Big Philou

"Bart Cummings and the Melbourne Cup" as you will see reading this brief Cup history virtually have to always be mentioned in the same sentence. Even when not winning the race Bart still makes the headlines. In 1969 he had the Cup favourite Big Philou who had sensationally won the Caulfield Cup on protest after finishing behind Nausori. Prior to the Caulfield Cup Big Philou and had been backed "off the map" to take out the Caulfield - Melbourne Cup Double.

Bookmakers looked to be ready for a massive payout. But, sensation as Big Philou is scratched only hours before the Cup when he was found distressed and scouring in his stall. Tests later show he had been hit with the drug Danthron making him incapable of competing. Who was responsible? no one knows. But rumours abound that some payouts were so large on the horse that livelihoods were at risk.

Big Philou

WHEN LESS IS MORE - One of the most popular ways to win big on the Melbourne Cup was with a Caulfield Cup - Melbourne Cup Double. When Bart Cumming's Big Philou won the 1969 Caulfield Cup, bookies were faced with a huge liability if he went on to win at Flemington. On the morning of the Cup, stable staff noticed the horse was not well and scouring. Imagine the drama on track when the horse was scratched at 2.01pm, just 39 minutes before the Cup would be run. In fact, it would have been a better for the bookies if the horse had run but performed badly - as a late scratching all bets had to be refunded. Doping was suspected, but a police enquiry failed to find a suspect. Some years later, someone did admit to being paid to nobble Big Philou and up to another 8 horses that year, but the case was never solved.

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