Vision, leadership, and legacy: Honouring two racing greats

ANDREW RAMSDEN (1934–2013)

Andrew Ramsden’s legacy is etched into the fabric of Australian racing – particularly at Flemington, where a race in his name honours his lifelong devotion to the sport.

First run in 1964 as the Duke of Norfolk Stakes, the 2800-metre staying contest was renamed the Andrew Ramsden Stakes in 2005, commemorating a man whose influence on staying races and racing administration was profound.

Ramsden joined the VRC Committee in 1983, eventually serving as Chairman from 1998 to 2003. He played a key role in the restructure of Victorian racing, helping to form Racing Victoria Limited and serving as interim chairman until the organisation's independent establishment in 2001.

Even after retiring from the VRC Board in 2004, Ramsden’s influence continued. As chairman of the Australian Racing Board, he oversaw pivotal reforms, including the privatisation of the TAB and the introduction of governance structures that continue to shape the sport today.

A passionate owner, Ramsden achieved the rare feat of winning both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 1982 with Gurner’s Lane. He again triumphed in the Cup with Brew in 2000, becoming one of only two VRC chairmen in history to win the race while in office. (The other was Sir Chester Manifold, who served as VRC Chairman from 1951 to 1962. He bred and owned Comic Court, the 1950 Melbourne Cup winner. While Comic Court won the Cup just before his official term as chairman began, Manifold was already a prominent VRC committee member at the time, and his leadership influence was strongly felt.)

Ramsden was also involved in the ownership of top-class gallopers including Paris Lane, Sky Heights, and Descarado, all winners of the Caulfield Cup. In 2011, he celebrated victory in his namesake race, the Andrew Ramsden Stakes, with Niwot.

Generous and inclusive by nature, Ramsden once transferred ownership of an untried colt – Gurner’s Lane – to a syndicate at cost, despite the colt’s rising pedigree value. The decision reflected his commitment to integrity and his belief in shared success.

Ramsden passed away on 17 October 2013, just days before the Caulfield Cup – poignantly won that year by Fawkner, echoing the name of his first racehorse from the 1960s.

Today, the Lexus Andrew Ramsden offers a golden ticket to the Lexus Melbourne Cup, with a direct ballot exemption for the winner. It is a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to the staying races he loved – and to the sport whose future he helped secure.

HILTON NICHOLAS (1925–2017)

Hilton Nicholas AM OBE was described as a towering figure in Australian racing whose legacy continues to shape Flemington and the broader industry.

Born into the prominent Nicholas family – co-founders of the pharmaceutical company behind Aspro – Hilton inherited a love of horses from his father, George Nicholas CBE. George was a noted breeder and long-serving VRC Committee member. Hilton continued that legacy, joining the VRC committee in 1960, succeeding his father, and serving for 33 years, including a tenure as chairman from 1982 to 1986.

One of Nicholas’s most enduring contributions was the introduction of Fashions on the Field in 1962, aimed at attracting more women to the races during a time of declining attendance. The initiative grew into an iconic element of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, blending style and sport in a uniquely Australian tradition.

Under his leadership, the VRC oversaw key innovations, including the first $1 million Melbourne Cup in 1985, sponsored by Foster’s. This groundbreaking move marked the beginning of major corporate sponsorships in Australian racing and helped elevate the race’s global stature.

Nicholas was also a successful owner and breeder. His mare, Begonia Belle, trained by Meggs Elkington, secured major victories including the 1967 Thousand Guineas, 1968 Lightning Stakes, and 1969 Newmarket Handicap. In her honour, the VRC inaugurated the Begonia Belle Stakes, now run as the Furphy Sprint on Derby Day.

Beyond the track, Nicholas served as chairman of the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB) from 1968 to 1984, overseeing significant growth and modernisation in Australia’s betting systems. He was also deeply committed to equine welfare, working with Professor Douglas Blood to help establish the Equine Research Foundation.

A decorated World War II RAAF pilot, Hilton Nicholas’s passion for aviation endured long after the war. He enlisted in 1943 and travelled to England to serve, but the war ended shortly after his arrival. Nonetheless, the experience ignited a lifelong love of flying. In the years that followed, Nicholas founded Nicholas Air Charter, which introduced Victoria’s first air ambulance service. He continued to fly regularly, often piloting a Cessna to and from his property at Howlong, situated between Albury and Corowa.

From racing administration and innovation to philanthropy and aviation, Hilton Nicholas’s multifaceted contributions have left an indelible mark. His vision and dedication continue to resonate today, ensuring his legacy lives on.