RICHARD TURNBULL
After him, right through to Via Sistina and last year’s winner, Sir Delius, the Turnbull’s honour roll is simply star-studded. Run your eye over the long list of champions including multiple winners of Melbourne Cups, Caulfield Cups and Cox Plates. VRC bestowed this singular honour while Richard Turnbull was still serving as Chairman. Earlier illustrious figures had to wait until retirement or death to be recognised in this way. C.B. Fisher, L.K.S. Mackinnon come to mind. Turnbull had been a Committee member for seventeen years at the time, Vice Chairman only from 1938 and Chairman since 1942. He retired shortly before his death in 1951. The explanation for the accolade is complex. By any measure, Richard Turnbull’s time as VRC Chairman was more challenging than any comparable era in the Club’s history. He took over in the depths of the Second World War. It needed all the Club’s powers of political persuasion to convince the Federal Government to allow racing to continue, albeit under severe restrictions, rather than cease altogether. Flemington stayed open, hosting other clubs, while many tracks had to close for military use, several never to return. VRC profits went to patriotic funds. The end of the war, in 1945, coincided with drought and transport restrictions. Rationing of building materials, heavy taxation, and priority for training facilities, all meant that hopes of upgrading public amenities at Flemington continually had to be deferred.
OPPOSITE: Richard Turnbull was VRC Chairman from 1942-1951. ABOVE: Turnbull bred and owned 1944 Melbourne Cup winner Sirius, who was ridden by Darby Munro. (Painting by Janet Munro 1987)
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