Carbine was built so tough he won over a mile and over two miles on the same day - “the crazy exploits of Old Jack”

Carbine had three things. Sustained greatness, unparalleled versatility and supreme toughness. Carbine was foaled at Sylvia Park Stud near Auckland, New Zealand on 18 September 1885. The colt was bred by the New Zealand Stud Company, out of the sire Musket who’d been a very good racehorse in England, but a slow starter at stud. Musket was virtually “culled” to New Zealand, destined to achieve great distinction as a sire stallion. Carbine was out of the unraced imported mare Mersey, and from all reports, a quality youngster. Carbine eventually reached a height of 16.1 hands, and was described as lightly made, with long cannon bones and a plain, long head. He had a deep barrel and excellent shoulders. He had the distinction of having one white left hind foot which stood out. The horse was purchased by Dan O’Brien as a yearling, and quickly showed he was two year old material. Affectionately nicknamed "Old Jack", Carbine was undefeated in five starts in top-class races as a two-year-old in NZ. He then was taken to Australia, where he won 9 of 13 starts as a three-year-old.

Carbine was sent to Melbourne for the Victoria Derby of 1888, his first run for 7 months. He was beaten only narrowly, by a head to Ensign. Only five days later Carbine won a 1400m race at Flemington, then backed up two days later to win again over 2000m. Dan O’Brien must have been short of funds at the time, because he surprised the turf world by suddenly putting Carbine up for auction. He was purchased for the equivalent of $6,300 by Donald Wallace, whose horse Mentor had just won the Melbourne Cup. His new trainer was the renowned Walter S. Hickenbotham, who insisted on an immediate spell for the horse.

Carbine resumed racing in the fall of 1889, winning 7 out of his first 10 starts, with two losses coming early. Notably, just two days after his initial success, he triumphed in the Flemington Champion Stakes over a very challenging three miles (4800m). This triumph proved pivotal in preparing him for an exceptional achievement just two days later when Hickenbotham, the trainer, made the audacious decision to have Carbine participate in two races on the same day. Notably, Carbine achieved remarkable success in both races, showcasing his extraordinary endurance and adaptability by securing victory in the initial 1600m race and subsequently triumphing in the 3200m, two mile event - double the distance! Carbine had a brief respite of only a few weeks before participating in the Autumn Stakes (2400m) seven weeks later. He narrowly lost by a neck to Abercorn, a more experienced and renowned stayer of the era. Two days later, as still a 3yo he lined up in the Sydney Cup (3200m) carrying a solid 57 kgs, and ran a race record of 3.31. In Comparison, Maykbe Diva won the 2004 Sydney Cup in a time of 3:21 carrying 55.5kg. Incredibly, the very next day he won the All Aged Stakes (1600m), and just three races later, the Cumberland Stakes (3200m). As the carnival concluded Carbine was sent around again two days later, prevailing in the AJC Plate, beating his old nemesis, Abercorn by half a length.

Carbine enjoyed a lengthy break, but unfortunately sustained a a painful heel injury which was destined to hinder the stallion for the rest of his racing life, and certainly curtailed his Spring campaign of 1889. He was beaten by Dreadnought first up over 1800m in the Caulfield Stakes, and didn’t race again for three weeks. Second up, Carbine finished third to old mate Abercorn in the Melbourne Stakes over 2000m, and three days later lined up in his first Melbourne Cup with a staggering 10st (63.5kgs). He was gallant in defeat, finishing only a length from eventual winner Bravo. Hickenbotham lined him up two days later in a 1400m WFA sprint called the Flying Stakes. Carbine made the mistake of winning that one easily, which prompted Walter to go again two days later in the Canterbury Plate (3600m). Carbine struggled all the way to finish last of four, the only unplaced run of his amazing career. It was obvious the hoof injury was hindering the horse so he was afforded a break and a chance for the heal crack to grow out.

On his return in March 1890, Carbine was a reformed horse. Sydney race fans were excited to see Carbine back again when he arrived for his Autumn campaign. He won all five starts, beginning with the Autumn Stakes, followed by his second Sydney Cup. Then two wins on the same day again; the All Aged Stakes and Cumberland Stakes, followed two days later by the AJC Plate (4800m). His final season on the racetrack left little doubt that he was a horse of amazing powers. He won two races at Randwick before heading south for an effortless victory in the Melbourne Stakes, (2000m) and the stage was now set for the Melbourne Cup.

Carbine had been allotted a massive weight of 10st 5lbs (67.5kgs), and the figures men of the day declared he couldn't win the Cup with such a burden. The 1890 Cup was one of the most exciting on record, with Bob Ramage taking the mount on Carbine. No horse had ever engendered as much public adulation, and a crowd of 85,000 flocked to Flemington to see “Old Jack”. An amazing 39 runners lined up for the Cup of 1890 (still a record) for prize money of £10,230, with Carbine set as  4/1 favourite. The champion went onto the track amidst wild applause. Walter Hickenbotham had to open and close his umbrella a few times behind “Old Jack”, to entice him to move. Early in the race the lightweights set a cracking pace to make Carbine work for every ounce of his huge weight. It made no difference. The champ won the great race by 21 lengths in race record time of 3.28. Kingston Rule holds the record Melbourne Cup time of 3.16.3, achieved in 1990, roughly 12 seconds faster than Carbine, but he only carried 53kg to victory.

Carbine’s old foot problem recurred after the Melbourne Cup, and he had to be turned out immediately. The 5yo was destined to have only seven more starts, and missed a clean sweep by a freak of nature. Walter made the curious decision to send his champion out for the All Aged Stakes, unshod. Heavy rain had made the track greasy, and Carbine couldn’t get a grip on the surface. He was beaten by Marvel, but the trainer immediately had him shod, and incredibly he went out 90 minutes later to win the Cumberland Plate. On April 4th, 1891, this remarkable thoroughbred made his last and final appearance on the racetrack, securing a resounding victory in the AJC Plate amidst enthusiastic applause. He was retired with a record of 43 starts for 33 wins and 9 placings, for earnings of £29,626, a staggering sum in the late nineteenth century.

Carbine finished racing and stood four seasons at stud in Victoria, leaving the winners of 204 races. He sired several classic winners including the brilliant Wallace, winner of a Caulfield Guineas, Victoria Derby and Sydney Cup. He also produced a champion daughter in the racemare La Carabine, who won many a prestigious race, including the Sydney Cup and an Australian Cup. Wallace later became one of Australia’s most successful sires. Carbine was then sold for 13,000 Guineas to stand at the Welbeck Abbey Stud in England. 7,000 dedicated fans of the horse stood at Port Melbourne Pier waving Old Jack off to England, and no doubt the more sentimental in the crowd shed a tear. Every care was taken on the horse’s long voyage to England. He travelled with a companion, his son Novelette, in their custom made boxes allowing them to see each other. He had the distinction of siring the 1906 English Derby winner Spearmint. Carbine was Phar Lap's great-great grandfather and his name appeared in the pedigrees of many outstanding horses for generations after. More than half of the Melbourne Cup winners from 1914 until 1978 are descendants of Carbine. These include such household names as Phar Lap, Rising Fast, Rain Lover and Think Big. Carbine's articulated skeleton remains in the Melbourne Racing Museum.

RACE RECORD- 43: 33-6-3
EARNINGS - £29,626 (a record for over 20 years)

Cumberland Stakes (1888)
Sydney Cup (1889, 1890)
All Aged Stakes (1889, 1890)
AJC Plate (1889, 1890, 1891)
Melbourne Stakes (1890)
Craven Plate (1890)
Melbourne Cup (1890)
AJC Spring Stakes (1890)

Australian Racing Hall of Fame
New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame (2006)