The great Jim Scobie really left his mark not only on the Melbourne Cup, but on racing as a whole.
Even all-time great jockey Scobie Breasley was given his nickname in recognition of the trainer and his achievements.
We’re taking a closer look at Scobie, how he started and what he achieved in the Melbourne Cup. We’re also looking at all of his victories in the race that stops a nation.
About Jim Scobie
Born in 1860 in Victoria, James Scobie, known as Jim, was a top jockey before becoming a prominent trainer. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2001.
After changing focus from riding to training, Scobie built new stables. He went on to train some of the superstar horses of their time including Blue Mountain, Dreamland, Ringwood and Titan.
He would go on to win the Grand National, the Caulfield Guineas, the Australian Cup, the Hobart Cup and the Ballarat Cup three times.
During his amazing training career, Scobie won £250,000 in prize money. Converted and updated, that’s approximately $38 million in 2023. His major victories were numerous and varied and included his four Melbourne Cups among many other prizes.
As well as his great record in the Melbourne Cup, Scobie was noted in particular for his Victoria Derby history.
As of 2023, his record of 8 Victoria Derby wins still stands. Scobie landed the race in 1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1927 and 1937.
Melbourne Cup Achievements
As well as his great Victoria Derby record and other achievements, he was a bona fide Melbourne Cup great. No matter the ammunition in a yard, getting four wins in this race is rare and praiseworthy and it’s something Scobie managed.
It took the great trainer 27 years to get his four wins, a testament to his patience as well as brilliance.
Jim Scobie’s Melbourne Cup Wins
Overlapping in similar eras, a really good crop of trainers dominated the Melbourne Cup.
Scobie was one of these. Along with John Tait, Walter Hickenbotham and Richard Bradfield, Scobie entered the four-timer club with this quartet of victories at Flemington:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Horse Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | Trivalve | 3 | Bobbie Lewis | EED Clarke | 3:24.00 |
| 1923 | Bitalli | 5 | Titch Wilson | AT Craig | 3:24.25 |
| 1922 | King Ingoda | 4 | Titch Wilson | CL Dubois/RB Bennett | 3:28.25 |
| 1900 | Clean Sweep | 3 | Andrew Richardson | Frank Cumming | 3:29.00 |
Despite his other achievements, these four wins went a long way towards Scobie’s introduction into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
