On Jillett Turf
On Jillett Turf
Thomas Jillett married married
Mary Ann Shone.
Of all the Jillett children he lived the longest, as he died in
1891. Obviously that then is the reason
that there is more information about his life.
His sister Rebecca died in 1879.
Together with his brother William Bradshaw he held lands at New Norfolk
and later at Monmouth. The brothers
worked together and had holdings at the Lower Marshes. In 1842 he married Mary Ann Shone, the
daughter of a convict, Thomas Shone, who had built a substantial home at New
Norfolk. Both William and James Bradshaw
had land adjoining Thomas Shones. Thomas
constructed a house named Springfields, at York Plains. It was on the original lease of 1000 acres
which Robert Jillett had obtained.
The house was built near the family's original house known as Jillett's
Hut. Around 1860, the sold the house to
the Morrison family, and they still live in the home. Which has been extended.
As well as Springfields, Thomas owned many homes in Oatlands, and held
quite a few leases.
The resident of Oatlands and the surrounding areas often enjoyed the
thrill of the hunt, chasing poor foxes around the hills, perhaps not
"poor" because foxes and sheep are not conducive to one another.
They killed the lambs and other livestock. But to counter that John Bisdee introduced
the Beagle dog to Tasmania, and he and his family became breeders. They also brought in deer.
Foxes
can also attack sub-adult and adult sheep
and goats, and sometimes calves. Losses to Tasmania's
lamb and wool industries from foxes
would be in the vicinity of several million dollars per annum.
In 1847 - Midland Beagle Hunt,
members met at Pages Hotel, Oatlands.
MELTON MOWBRAY ANNUAL STEEPLE- CHASE.
This event came off yesterday at Melton Mowbray. The attendance was very
fair, and the weather splendid, everything passing off well.
The first race was the MELTON MOWBRAY STEEPLE CHASE, of - sovs. with a sweep
of 5 sovs, each, for all horses, over about three miles of a fair hunting
country. Weights, 11st. 71bs. Entrance 2 sovs.
Mr. Geo.
Jillett's Black Bess, aged; magenta jacket, black strings, black cap.(Mr. G.
Jillett)
Mr. Robt.
Jillett's b, g. Lottery, aged, by His Excellency; pink jacket, black cap.(Mr. R
Jillett)
Mr. K.
Harrison's b. g. Gay Lad, 6 years ; blue jacket, black cap.(P. Dalian)
Mr. Geo.
Meredith's b.g. Deerfoot, aged; black jacket,
magenta sash, black cap. (Mr. G. Meredith.)
Mr.
Spence 8 b. g. Pablo Prank, aged, by Adonis :tartan jacket and cap.(G.
Jackson.),
Mr.
McCauley's b.g. Topper, aged, by Touchit; black jacket and cap .Taylor.) 0
This was
a first-rate race, Black Bess and Topper leading. At the first fence the latter
had a heavy fall, which threw him out of the race. Black Bess kept the lead,
closely followed by Lottery, both taking their leaps in splendid style. At the
third leap Pablo Frank baulked, and at the sixth leap Gay Lad fell, throwing
him also out of a chance for the race. Tho running was kept up by Black Bess,
still closely attended by Lottery, who, however, sustained a fall in the
straight running, and also one at the last fence but one, otherwise it is
questionable whether he would not have been landed a winner, although on the
whole Black Bess appeared too fast for him. However, the race laid between the
two, and was eventually won by Black Bess, ridden by G. Jillett who was much
applauded for the first-rate manner in which he rode.
G.
Jillett was George Jillett, the second son of Thomas Jillett. George married Laura Lavinia Shone daughter
of Thomas Shone.
Melton Manor was regarded among the most esteemed
as a prominent destination for race horse and hound hunt enthusiasts and was
renowned for hosting such events. Mr. Blackwell (the original owner) was
revered for his sporting accomplishments among peers and was often sought for
coaching.
The Hotel was built by Samuel Blackwell who came to Australia in 1840. A
decade later, Blackwell was granted a stage coach licence for a two-wheel
vehicle to run between Green Ponds and Bothwell for 12 months. A year later he
bought land at Cross Marsh (now Melton), and in 1858 he built a large
two-storey inn which he named Melton Mowbray after his birthplace in England. In 1853 he entered horses in the
Town Plate run at New Town.
A few years later he decided to import a racehorse
from England, and commissioned a Mr. Brown of Hobart Town, to select a suitable
one during a visit to the Old Country. Mr. Brown bought Panic while the horse’s
owner was absent from home, and there was consternation when he found his
favourite racer had been sold.
However,
he agreed to let the purchase stand, and received 1,000 guineas in payment.
Panic enjoyed success in races, the most notable being when he won the
“Championship” of 1865, and ran second in the Melbourne Cup.
Then
he was turned out to stud, and one of his first stock was Strop who won the
Launceston Cup four times. Another of Panic’s foals was Nimblefoot, which won
the Melbourne Cup. In 1860 Blackwell acquired a pack of Beagle hounds, and he
hunted them as the Southern Hunt Club hounds. He had a deer park on his
property, and a racecourse built at the rear of the hotel.
In 1884, Malua won the Newmarket
Handicap over 1200 metres and Oakleigh Plate (1100 metres) carrying 9st 7lb
(60kg) and was prepared by Isaac Foulsham.
In
the Newmarket Handicap Malua’s jockey set a precedent when he took him to the
outside (grandstand side) rail to win the race, a tactic not used before. The
term “Malua’s track” was coined to name that portion of the Flemington track.
In
the same year he won the Melbourne Cup carrying 63kg and two days later he won
the weight-for-age Flying Stakes over 1200 metres on Oaks Day, testament to his
versatility.
Malua
ended his racing career with 12 wins and 15t minor placings from 47 starts.
As
a stud he produced nine stakes winners that notched 13 stakes wins between
them, including Melbourne Cup winner Malvolio (1991) and Caulfield Cup winner
Ingliston in 1900.
A
magnificent bronze sculpture of Malua was erected in the horse’s honour at
Deloraine where he was foaled at Calstock in 1879. John Field of "Calstock" in Deloraine,
Tasmania, and as
a yearling was sold to Thomas Reibey the former Premier of Tasmania.
From
the 1820s to the present races have also been held in many country towns.
Cressy's John Field and Hobart's John Lord each bred two Melbourne Cup winners
– Malua and Sheet Anchor bred by Field at Cressy, and Nimblefoot and The Quack
bred at Lord's York Plains property. Malua had an amazing run of victories,
including the Newmarket and the first Oakleigh Plate (1884); the Adelaide Cup,
the Melbourne Stakes and the Melbourne Cup (1885); the Geelong and Australian
Cups (1886); and the Grand National Hurdle (1888).
The
Tasmanian Turf Club, formed in 1826, attained its maturity in 1865 when the
first Launceston Cup was run at Mowbray. Sandy Bay beach was the early site for
racing in Hobart from 1827, then a site was developed at Moonah, but when the
railway bisected it, in 1874 a group of Tasmanian Club members bought the Elwick farm
and established the present course.
The
first Hobart Cup was run in 1875. Elwick and Mowbray continue as Tasmania's
principal racing venues.
The
wealthy supporters of racing and breeding who died out in the late nineteenth
century were not replaced. In the twentieth century Tasmania entered upon a
long period of mediocrity in racing and stagnancy in breeding that was to last
for seventy years.
Meeting
in Oatlands for the Hunt
and the Oatlands Racecourse
Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946),
Saturday 18 August 1866, page 18
The Hobart Town Mercury of the 15th says r -"
Among the exports by the Southern Cross will be two thoroughbred steeplechase
horses -Black Bess and Gay Lad-both the property of Mr. Thomas Jillett, who is
also a. passenger by the same vessel. The former horse, a well-known
steeplechaser, by Touchit out of Kate Kearney, won the last Melton Mowbray
Annual Steeplechase, which is not, we believe, the only race she has carried
off, besides having always been well up in every race she has contended for.
The latter is also a well and favourably known hunter; indeed, both horses will
be missed from the turf in Tasmania. Mr. Jillett also takes with him a novel
exportation in the shape of thirteen sheep-dogs, &c."
By
1867, there was another horse in the Jillett Stable. One that performed for Royalty!
They lived in Oatlands and after the death of their young children, he
decided to take the family to Victoria.
From there he bought and leased sheep stations.
His sons became known as Jillett Brothers, and they managed their
father's properties. It was nothing to
take a mob of 12000 sheep, and drove them from Broadmeadows in Victoria, along
the sheep trails of outback New South Wales, and into Queensland. Then turn around and take another mob back to
Victoria.
"Black Bess" was the name of Thomas's horse who was a
remarkable steeplechaser .
Young Tom Jillett was also a
horseman. Robert Alfred Jillett was the
son of John Jillett
and grandson of
John Jillett was the Secretary of the
Oatlands Hack and Trotting Club in 1912.
Albert also leased a Hotel.
PERSONAL
Mr. A. J. Jillett, who was injured by the fall of his horse Belle when
riding in the list, hunters at the show on Thursday, was reported to be improving
last night, though not yet out of danger. He held his own well on Thursday
night, and recovered consciousness to a very considerable extent yesterday. Two
ribs are broken, and there, are internal bruises, but it is not anticipated
that any serious complications will arise. Mr. Jillett is at his home at
Glenorchy, to which he was convoyed on Thursday, and is being attended by Dr.
Gibson.
Sometimes accidents happen at the racecourse, and it is sad for both
jockey and horse.
In 1910, Frederick Charles Whitehouse died as a
result of injuries at the Rangitikei races held on 3rd January 1910.
He was the son of Susan Jillett and William
Whitehouse and was born in 1881. He was
the great grandson of Robert and Elizabeth Jillett.
He married Annie Olsen
his daughter born after he died, her
name is Fredericka Margaret. Frederick
was buried Terrace End Cemetery
Palmerston North 4th January 1910.
He was Robert Jillett's grandson, great
nephew of Thomas Jillett.
Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 19
September 1936, page 53
THE YOUNG From BETTY JILLETT
(Greendale, Tambo, Q ).—"Dear 'Patience,'—When I wrote last I said I was
going for a holiday, and I have just come home. I was away in Sydney five
months, and had a very nice time. While we were shearing here it rained and we
had 27 points and stopped shearing. I have a pet lamb and a dog, Skipper. I go
riding a lot. We have a horse, and he is very lame, so he is in our little
paddock, and we rug him every night.
While we were away one of our best racehorses, called Alison K., died.
She won several races in Brisbane. My brother has a dog and she has four pups
and one of them is snow white." With love from Betty.—
What a long holiday you had in Sydney, Betty, and I expect you had some
splendid times there, and wish you had told me about some of your experiences.
It must be good to be home again among your own pets, and I am sorry your own
horse is badly lamed and hope you have another to ride meanwhile. Send a longer
letter very soon.
Betty was the daughter of Edward Jillett.
Mr. George Jillett.
Another of the early pioneers in the Queensland
grazing industry passed away in the person of Mr. George Jillett, of the firm
of Messrs. Jillett Bros., of Greendale station.
The late Mr. Jillett was a native of Tasmania,
and in company with his brothers came to the Barcoo where they purchased
Greendale from the N.Z. Land Company in 1881.
The late Mr. Jillett resided with his brothers on
the station until 1910, when he left for Croydon, New South Wales, to live
in retirement. Until quite recently he had maintained fairly good health,
but three months ago began to fail.
In his younger days he was a noted horseman over jumps
and on one occasion rode a mare owned by his father, named Black Bess, into
fourth place in a Grand National Steeplechase.
Besides his widow he is survived by two brothers, Mr.
E. F. Jillett (Greendale) and Mr. Tasman Jillett (Chatham). Morning
Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.: 1878 - 1954).
His brother Edward Jillett at the races, father of
Betty who wrote the story
and his son Ned was Clerk of the Course
Ned was the breeder of Huntley and Blue Paper, his wife
Mavis owned Kelpun who was a renowned Blackall galloper
In deep discussions with the Queensland
Governor Sir Henry Able Smith. He was President of the Charleville Racing
Club in 1958
The Victorian Grand National Steeplechase and Flemington Stands 1906.
Thomas
Jillett is reported as being an Autocrat who "rode to hounds", and
when in a rage he
would say "I will cut off my arm, inch by inch"
would say "I will cut off my arm, inch by inch"
He won
this beautiful Silver Cup, from the Oatlands Turf Club in 1842.
1829: He rented
100 acres for 16 pounds 8 shillings at Monmouth with his brother William
Bradshaw
1842: He lived at York Plains, Oatlands, and that same year he won a silver cup in Horse Racing from Oatlands Turf Club
According to the census he had interest, with William Bradshaw in 3 selections - one of 640 acres, of 644 acres and one of 100 acres all in Monmouth
1843 Census revealed the same information as the 1842 records
After marriage to Mary Ann Shone, they had several children, and their areas of birth are recorded as York Plains, CatrineVale, Oatlands, Springfield and Melbourne.
1850 He bought the Callington Mill at Oatlands, now part of the National Trust. He sold it to John Bradshaw (his nephew) 31st December 1863.
1855 The census shows he had the following properties: 4 acres 3 rds 28 per at Oatlands
11 acres 1 rd 36 pers at Oatlands
15 acres 1 rd 17 pers at Oatlands
10 acres at Oatlands
1856 With george Nicholls he had 15 acres 2 rd 9 per at Monmouth
1857 He had 10 acres at Oatlands
1858 Owner/Proprietor, Dwelling and Stable, 23 acres Annual Value 36/9d and 420 acres Agricultural and grazing at York Rivulet. Annual value 70/-
1842: He lived at York Plains, Oatlands, and that same year he won a silver cup in Horse Racing from Oatlands Turf Club
According to the census he had interest, with William Bradshaw in 3 selections - one of 640 acres, of 644 acres and one of 100 acres all in Monmouth
1843 Census revealed the same information as the 1842 records
After marriage to Mary Ann Shone, they had several children, and their areas of birth are recorded as York Plains, CatrineVale, Oatlands, Springfield and Melbourne.
1850 He bought the Callington Mill at Oatlands, now part of the National Trust. He sold it to John Bradshaw (his nephew) 31st December 1863.
1855 The census shows he had the following properties: 4 acres 3 rds 28 per at Oatlands
11 acres 1 rd 36 pers at Oatlands
15 acres 1 rd 17 pers at Oatlands
10 acres at Oatlands
1856 With george Nicholls he had 15 acres 2 rd 9 per at Monmouth
1857 He had 10 acres at Oatlands
1858 Owner/Proprietor, Dwelling and Stable, 23 acres Annual Value 36/9d and 420 acres Agricultural and grazing at York Rivulet. Annual value 70/-
Also owned a Cottage in Oatlands rented to William Clark 1 acre and value at £13
Shops & Dwelling rented to William Exton 1 acre and value £40
Mill rented to William Exton 1 acre £184/8/
Cottage rented to Henry Harris 1 acre £15/12/
Cottage rented to Francis Mancey 1 acre £13/
And was the proprietor of a Sheep Run at Lagoon of Islands 400 acres value £25
Katie
Jillett was a keen horsewoman.
As to
her sons.
The Melbourne
Cup According to a Jillett
Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 30
October 1937, page 10
FINDING THE MELBOURNE CUP WINNER
A Punter's Research By LESLIE
JILLETT
PUNTA ARENAS is not the betting ring at Flemington, and there is no such
horse as Bar-One. These facts have I established after, a diligent study in
that most difficult branch of research-picking winners.
Early this year my notice was attracted by a claim that a comfortable
living could be obtained by studying the form of racehorses and placing the
rent money on a couple of them each Saturday. Having arranged a moratorium with
the landlord, I decided to prospect this alluring field. My experiments have
now extended over six months, and, although it is somewhat early to furnish
precise results, I think that there is a reasonable chance of recovering the
£50-odd which the researches up to the present have cost the landlord.
Incidentally, the landlord is a some-what restless fellow. Apparently he
expected results from, as you might say, barrier-rise. But, as I have only just
succeeded in persuading him, the major phase of our experimentation with my
brains and his rent money is now at hand, and it would be a pity to upset the
work of months through any hasty action on his part. So the moratorium has been
extended by him, rather ungraciously, until Tuesday, November 2. On that day,
according to latest arrangements, the Melbourne Cup will be run, and I am
arranging to back the winner.
It was always my idea that my patiently acquired racing skill should culminate
in a "coup on the cup" (these slogans fortify confidence). Of course,
there have been minor setbacks in the process of acquiring a "bank"
of adequate size for the spring operations which are now at hand. As I began to
explain, I began with very little cash and even less knowledge of the racing
game. So, as a believer in fundamentals, I set out first to learn the language.
It was a fascinating pursuit. Within a month, almost without thinking, I
could answer, "Oh, yes-let me see, I will be in the Guineas at Caulfield
on Saturday," when asked, "Going to the heath?" Building on that
knowledge, I began to refer lightly to "headquarters" (meaning
Flemington), "down the line" (meaning Mentone), and "the valley"
(an easy one, meaning Moonee Valley). But I am proudest of all-thank you,
unknown wireless commentator - of "the ozone track" (meaning-yes,
Williamstown).
While I was acquiring this indispensable argot I was not neglecting to
study the form of the racehorses. I recall that in the middle of the winter I
was impressed favourably with the performances of a horse called Montargis. He
was running so consistently into places, in spite of the additional handicap of
being obliged to jump fences in the pro-cess, that I considered that he would
probably win the Melbourne Cup, which is run over a slightly shorter distance
with-out obstructions. But Montargis, as they say on the Turf (racecourse), has
been scratched, or has not been entered, or something. That means that he will
not start in the Melbourne Cup this year, a late discovery which upset my
calculations.
So I proceeded to back a few alternative horses, just to see how they
shaped with my money on them. I never risked more than about £5 on any one
race, for I regarded my speculations at that stage as being entirely
experimental-preliminaries, as racing folk term it. In the meantime, I found
the expense of gracing the lawn (where the best people go) was rather too
great, and I began to don older clothes on Saturday afternoons to ensure
admittance to the cheaper parts. Well, that was one reason. The other was that
I sold two suits about that time to soothe the landlord, who insisted
absolutely on some guarantee of good faith.
A man from Ballarat-have you noticed what a ubiquitous character is
"the man from Ballarat"?-gave me an idea at that crucial stage in my
punting (betting) apprenticeship for saving my race-course admittance money for
more discriminating expenditure on the race-course itself. He vouched for the
truth of this story, which, he said, had its set-ting at a miners' race meeting
at Ballarat.
It seems that a short man and a tall man were both "short."
They wanted to go to the races. So they went round to the tradesmen's entrance,
marked "Trainers and Jockeys." The shorter "short" man,
with a cap pulled rakishly across his eye, walked through the entrance,
muttering to the gatekeeper "Jockey." The gatekeeper was mildly
surprised, but took no action-not even when the taller "short" man
also strode through, muttering "Trainer."
This bold imposition so amused a burly bookmaker who was standing just
out-side the gate that he stamped through the gate-a corona in the corner of
his mouth and a glint in the corner of his eye-and, as he passed the
gatekeeper, announced "Horse!"
Well, I may be forced yet to view the Melbourne Cup from the flat
(cheapest part), but I will not practise a deception like that on a struggling
racing club.
There is an interesting theory, I believe, that the real man is revealed
only in his dreams. Research in that promising field of psychology is limited,
how-ever, because the dream drama is played before an audience of one, and that
one is seldom likely to disclose the nature of the suppressed ambitions and
desires which were achieved while the liberated mind soared bravely in the clouds
of sleep. But fortunately the racecourse does provide a very good alternative
field for the "proper study of mankind"-and woman-kind.
A few weeks ago a young woman -surely the demurest of creatures at home
or in the office-called excitedly on the asphalt slopes of the south hill at
"The Valley" (Moonee Valley) for "Three cheers for Alex
Fullarton." And who, you may ask, is Alex Fullarton? He was the rider of
the jumping double, which means that he "piloted" Manalis to victory
in a hurdle race and "caught the Judge's eye" (i.e., was first) with
Black Hook in a steeple-chase an hour or so later.
The punting game, unfortunately, is "1 think that here it a
reasonable chance of recovering the £50 odd which the researches up to the
present have cost the landlord not all Sweet Memories. Luck is Mutable, and it
Is a Phenomenon to win consistently. And those who lose are disposed not to
blame themselves for inadequate study of form and track work (training), but to
censure the horse ("I wouldn't put bottles on it"), the Jockey
("He wasn't trying"), the trainer ("He wants to get a long price
next start"), the owner, the bookmakers, or anyone else but them-selves.
This kind of loose talk is to be deprecated. I have studied the form of
race-horses assiduously for six months, and although I have lost (or, rather,
my land-lord has), I blame myself. So does the landlord. But I am taking no
risks with the Melbourne Cup. I have evolved an elaborate mathematical formula,
the full details of which I cannot disclose at this stage, which will pay the
arrears of rent and still show a profit. Generally, it Is based on times,
performances, weights, distances, ages, jockeys, and horses.
Yes, I am about to harvest the fruits of my assiduous studies.
What? Avenger was not entered for the Melbourne Cup?
Les Jillett was the nephew of Sister Margaret Mary.
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