James Blackwood James Blackwood

Founding Committee Member; Chairman 1871 - 1876

Although the Victoria Racing Club was formed in March 1864, it was not until December 1871 that its Committee elected its first permanent Chairman, after the Victorian government passed the Victoria Racing Club Act. James Blackwood (b.1820 – d.1881) was a Scottish-born banker and company manager, best known as the Melbourne managing partner of Frederick Dalgety, founder of the international pastoral empire. Blackwood had been a foundation VRC Committee member in 1864. On his retirement as Chairman in 1876 to visit England, Blackwood commissioned from the Geelong goldsmith Edwin Fischer the first all gold Melbourne Cup trophy—a one-off—donating it to the Club. It was presented to James Wilson, owner-trainer of that year’s winner, the filly Briseis. Blackwood remained on the Committee until the year before his death.