James Bartholomew ‘Bart’ Cummings

James Bart’ Bartholomew Cummings was born- 1966: Galilee
and raised in Adelaide on 14 November 1927. After his- 1967: Red Handed
high school completion young Bart’, aptly named- 1974: Think Big
The Cup King in later years worked for his father at- 1975: Think Big
the Adelaide Horse stables. He loved the racing- 1977: Gold and Black
industry so much that in 1953 he took out his own- 1979: Hyperno
training licence. His first Derby was won in 1958 with- 1990: Kingston Rule
Stormy Passage. In the 51 years since Bart’ has- 1991: Let’s Elope
continued to train stakes winners every single year.- 1996: Saintly
Why Bart’ is known as the Cups King:- 1999: Rogan Josh
At the young age of 23 Bart’ first experienced the- 2008: Viewed
excitement and thrill of winning a Melbourne Cup. ThatBart’ and Blake Shinn:
was back in 1950 with the home-bred Comic Court. ToBlake Shinn the jockey and Bart’ attracted a
date Bart’ success has seen him take out 12 Cupspecial kind of attention when Blake rode Viewed over
wins and many wonder if he can do it again in thethe finish line at the 2008 Melbourne Cup in front of
Melbourne Cup 2009. One thing is clear, BartEnglish horse Bauer by a split second. The resulting
Cummings is the Cups King due to his incredibleroar in the crowd spoke volumes about the tension
success rate of winning the Melbourne Cup 12 timeswe all felt at the close-call win.
as well as getting 5 quinellas to boost.It was one of the highlights of Melbourne Cup history
In 1968 Bart’ established his own stables atand once again put Bart Cummings’ name into the
Flemington. Saintly Place, as they are known are still hiseyes and mouths of the Australian public. We are
Melbourne headquarters today. He manages hiscertainly waiting in anticipation what the Melbourne Cup
spelling and training operations from Leilani Lodge, his2009 will bring.
Randwick stables set up in 1975.Bart’s future in horse racing:
Bart’s winning Melbourne Cup horses:According to news reports in Australian papers
Despite his incredible success as horse trainer BartBart’ is confident about his future in Australian
wouldn’t be the man he is without the true stars ofhorse racing. His confidence reaches to include Roman
the show – the thoroughbred horses responsible forEmperor as a potential winner of this year’s
his Cup wins. He won the Melbourne Cup in theMelbourne Cup. Only time will tell if Bart’s hunch is
following years with these champion horses:going to be proven true or not and all we can do is sit
- 1965: Light Fingersback, watch and bet on the winning horse.