Bernborough
- Australian champion race horse
Bernborough
(1939-1960) was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who
competed from 1941 to 1946. The bay colt by Emborough
(GB) from Bern Maid by Bernard (GB), was the paternal
grandson of Gainsborough, winner of the English Triple
Crown in 1918.
His
racing colours were orange, purple sleeves and black cap.
Bernborough
was foaled at Rosalie Plains near the township of Oakey
in the Darling Downs region of South East Queensland.
He only raced at Toowoomba in Queensland as he was barred
from racing at metropolitan tracks because of ownership
doubts.
Bernborough first raced under the ownership of Mr A.E.Hadwin.
Queensland trainer, J. Roberts then leased the horse.
When he was six years old he was moved to Sydney and following
his sale to Sydney restaurant owner Azzalin Romano for
2,600 guineas his nominations were accepted.
Thus
he began a winning streak of 15 consecutive races. His
wins included the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington carrying
9 st 13 lb (63 kg) and the Doomben Cup under 10 st 11
lb (68 kg). He started 37 times for 26 wins, 2 seconds
and 1 third.
On 2 November 1946 Bernborough had his last race in the
LKS MacKinnon Stakes. Challenging for the lead just after
entering the home straight, he suffered torn sesamoid
ligaments and had to be pulled up.
The great mare Flight, who had finished second to Bernborough
on many occasions, went on to win.
After recovering from his injuries, Bernborough was sold
to movie producer Louis B. Mayer for 93000 guineas for
stud duties in the USA where he went on to moderate success
as a stallion at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky
where he sired the winners of more than $4,500,000.
He was to produce two good sons – Berseem, who was
champion USA sprinter of his year – whilst another
son Bernwood held the world one mile (1600 metres) record
for a while.
Bernborough was one of the five inaugural inductees into
the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, alongside other turf
notables Carbine, Phar Lap, Kingston Town and Tulloch.
He is commemorated in the township of Oakey with a life
size bronze statue located outside the Jondaryan Council
chambers.
Brisbane
racecaller Keith Noud, in his booko Courses For Horses
said "Bernborough was to racing what Sir Donald
Bradman was to cricket, Walter Lindrum to billiards and
Ben Lexcen to sailing".
Recalling
his win in the 1946 Doomben 10000, Noud said "I
remember that the course appeared to be covered with a
slight haze and it made calling the race difficult. At
the half mile post, Bernborough was third last. He was
no better at the three buut the Mulley switched Bernborough
to the outside and he produced the greatest finish in
the history of Australian racing".
In 1978 he was honoured on a postage stamp issued by Australia
Post.
