Comic Court
Encyclopedia
Comic Court was a most versatile post-war Australian bred Thoroughbred
racehorse who set race records at distances of 6 furlong
s (1,200 metres) and 2 miles (3,200 metres). He won the 1950 Melbourne Cup
carrying 9 stone 5 pounds (59.5 kg) and set an Australasian record of 3 minutes 19½ seconds.
. Comic Court was by Powerscourt (won Ascot Vale Stakes and sire of 12 stakes-winners for 51 stakes-wins), his dam, Witty Maid was by Anton King.
Powerscourt and Witty Maid were both sold by Jim M. Cummings for total of £150 during World War II
, when racing was cancelled in Adelaide. Witty Maid was a handy race-mare and was an outstanding broodmare that produced five siblings to Comic Court. Her stakes-winners were:
, was Comic Court’s strapper
.
, VRC St Leger Stakes plus 2 second places.
, VATC St George Stakes, VRC Ercildoune Stakes and MVRC 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
.
. He won the 1950 Melbourne Cup carrying 9 stone 5 pounds (59.5 kg) by three lengths, with the third placegetter a further length away and he set an Australasian record time of 3 minutes 19½ seconds.
His progeny included:
Comic Court was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame
in 2009.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse who set race records at distances of 6 furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s (1,200 metres) and 2 miles (3,200 metres). He won the 1950 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
carrying 9 stone 5 pounds (59.5 kg) and set an Australasian record of 3 minutes 19½ seconds.
Breeding
He was bred by the Bowyer brothers at their Beau Neire Stud, Normanville, South AustraliaNormanville, South Australia
Normanville is a small rural town near the coast on the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. It is situated next to the mouth of the Bungala River.-Location and geography:...
. Comic Court was by Powerscourt (won Ascot Vale Stakes and sire of 12 stakes-winners for 51 stakes-wins), his dam, Witty Maid was by Anton King.
Powerscourt and Witty Maid were both sold by Jim M. Cummings for total of £150 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when racing was cancelled in Adelaide. Witty Maid was a handy race-mare and was an outstanding broodmare that produced five siblings to Comic Court. Her stakes-winners were:
- Comedy Prince (1944, top sprinter, won 20 races including, Cantala StakesEmirates StakesThe Emirates Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horserace held as part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in early November. The race is over 1600 metres and is held at Flemington Racecourse...
, STC Railway Quality Handicap, Adelaide RC Adelaide Guineas, South Australia JC SA Stakes, SAJC Sires' Produce StakesSAJC Sires' Produce StakesThe SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes is a Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged two years old, at set weights, over a distance of 1600 metres.It is held annually at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide.-Race history:...
, AJC The ShortsThe Shorts (Horse Race)The Shorts is an AJC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds and upwards, at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres. It is held annually at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in October...
, William Reid Stakes); - Gay Comedy (1948, won 10 races including SAJC OaksAustralasian OaksThe Australasian Oaks is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies at set weights run over a distance of 2000 metres at Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide in April. Before 2006 it was held in May...
, SAJC St. Leger Stakes, SAJC Auraria StakesAuraria StakesThe Auraria Stakes is a Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for fillies aged three years old, over a distance of 1800 metres. Total prize money for the race is A$115,000. It is held annually at Cheltenham Park in Adelaide....
), and - St. Comedy (1946, won 22 races including ARC Adelaide Guineas, SAJC Goodwood HandicapGoodwood HandicapThe Goodwood Handicap is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide in April...
, Moonee Valley StakesBill Stutt StakesThe Bill Stutt Stakes is a MVRC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old, under open set weight conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres. It is held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne...
, Ascot Vale (2yo) Stakes, VATC Debutant Stakes, PARC John Lewis Stakes, Adelaide RC Fulham Park Plate)
Racing record
He was trained by Jim M. Cummings and his son, Bart CummingsBart Cummings
James Bartholomew 'Bart' Cummings, AM is one of the most successful Australian racehorse trainers. He is known as the Cups King, referring to the Melbourne Cup, as the he has won the 'race that stops a nation' a record 12 times....
, was Comic Court’s strapper
Strapper
A strapper is a British English term for a person holding a position looking after racehorses. The duties range from cleaning out the stables and yards, feeding, grooming and rugging horses, plus saddling horses for track-work and races, hence the name...
.
Two-year-old: 1947-1948
Comic Court had eight starts for five wins including the Adelaide RC Fulham Park Plate, PARC Sires’ Produce Stakes and VRC Ascot Vale (2yo) Stakes plus three second places. His first start was in the Fulham Park Plate after which 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.Three-year-old: 1948-1949
Comic Court had 16 starts for 5 wins including the VRC Derby, Memsie StakesMemsie Stakes
The Memsie Stakes is a Group 2 weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race run at Caulfield Racecourse over 1,400 metres . The total prizemoney for the race is A$201,000...
, VRC St Leger Stakes plus 2 second places.
Four-year-old: 1949-1950
Comic Court had 14 starts for 8 wins including the Memsie Stakes, VRC Craiglee Stakes, VRC Turnbull Stakes, LKS Mackinnon StakesLKS MacKinnon Stakes
From 1869 to 1936 the LKS Mackinnon Stakes was known as the Melbourne Stakes.The LKS Mackinnon Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 2000 metre Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on the Saturday before...
, VATC St George Stakes, VRC Ercildoune Stakes and MVRC Alister Clark Stakes
Alister Clark Stakes
The Alister Clark Stakes is a MVRC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, for three year-old colts and geldings, at set weights, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia...
. He also ran second in the W.S. Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
, William Reid Stakes and CF Orr Stakes as well as running third in the Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
.
Five-year-old: 1950-1951
Comic Court had 16 starts for 10 stakes wins including the VATC Caulfield Stakes, VATC Memsie Stakes, L.K.S Mackinnon Stakes, Melbourne Cup, VRC Turnbull Stakes, AJC Chipping Norton Stakes, MRC CF Orr Stakes, MVRC William Reid Stakes, VATC St George Stakes and VRC Ercildoune Stakes. Additionally he ran second in another three stakes races and was third twice including the Sydney CupSydney Cup
The Sydney Cup is an Australian horse race, held for Thoroughbred horses and run over 3200 metres. It is run every year at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, New South Wales in April/May...
. He won the 1950 Melbourne Cup carrying 9 stone 5 pounds (59.5 kg) by three lengths, with the third placegetter a further length away and he set an Australasian record time of 3 minutes 19½ seconds.
Stud record
Comic Court was retired to stud in 1951 at Mr E.A. Underwood’s Warlaby Stud.His progeny included:
- Asian Court, won Werribee Cup
- Comicquita, second in the 1962 Melbourne Cup.
- Droll Prince, won VRC Cantala Stakes and Williamstown Cup
- Gurney, won MRC International Stakes
- Harcourt, won Tatt's SA Tattersall's Cup
Comic Court was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame
Australian Racing Hall of Fame
The Australian Racing Hall of Fame is part of the Australian Racing Museum which documents and honours the horseracing legends of Australia. The museum officially opened in 1981 and created the Hall of Fame in 2000....
in 2009.