Flemington

19 did not need a solid 2000 metre race so close to Cup Day. If they did race in Australia before the first Tuesday in November, then the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate or the Geelong Cup suited their preparations better, allowing a longer break. Some trainers opted for the 2500 metre Lexus Stakes (Hotham Handicap) on Derby Day which offered automatic inclusion in the Melbourne Cup field. By swapping the Derby Day Mackinnon with the 1600 metre Cantala Stakes – a feature race that had operated under many sponsors’ names on the final day over the past 60 years – trainers with Cup ambitions had a further option with a shorter weight-for-age Group 1 on Derby Day. Another benefit of moving the Mackinnon was to create a rich Group 1 prize after a ten-day break for Cox Plate competitors not aiming for the Melbourne Cup. The original Derby Day Melbourne Stakes had been renamed in honour of Lauchlan Kenneth Scobie Mackinnon who joined the VRC committee in 1905 and served as Chairman for nineteen challenging years from 1916. History has not been kind to L.K.S. Mackinnon. In the popular 1983 Phar Lap movie he is the pantomime silvertail villain, plotting to pile VRC Chairman L.K.S. Mackinnon presenting the 1924 Melbourne Cup to E.L Baillieu. Mackinnon won the race with his Kingsburgh in 1914. (Australian Racing Museum)