May 22 1978

The Commonwealth Steeplechase at Moonee Valley was one of the most sensational races run in more modern history. 

On a track that even Moonee Valley described as heavy (club secretary Ian McEwen was notorious for describing rain-affected tracks as just slightly worse than good), a field of nine jumpers set out from the spectacular start near the packed stands. 

A crowd of 15,440 saw Roughneck stride to a long lead, jumping the second-last fence at the 500-metre mark. 

As the gelding, with Paul Hely in the saddle, came to the junction of the steeplechase track with the course proper, he put his foot in a hole in the track, and crashed to the ground. 

The crowd was stunned, and watched Rothwell Bridge, with inexperienced rider Robin Russell on, take the last 20 lengths clear. 

But the horse landed awkwardly and Russell was tipped off, with his first city success within grasp. 

Kelvin Bourke, who also rode in that race, recalled, “Rothwell Bridge was a dodgy jumper, and the trainer, Denis Murdoch, struggled to get a rider for it “

Lord Kamulla, ridden by Kevin Wynne, came past the fallen horses to record a very lucky win. 

Wynne said, “I thought I was going to run fifth, then as they kept falling in front, I knew that I couldn’t reach Rothwell Bridge, but he took a stride after the jump and the jock came off.

“I couldn’t believe what happened. When Roughneck went I thought, beauty, we have second now, then Rothwell Bridge went and we were first.”

Brian Luke rode in the race and remembered, “It was a bottomless track, and I was way behind. I passed Hely, who was standing up between jumps and wondered what happened to him.  I remember standing high in the irons to see the what won the race.”

Earlier in the race, 2/1 favourite So And So fell at the first fence, sending Bourke to hospital with a hairline fracture of the collarbone. 

At the time Bourke said, “I’m pretty sure I’ll be riding on Saturday week.”

Subsequent to the race, stewards banned Rothwell Bridge from running in steeplechases until it he could trial satisfactorily.

The new-look Moonee Valley fences were a real challenge for horses and jockeys. 

They were big and daunting and many horses shifted sharply from the rails to just inside the wings to get over them. 

The Valley had recently opened its trotting track, altering the steeplechase course, with the chasers coming on to the course proper near the 350-metre point. 

A new set of portable jumps were made, and they were considerably bigger than those anywhere else.  

They were altered slightly after the initial schools. 

At the time trainer Jim Houlahan said to McEwen, “If you don’t cut a foot out off these jumps, there will be no steeplechase racing at Moonee Valley.”