WINNERS: THE HORSES
From the early days the Upper Murray was renowned for good horses and the names of many champions of the track have survived down the years.
There were horses bred in this district which went on to star in Sydney and Melbourne, horses with fabulous names like Trafalgar and Patrobas, horses like Glen Loth, dubbed “the milkman’s horse”, horses named for properties, such as the Whiteheads’ Wabba and Warbrook, horses named for people, such as dual Towong Cup winner Kunof, horses whose names had biblical connections, like Dyed Garments and the mighty Moab, horses with extraordinary names like the Jarvises’ Towong Cup winner Grimhuntamug……
Many class horses bred in the Upper Murray first tasted victory at Towong and went on to win on major metropolitan tracks.
Upper Murray horses "can't be beat."
Albury Banner & Wodonga Express 8/6/1864
To Tom Mitchell, in his book “ Corryong and the Man from Snowy River District ”: the horses were real, they were history, they were the yardstick of human lives in and about the Upper Murray district and elsewhere too.”
To an enthusiastic correspondent writing in the Corowa Free Press in 1930, the Upper Murray was “ typical horse country, every station owns a sire with the result that there is more enthusiasm among the spectators than the writer has ever witnessed on a country racecourse.”
In more recent times the progeny of two local, brilliant sires, Comet and French Kingdom, dominated races at Towong and all around the district, with many going on to star on metropolitan tracks. Names like Cobbermine and French Poet still resonate with many local racing enthusiasts.
You can read more stories about these fabulous winners and their connections below.
STAY TUNED - MORE INFORMATION ON THE CLUB, THE HORSES & THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS COMING SOON
There are many more horse of note that have a strong connection to the Towong Turf Club. Make sure to visit this page again soon to discover more.
