They had curious names like the Promised Land Stakes, Jerusalem Scurry, the Syrian Derby and the Jericho Cup.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Not so unusual perhaps, given that these were the names of horse races - the Jerusalem Scurry, for mules, was the exception - held in the rather unusual setting of a desert war zone.
The riders were the mounted troopers of the Light Horse and their steeds were the 'walers', named for their New South Wales breeding, that became the war horses of the Middle East campaign of World War 1.
In play, as in battle, they were a team.
Together they forged the Australian Light Horse legend which will be honoured in Sunday's reimagined Jericho Cup at Warrnambool.
For battle-weary soldiers, races were a welcome release from the gruelling demands of desert combat.
Most were experienced bushmen, skilled horsemen, many, amateur jockeys who were accustomed to riding in picnic races.
It was a small reminder of home.
Desert races, both on the flat and over the jumps, were remarkably well organised.
Surviving race books from the time show trophies and prize money were awarded, rules applied, stewards officiated and pipe bands entertained.
The program for the Desert Column's first spring meeting at Rafa in March of 1917 stated that flat race entries were limited to 40 and steeplechases to 21 to avoid "unduly large fields".
Entry numbers to the Syrian Derby, however, were unlimited.
General Sir Harry Chauvel, who commanded the Desert Mounted Corps was a competitive horseman and a keen racegoer.
Chauvel's granddaughter Honor Auchinleck said he understood the role of race meetings on the morale of the battle-weary.
Racing in Australia was very much a part of country life at that time.
- Honor Auchinleck
"Racing in Australia was very much a part of country life at that time. It was one of the major events that brought people together. This was a continuation of that. Equestrian activities became a very important part of the serviceman's recreation," she said.
In letters home to his wife Sibyl, Chauvel wrote in detail of the desert meetings.
He sent her a copy of the Rafa program and described the day's racing run on the very ground his forces had battled with the Turks just two months earlier.
"The Turk's trenches and rifle-pits need a little dodging when laying out the course, but that was all," he wrote.
"My division won five out of the six horse races, and out of the other three, one, the Anzac Steeplechase was won by a 3rd Light Horse Brigade horse. My own horse, Bally, ran third in the Anzac Steeplechase.
"I ran him in my groom's name as I was giving the cup. I think the results were very creditable to our horses, considering there were so many English hunters and well-bred horses about."
In March 1918 he wrote of a race meeting at Dur el Belah.
"They did the thing so well. It was close to Gaza, and on such a pretty course."