Several of Kyabram’s most celebrated figures, including Chris Salter, Shirley Kuhle and Kevin Andrews have been major players in the Kyabram Club’s Melbourne Cup calcutta.
A 46-year-old syndicate that has walked away with first prize at Kyabram Club’s Melbourne Cup calcutta a record 10 times will saddle up for another tilt at what is expected to be a $30,000 windfall on Cup eve on Monday.
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The Mongrels are among more than a dozen syndicates who will be involved in the bidding for the 24 runners in the Cup.
Formed in 1978 the Mongrels may have missed the first 15 episodes of the calcutta, but they have been a constant since — Kevin Andrews leading the charge.
The calcutta started in 1963, but the first record of a first prize is in 1971 when Silver Knight won the Cup and the winning syndicate pocketed $1914.
Records prior to 1984 were lost in the Kyabram Club fire.
Fifty years after the first calcutta the first prize reached $30,575, when the total pool was $50,625 and the owner of winner Without A Fight was a 36-year veteran of the calcutta — Dave Farrar.
His D&P syndicate, originally the D&R syndicate, had a host of hard luck stories before last year’s windfall.
In 2006 it bought “hot-pot” Efficient, only to see it scratched on the morning of the Cup and did its money cold. The next year it didn’t bother to bid on the horse and it won the 2007 Cup.
One sydnicate, Westy’s Bet, is named in honour of a late friend of the group and a year after changing its name from The Shed Syndicate to honour its friend picked up first and third prizemoney.
Marlene Drayton heads two-time winner The Warriors, while Wes Shellie has one of the most interesting stories — having attended the event as a 12-year-old.
He and a few close friends are known as the Bendemeer syndicate and 20 members have shared in a pair of calcutta wins.
Brendan Ryan’s Panelbeaters syndicate started 30 years ago and won for the first time in 1996 — then again 22 years later in 2018.
Kyabram-born Danny O'Brien (right) celebrates with jockey Craig Williams after winning the 2019 Melbourne Cup with Vow And Declare, the presence of a former Kyabramite as a trainer in the 3200m race sparking significant interest in the Kyabram Club calcutta as first prize topped $20,000 for the first time since 1963.
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Another three-decade old syndicate is the Little Swallow Syndicate, headed up by John Burrows.
Former Kyabram Club manager Richard Francis has played a key part in the group.
An all-female syndicate known as the Giddy Up Girls is led by Jodie Schumann, while Stuart Gemmill leads the Brimbirici syndicate and Frank Findlay is a leading figure with the 20-year-old Weus syndicate.
Out of towners, the Rochy Raiders, have a six-year history and Peter Halton led the group to Kyabram where two years ago it drew five horses and sold them all.
Club chair David Blake leads the Turtlemen syndicate, which secured Rekindling in its first year and picked up a $16,230 prize.
In 2010 the total prize pool topped $20,000 for the first time, The Warriors winning a $13,400 prize with import winner Americain.
In 2019 the $33,000 prize pool carried a first prize of almost $20,000 and was won by the Bendemeer syndicate with Vow And Declare.
