Where Legends roam

Since opening in 2006, the not-for-profit Living Legends has quietly earned a reputation as one of the most meaningful destinations in Australian racing. The real drawcards are, of course, the horses: old warriors of the turf, Melbourne Cup champions, and Group 1 stars now enjoying their days in spacious paddocks beneath gum trees, visited by fans, young and old.

There’s history in the land itself. The property dates back to the 1840s, when it was one of Victoria’s earliest and most prominent thoroughbred studs. Today, heritage lingers in the beautifully restored homestead, the peaceful gardens and the surrounding bushland where kangaroos roam.

Among the equine residents are Melbourne Cup winners like Twilight Payment (2020), Almandin (2016), Prince Of Penzance (2015), Efficient (2007) and Brew (2000) – names etched into racing folklore. They live alongside fan favourites like Apache Cat, Santa Ana Lane, Fawkner and Silent Witness – and now, in 2025, by one of the most unforgettable sprinters of recent times: Chautauqua. 

Known as “The Grey Flash”, Chautauqua thrilled fans with his signature last-to-first finishes, becoming a cult hero of Australian racing. His arrival at Living Legends this year was a highly anticipated moment for both supporters and staff. Winner of the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning, Chautauqua – affectionately known as Sharky – famously refused to jump from the barriers in 2018, signalling his decision to retire on his own terms.

“Chautauqua was a champion who liked to do things on his own terms,” says Living Legends CEO Andrew Clarke. “After retiring, he swapped the racetrack for the show ring – and now the next chapter of his story has begun right here at Living Legends.”

He’s now happily sharing a paddock with 15-year-old gelding Tom Melbourne – a pairing carefully chosen by Clarke and the team. “His paddock mate was a little bit challenging to pick,” Clarke explains.

“We chose Tom Melbourne because he’s a bit more relaxed – a real man about town. We didn’t want to put him in with someone like Beauty Generation, who’s quite strong-willed. We thought we’d try Tom for a day… and we’ve never taken him out. They really clicked. They’re a bit like brothers – they’ll have a niggle, but then want to hang around together.”

Clarke says the transition has been impressively smooth. “He’s settled in so well, it’s really quite surprising. He’s a very kind horse and very amenable. You could see a few similarities between him and Might And Power in that first month.”

Before his move to Living Legends, Chautauqua was placed in the care of former jockey and accomplished show rider Casey Bruce by his owners, who entrusted her with re-training him for a second career in the show ring.

Under Bruce’s guidance, he transitioned to life as a show and eventing horse, picking up ribbons and fashion titles. More recently, he had turned his focus to dressage, a calmer and more reflective pursuit that suited his sensitive and intelligent nature. Loved not only by Bruce but also by her daughter and her champion pony, Bucky, Sharky became a poster horse for a second career in life after racing.

“Sharky was very much loved and cared for and was incredibly obliging in everything we asked of him,” Bruce says. “He really enjoyed his career change – he never put a foot wrong.”

Still, Bruce says it eventually felt like time for a new chapter – one that allowed Chautauqua to be shared more publicly.

“He’s always been the people’s horse, and he’s so popular. When Rupert Legh and the other owners mentioned sending him to Living Legends, we thought it was the right moment to let others enjoy him the way we have.”

Living close by, Bruce drops in regularly. “I still visit him every other day for a pat and a cuddle. He absolutely knows who ‘Mum’ is,” she says.

“He can be right out in the middle of the paddock, and as soon as he sees or hears me, he’ll gallop over with a big neigh. It’s very sweet – although if Tom Melbourne comes over while we’re having our cuddles, Sharky gets a bit jealous. He’ll give him a bit of a snarl, like, ‘She’s mine!’”

Clarke says that Chautauqua has settled into the routine of Living Legends quickly. “There’s a rhythm here that the horses really respond to. They know when breakfast is – if it’s late, they notice. Then there’s the 11 o’clock tour group. It all becomes part of their day. These horses have been around people their whole lives – from yearlings to racetrack stars – so continuing that link really matters.”

And for fans, it’s not just about racing records, Clarke adds. “He had that electric finish on the track, but what draws people in now is the personality. That chance to give him a pat, to see his character. He’s very inquisitive – always looking, always watching what’s happening in the other paddocks. He’s a happy horse, just being a horse.”

Living Legends is far more than just a home for ex-racehorses. It’s also a living, breathing education hub. Programs range from primary school visits to veterinary student placements. Learning With Legends gives young people hands-on experience in equine care while Learning From Legends supports collaborative research with universities and industry to improve horse health and welfare.

On race days, you’ll often spot the Living Legends team at Flemington, where their residents return as honoured guests. Through the Legends on the Road initiative, some horses even travel to schools, hospitals and community events across the country – sharing their stories and forging new connections. Another program, Legends Under Saddle, keeps the horses active and stimulated while offering riding opportunities to staff and students.

Living Legends relies heavily on donations to provide the exceptional standard of care these retired champions deserve. In 2023, the regional town of Macedon demonstrated just how strong those community ties were when it selected Living Legends as its nominated charity after winning the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep. When Without A Fight stormed home from barrier 16 to win the Cup, Macedon received $50,000 – a sum that went directly to the sanctuary.

And when milestones roll around – like this year’s tenth anniversary of Prince Of Penzance’s 2015 Melbourne Cup win, five years since Twilight Payment’s victory, or 25 years since Brew’s (2000) – it’s a reminder of just how deeply interwoven Living Legends is with the Cup, the community, and the sport’s greatest names.

Because Living Legends is not where the race ends – it’s where the legacy lives on. And Chautauqua, still very much the people’s horse, is now part of that legacy. And with his presence, personality and enduring fan base, it looks like he’ll thrive in it.