Flemington

20 A STORY FROM THE VAULT penalty weights on the back of the people’s horse to privilege his own aristocratic colt, Carradale. His views about women trainers and jockeys (he did his best to keep them out of racing altogether) were not widely shared even at the time. He preferred quality in racing to quantity, thought there was too much racing, and helped close down the many privately owned small suburban racecourses that operated in Melbourne. He had his detractors. Yet Flemington flourished under Mackinnon’s leadership. With Henry Byron Moore he oversaw the necessary transformation of the racecourse in 1924 when the Members’ Stand, Birdcage and Mounting Yard were repositioned from their traditional place at the Elms near the riverside. He guided the Club through the tough Depression years. As an owner, Mackinnon enjoyed mixed success and made light of disappointments. He won the 1914 Melbourne Cup with Kingsburgh (a grandson of Carbine), and had many big race wins. His favourite horsewasWoorak, an exceptional miler. He stoodWoorak successfully as a stallion at his Chatsworth Park stud farm. Later, Mackinnon became the last owner of historic Maribyrnong Stud, upstream of Flemington. Admirers praised him as sportsman, owner, breeder and administrator, a man of vision. Said one, “the sound position of racing today is largely due to his foresight and vision”. The Mackinnon Stakes remembers his contribution. Wakeful, triple winner of the Melbourne Stakes (now MacKinnon Stakes). (Frederick Woodhouse/Australian Racing Museum)