1873 Melbourne Cup
The 1873 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Thursday, 6 November 1873.
This was the thirteenth running of the Melbourne Cup.
Don Juan's victory was a controversial one. Immediately following the race Don Juan's victory was called into question and a protest was lodged. The Sydney Mail reported on 22 November that the protest claimed the horse was a year older than his stated four years of age. There were also rumours that Don Juan was substituted for a better horse. The protest was dismissed and the rumours were never proven.
Following morning showers, a final field of 24 horses started the race. Protos and Calaba were in front at the first post, with Protos maintaining its lead in front of King Tom and Lapidist down the back straight. King Tom took the lead approaching the final turn, but it was Don Juan that lead the field down the final straight. Don Juan pulled away to win easily, the betting favourite saluting ahead of Dagwood who held off a fast-finishing Horatio.
Don Juan won by three and a half lengths in a new record time of 3:36.0.
Three horses were injured in the race with Horatio badly splitting a hoof, while Hamlet broke down during the race. It was reported that Index returned to the paddock lame.
For trainer James Wilson it was his first Melbourne Cup victory coming after three second-place finishes. The owner of the horse was listed as "Mr W. Johnstone" which was a known alias of Melbourne bookmaker Joe Thompson. Don Juan had been listed for sale before the spring season and had been sold to grazier Joe Inglis, but remained at the stables of James Wilson until after the spring season. Thompson won so handsomely on the race that he directed some winnings to charity and built himself a mansion in East Melbourne which he named Don Juan House in tribute to the winning horse. Don Juan had also won the Caulfield Handicap and the Essendon Stakes in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup.
Then Governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson's horse Fitz-Yattendon finished the race in eighth place, with the governor one of the distinguished attendees at the race.
Newspaper reports of the race were limited by the withdrawal of free passes to the racecourse provided by the Victoria Racing Club, leading both The Argus and The Australasian to reduce their coverage and complain about the lack of access.
Full results
This is the list of placegetters for the 1873 Melbourne Cup.| Place | Horse | Age Gender | Jockey | Weight | Trainer | Owner | Odds | Margin |
| 1 | Don Juan | 4y h | William Wilson | James Wilson | Mr W. Johnstone | 3/1 | 3½ lengths | |
| 2 | Dagworth | 5y h | George Donnelly | Etienne de Mestre | Mr. R. Bloomfield | 20/1 | ½ length | |
| 3 | Horatio | 4y h | M. Thompson | Etienne de Mestre | Etienne de Mestre | 5/1 | - | |
| 4 | The Arrow | 4y h | H. Lewis | John Tait | John Tait | 10/1 | - | |
| 5 | King Tom | 4y h | Samuel Davis | Mr P. Lewis | 14/1 | - | ||
| 6 | Ace of Trumps | 5y h | Sam Cracknell | Tom Jordan | Mr W. Gerrard | 50/1 | - | |
| 7 | Dolphin | 5y m | Nolan | Mr W. Pearson | 50/1 | - | ||
| 8 | Fitz-Yattendon | 3y c | Duggan | Hercules Robinson | 8/1 | - | ||
| Hamlet | 5y h | Thomas Enderson | Mr J. Crozier Jr | 14/1 | - | |||
| Priam | 5y h | G. Thomson | Mr H. Herbert | 25/1 | - | |||
| Lancer | 5y h | Tom Hales | Thomas Joseph Ryan | 10/1 | - | |||
| Exile | Aged g | Gardener | Mr S.G. Bowler | 50/1 | - | |||
| King of Clubs | 4y h | J. Jellett | Eli Jellett | 10/1 | - | |||
| McCallum Mohr | 4y h | William Enderson | John Tait | John Tait | 20/1 | - | ||
| Early Morn | 6y h | M. Bryan | John Coldham | 14/1 | - | |||
| Calaba | 4y h | T. Hill | Mr R. Holland | 20/1 | - | |||
| Protos | 6y g | Haughtey | Mr S.P. Winter | 33/1 | - | |||
| Index | Aged g | Swannell | Mr E. Gough | 50/1 | - | |||
| Benjiroo | 5y h | Chalker | Mr C.S. King | 12/1 | - | |||
| Lapidist | 3y c | H. Grubb | William Filgate | William Filgate | 50/1 | - | ||
| Victorian | Aged g | Robert Batty | Mr K. Brown | 20/1 | - | |||
| Lothair | 5y h | John Kean | Mr Cassidy | Mr R.J. Hunter | 50/1 | - | ||
 Fearnought|NZLconvert|6|st|8|lb|kg|1|abbr=onn/aconvert|6|st|7|lb|kg|1|abbr=onPrizemoneyFirst prize £1360, second prize £50, third prize £20. |