Sunday marked the end of an era with the final jumps meeting held at Sportsbet-Pakenham.
The decision to stop jumps racing was made following an extensive review of the sport and the adoption of enhanced safety and operational measures by Racing Victoria, bringing an end to the long and distinguished history of jumps racing in the Pakenham region.
Jumps racing had been a feature at Pakenham dating back to the 1880s and continued following the club’s move to the new facility at Tynong in 2015.
Sunday’s five race card was highlighted by the running of the MJ Bourke Hurdle and the JEH Spencer Memorial Steeplechase, honouring two of the sport’s finest servants.
The Bourke name is synonymous with racing in Pakenham.
Michael Joseph Bourke, after whom the race is named, provided the land for the original racecourse, helped finance its reconstruction in 1926, and served as secretary from 1926-1949.
Following his death in 1953, the MJ Bourke Hurdle was first run in 1957 and has been a fixture on the calendar since.
Jeff Spencer was a passionate horseman, Master of the Melbourne Hunt Club and a tireless supporter of the Pakenham Racing Club.
Trainers Patrick and Michelle Payne captured the last MJ Bourke Hurdle when The Cunning Fox produced a terrific display over the obstacles to score a five-length over Ciaron Maher’s champion jumper Stern Idol.
The Spencer Memorial was won by $1.24 favourite Leaderboard, who made it back-to-back wins this prep with a commanding four-length win over Blood And Sand.
The Mark Walker-trained 10-year-old gelding was given a gun ride from jockey Will Gordon; camped right on the speed throughout and giving nothing else a chance in the run home to the winning post.
JUMPS RACING AT SPORTSBET-PAKENHAM
QUICK FACTS AND FIGURES
• The first jumps race at the new track was won by Marlo Man on 26 June 2016, the first of 89 jumps races held at Sportsbet-Pakenham.
• El Diez is the most experienced jumper at Pakenham with seven hurdle starts at Sportsbet Pakenham. He lined up for an eighth time on Sunday when attempted back-to-back wins in the MJ Bourke Hurdle.
• Stern Idol had previously won all five jumps starts at Sportsbet-Pakenham, including two JEH Spencer Memorial Steeplechases and two Mosstrooper Steeplechases. His average winning margin over those five wins was 13 lengths.
• Trainer Eric Musgrove has saddled 135 of the 698 jumps starters at Sportsbet-Pakenham. He won three MJ Bourke Hurdles (2016: Shearer, 2019: Lucques and 2024: El Diez).
• Ciaron Maher won the most races of any trainer with 13, including the JEH Spencer Memorial Steeplechase, Brendan Drechsler Hurdle and Mosstrooper Steeplechase twice, as well as an MJ Bourke Hurdle.
• Jockey Steven Pateman rode the most winners with 19 from just 54 rides, including feature wins in the Brendan Drechsler Hurdle (x3), The Mosstrooper Steeplechase (x2), the MJ Bourke Hurdle and JEH Spencer Memorial Steeplechase.
