Gold and Black (1972−1999) was a

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

-bred racehorse which was ridden by John Duggan to win the 1977 Melbourne Cup for the "Cups King"

Bart Cummings James Bartholomew Cummings (14 November 1927 – 30 August 2015), also known by his initials J. B. Cummings, was one of the most successful Australian racehorse trainers. He was known as the Cups King, referring to the Melbourne Cup, as he w ...

. Bart Cummings bought the horse for $4,000 in New Zealand for his Adelaide clients, Jack and Mary Harris and brought in Hugh and Gloria Gage from Sydney as partners. Gold and Black was sired by In The Purple (France) and his dam was Gem (by Talismano). He was 3rd in the 1975

Victoria Derby The Victoria Derby, also known as the Penfolds Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbour ...

behind Galena Boy and Romantic Archer. In December that year he won the Randwick Stakes over 2000m. In September 1976, Gold and Black won the Hilton Handicap (Morphetville, 1850m) and STC Cup (Rosehill, 2400m) and in October the

Mackinnon Stakes The VRC Champions Stakes, registered as the ''LKS Mackinnon Stakes'', is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on ...

before finishing second to

Van der Hum Van der Hum (31 July 1971 – 27 July 2001) was a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse, who won the 1976 Melbourne Cup when ridden by Bob Skelton. He was sired by the versatile stayer and sire of the winners of over $2m, Hermes (GB), his dam T ...

in the 1976 Melbourne Cup. In early 1977, Gold and Black fell seriously ill with "travel fatigue" and his life was briefly in danger but Cummings restored the horse to health for his spring campaign. At Flemington in November Gold and Black started 7/2 favourite for the Cup after placing second in the

behind Sir Silver Lad. Carrying a weight of 57 kg he won by a length from the Australian horse Reckless with

Hyperno Hyperno (1973–2002) was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in New Zealand. He was a wayward but brilliant galloper that won the Melbourne Cup and other group and listed races. He was sired by Rangong (GB) out of Mikarla (NZ) by Persian Garden I ...

in third. His victory gave Cummings a record sixth win in the race. After retiring from racing Gold and Black became a Clerk Of the Course horse on South Australian tracks and was buried at the Gawler race course.

References

{{Reflist 1972 racehorse births 1999 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in New Zealand Racehorses trained in Australia Melbourne Cup winners Thoroughbred family 3-e