General News
13 March, 2026
Launching history of horse and owner
THE history of Sir Chester Manifold and steeplechase horse Crisp will be launched at a presentation next week.
Dr Andrew Lemon AM, author of the book ‘Crisp and Sir Chester – The Story of Australia’s Greatest Steeplechaser,’ will be giving a presentation on the book on Saturday, March 21 at the Killara Centre (210-212 Manifold Street).
He said he was excited for the launch, where he would be able to share the story of horse owner Sir Chester Manifold.
“Sir Chester Manifold was such a well-known figure in Australian racing everybody knew who Sir Chester was,” Dr Lemon said.
“The thing that’s most unusual about this story is that it’s very rare to have a famous racehorse who was born at the same place as the person who owned and raced him.
“In the olden days, one half of the western district was owned by the Manifolds and the other half by the McArthurs.
“I’m old enough to remember Crisp back in 1969-1970 when I first took an interested in racing.
“He was always one of my horse heroes at the time and I followed his career with a lot of interest.”
The book had been a labour of love for a number of years for Dr Lemon, who received assistance from friend of the Manifold family, Jock McArthur, and Sir Chester’s middle daughter.
He said Mr McArthur cheered him on as he wrote the book and Sir Chester’s daughter loaned photographs and letters from when Crisp won races in Australia before being invited to race in America and England.
“It’s a great story and I’m really glad to say Jock McArthur was able to read the whole of the manuscript not long before he died,” he said.
“The book’s actually dedicated to him as a person who made it possible.
“When he raced in England, the papers would call him the Black Kangaroo, which wasn’t quite right but they liked the idea he was an Australian horse.
Advertisement
“Sir Chester Manifold lived in a world which was both English and Australian in many ways – he understood England.
“In the First World War, he served in the British Army as a young man, so he had a lot of English connections.”
Dr Lemon said Camperdown was the perfect place to launch the book, with both Sir Chester and Crisp having strong connections to the region.
“Camperdown and District Historical Society have been very generous to me,” he said.
“Camperdown features significantly in the story of Crisp because that was where he identified with.
“The book is a piece of social history – it’s not just about a horse and a man.
“I discuss the ethics of steeplechasing, why it’s still strong in the western district and what the discussions around jumps racing and its future are.”
Dr Lemon extended his gratitude everyone who provided assistance during the research phase of putting the book together.
“The jockey who rode him in Australia in 1969 and 1970, and then rode him in America, was a jockey called Tom McGinley,” he said.
“He is in his 90s and still has his Scottish accent after being in Australia for about 60 years.
“He loves talking about Crisp, and I’m very excited we can tell Tom’s story as well as Sir Chester Manifold’s and everyone who was involved with the horse.”
The book launch, which is a free event, will begin at 1pm, with registration available via emailing camperdowndhs@gmail.com or texting 0417 352 987.
Read More: local