A tearaway that almost killed himself, Comic Court was a post-war hero

Comic Court's journey to the racetrack was fraught with peril. During his formative years as a foal and two-year-old, he narrowly escaped several life-threatening incidents. One such incident involved a near-impaling on a fence post, while another saw him break free from his handler during track work and recklessly dash down a nearby highway. Despite his erractic nature and tendency to tempt fate, Comic Court was one of the most versatile post war Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorses, who set race records at distances of six furlongs (1200m) and two miles (3200m). He won the 1950 Melbourne Cup at odds of 25/1 carrying 9 stone 5 pounds (59 kg) and set an Australasian record of 3 minutes 19½ seconds.

Comic Court was foaled in 1945 by the brothers Bowyer at Beau Neire Stud in Normanville, SA, some eighty kilometres south of Adelaide. His sire was Powercourt (by The Night Patrol). Comic Court’s dam was the Australian native Witty Maid. Her dam’s sire was 1910 Melbourne Cup winner Comedy King. Two generations further back, New Zealand’s Carbine can be found in the pedigree, himself another Melbourne Cup winner and DNA contributor to Phar Lap. He was trained by Jim Cummings and his son, a 23 year-old Bart Cummings, who was Comic Court’s strapper. The Cummings were based at Morphettville in Adelaide, South Australia.

In the 1947/48 racing season, Comic Court had eight starts as a two-year-old. Jim Cummings, an Ex-pat Irishman had just sold his sire and dam for £150 as the result of racing being cancelled in Adelaide during World War II. Comic Court managed five wins including the Adelaide RC Fulham Park Plate, PARC Sires’ Produce Stakes and VRC Ascot Vale (2yo) Stakes plus three second places. After his start was in the Fulham Park Plate, Comic Court was sold for 2,300 guineas to R. A., J.D. and A.J. Lee before winning four more starts as a 2yo. Comic Court had a solid three year-old season, with 16 starts for 5 wins including the VRC Derby, Memsie Stakes, VRC St Leger Stakes plus two 2nd placings.

Comic Court's best seasons and results were at the mature age of four and five, where he had 14 starts as a 4yo, for 8 wins including the Memsie Stakes, Craiglee Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, LKS Mackinnon Stakes, St George Stakes, Ercildoune Stakes and Alister Clark Stakes. He also ran second in the W.S. Cox Plate, William Reid Stakes and CF Orr Stakes as well as running third in the Caulfield Cup. At five, Comic Court had 16 starts for 10 stakes wins, including the Caulfield Stakes, Memsie Stakes, L.K.S Mackinnon Stakes, Melbourne Cup, Turnbull Stakes, AJC Chipping Norton Stakes, CF Orr Stakes, William Reid Stakes, St George Stakes and Ercildoune Stakes. Additionally he ran second in another three stakes races and was third twice, including the Sydney Cup.

Comic Court won the drama filled 1950 Melbourne Cup carrying 9 stone 5 pounds (59 kg) by three lengths, with the third placegetter a further length away. Indian Chief and Gold Bar crashed at the turn into the straight and Playboy appeared to break down going out of the straight the first time, but apparently he was galloped on. Bruin also broke down at the mile and had to be pulled up. Jockey Harold McKenzie, rider of Gold Bar, suffered a fracture of the skull, while George Moore (Indian Chief) fractured his left collarbone. It was this 1950 Melbourne Cup victory that cemented his enduring legacy, breaking Rimfire's Melbourne Cup record of 3.21 by nearly a full two seconds, an astounding effort.

Comic Court was retired to stud in 1951 at E.A. Underwood’s Warlaby Stud. Comic Court had one notable offspring (from Chiquita) in Comicquita who finished second in the 1962 Melbourne Cup. His progeny included Asian Court, who won Werribee Cup, Comicquita, second in the 1962 Melbourne Cup, Droll Prince, won the VRC Cantala Stakes and Williamstown Cup, Gurney, won the MRC International Stakes and Harcourt, who won the Tatt's Tattersall's SA Cup. Comic Court begin the Cummings legacy for real that still stands strong today. Bart would write himself into Australian racing folklore with his remarkable training deeds and his son, Anthony, has trained 22 G1 winners and is considered one of Australia’s best judges of a yearling. James and Edward Cummings are fourth-generation horse trainers – fifth generation if you consider great-great-uncle James, who famously won the Alice Springs Cup in 1910 with Myrtle, the little mare after whom Edward's company is now named.

RACE RECORD - 54: 28-11-3½

EARNINGS - £48,579 (A$97,158)

Ascot Vale Stakes (1948)

VRC Derby (1948)

VRC St Leger Stakes (1949)

Memsie Stakes (1949, 1950)

Craiglee Stakes (1949)

Turnbull Stakes (1949, 1950)

LKS Mackinnon Stakes (1949, 1950)

St George Stakes (1950, 1951)

Alister Clark Stakes (1950)

Caulfield Stakes (1950)

Melbourne Cup (1950)

William Reid Stakes (1951)

C F Orr Stakes (1951)

Chipping Norton Stakes (1951)