A stunning collection of 149 trophies won by the ‘Cups King’ Bart Cummings was unveiled at Flemington Racecourse today.
Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Ben Carroll joined Victoria Racing Club for the launch of the Bart Cummings Trophy Collection which features all 12 of Cummings’ Melbourne Cup trainer’s trophies, two Caulfield Cups and four Cox Plates.
The collection is housed in the recently redeveloped undercroft area of the Hill Stand, named Saintly Place in honour of Cummings’ 1996 Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate winning horse Saintly.
The recent $1.7 million redevelopment of the undercroft was made possible thanks to a $850,000 boost from the Andrews Labor Government’s Victorian Racing Industry Fund.
The newly renovated Saintly Place also features improved access for people with disabilities, a revamped bar, signage, and furniture and offers superb views of Flemington’s winning post – the scene of so many of Cummings’ wins.
The display is a permanent fixture honouring one of Australia’s greatest ever horse trainers and is free for all racegoers to visit.
Cummings’ record run started with Light Fingers in 1965 and finished with Viewed’s winning dash in 2008. His horses also won 13 Australian Cups, nine Victoria Racing Club Oaks and eight Newmarket Handicaps at Flemington.
Since 2014, the Labor Government has provided almost $12.8 million to support 12 major infrastructure projects at Victoria Racing Club, including $10 million to upgrade the Members’ Stand, which is expected to be ready for the 2018 Spring Racing Carnival.
The racing industry in Melbourne generates more than $1.5 billion annually for the Victorian economy and helps sustain more than 13,590 full-time equivalent jobs locally.
Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Ben Carroll
“Saintly Place is a fitting tribute to Australia’s greatest horse trainer, Bart Cummings, who made an outstanding contribution to the sport.”
“Our investment in the newly renovated Saintly Place gives all racegoers the chance to enjoy the new facilities and see Cummings’ many trophies from his outstanding career.”
Quotes attributable to Victoria Racing Club Chairman Amanda Elliott
“This collection is an important part of not only the Cummings family history but Australian sporting history, and it is fitting that it is housed at Flemington, the track that made Bart famous.”
“I’m sure racing enthusiasts and the public alike who all knew and loved Bart will absolutely relish the opportunity to come to this beautiful racecourse and view one of the great trophy collections of the world.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020