have been his eldest brother, Duncan James McLaran (who lived at Kupunn in 1924) as Callum was the holder of family memorabilia and oral history.
2. "Mr W. McLaran" should have read either M. or D. McLaran. At least the reporter spelt "McLaran" correctly.
3. The 1873 published results suggest Bronzewing ran 3rd of 4 starters in the second heat and unplaced or did not start in the final.
4. Accounts of the Dalby annual race meeting held on Jul 16 -17 1873 make for interesting reading. It was professionally conducted and was followed by a supper and settling of accounts* at the Queens Arms Hotel and a ball at Union Hall.
* Betting "On the nod."
QUEENSLAND'S FIRST RACES. DALBY MEETINGS IN 1873.
Mr C. J. McLaran - SEE COMMENT 1. - of Dalby, has kindly made available to the 'Herald' a copy of the first issue of the Queensland Turf Register, which was published in 1873, by "Yarraman," the printing being carried out by the Courier General Machine Printing Office; George street, Brisbane.
On looking through the advertisement one is struck with courteous and pleasant form in which the bookmakers of 50 years ago appealed to their customers. For instance: "James Fenton returns his thanks to the sporting public of Queensland for past favors, and begs to say that he will take his annual trip to Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Warwick, etc., when he will have books open on the Sydney Derby and Metropolitan, Metropolitan and Melbourne Cup, when he trusts by laying liberal odds that he will meet with a continuance of their support."
Another reads: "E. E. Jones of Tattersall's, Sydney, has books, open on all the principal events in Australia. Any favors from his Queensland friends will be promptly attended to, and they may always depend upon receiving the highest current odds." Apparently the Sydney bookmakers used to make annual trips to Queensland to canvass business for the big southern events, but Queensland is now well supplied with its own layers of odds.…. etc
The Dalby St. Patrick's Day races, on March 17th, 1873, is the first meeting in the City of the Plains of which there is any record in the Turf Register. The programme consisted of seven events, a Maiden Plate £10, St. Patrick's Cup £7, Dalby Handicap of £15 (2 miles), Hack Stakes of £5, and a couple of hurry scurry races. The Maiden Plate was won by Mr Morgan Cavanagh's Carbine, whose career has been covered in recent issues of the Dalby 'Herald.' Cavanagh also won the St. Patrick's Cup with a chestnut gelding called Jemmy Slow.
Mr W. McLaran's - SEE COMMENT 2. - bay mare Bronzewing ran third in the Cup! Mr McLaran was the father of Mr. C. J. McLaran, who has preserved for so many years the copy of the first Queensland Turf Register, which was handed down to him from his father. It is not improbable that there is no other copy of the first edition in existence. The Dalby Handicap went to a horse called Confederate, owned by Mr J. Monaghan. The Dalby annual race meeting, held on July 16th and 17th, 1873, was a £270 programme, the principal event being the Dalby Town Plate of 75 sovs, distance twice round the course. …. etc
Comments on this newspaper article:
1. "Mr C.J. McLaran" I suspect should have been Mr M.L. McLaran, 3rd son of Donald McLaran. He was commonly known as Callum. It is unlikely to have been his eldest brother, Duncan James McLaran (who lived at Kupunn in 1924) as Callum was the holder of family memorabilia and oral history.
2. "Mr W. McLaran" should have read either M. or D. McLaran. At least the reporter spelt "McLaran" correctly.
3. The 1873 published results suggest Bronzewing ran 3rd of 4 starters in the second heat and unplaced or did not start in the final.
4. Accounts of the Dalby annual race meeting held on Jul 16 -17 1873 make for interesting reading. It was professionally conducted and was followed by a supper and settling of accounts* at the Queens Arms Hotel and a ball at Union Hall.
* Betting "On the nod."
Dalby's first races were held in 1859 and the occasion was commemorated in 1959: