In all his 67 starts Gloaming was unplaced only once; and that was when he became entangled in the barrier strands and could take no part in the race

Biography

TRAINER: Dick Mason

OWNERS: G.D. Greenwood

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 67 starts: 57 wins, 9 seconds/$43,100

Major Wins 

• AJC, New Zealand and Great Northern Derbies
• AJC Craven Plate (three times)
• AJC Spring Stakes
• VRC Melbourne Stakes
• ARC Islington Plate (three times)
• ARC Islington Plate (three times)

About

Bred at Melton Stud in Victoria by Ernest Clarke, Gloaming had a spectacular career on both sides of the Tasman Sea. Fifteen times he criss-crossed the Tasman by steamship, travelling an estimated 35,000 miles without mishap; and apparently enjoying the experience like a first-class passenger. Gloaming was not a large horse – just 15.3 hands in height – but he had a huge stride, comparable to the 25 feet of Phar Lap.

Unraced as a two-year old, Gloaming commenced his career by winning the 1918 WFA Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick by eight lengths in record time. He followed this with wins in the AJC Derby and the New Zealand and Great Northern Derbies. From 1919 to 1921 he won 19 races in succession, equalling the Australasian record of Desert Gold.

In the spring of 1922 the seven-year-old engaged in a series of four legendary match races with his arch rival, Beauford; the score being two wins each. As a nine-year-old Gloaming was still a top performer, winning eight of his ten starts. In his swan song at the age of ten, Gloaming beat the latest Kiwi champion, The Hawk, in the Ormond Gold Cup.

Gloaming was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2004.

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