Bill Gibbins, the driving force behind the Jericho Cup, has died only days after the eighth running of the marathon staying race that honours Australia’s war horses and Light Horsemen.
A successful businessman and philanthropist that was awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2021, Gibbins revived the Jericho Cup concept in 2018 and worked closely with Racing Victoria to ensure it remained an annual feature on the calendar.
At the time, Gibbins had become enamored with the story of Bill the Bastard and the original Jericho Cup, a WW1 desert race in the sands of Palestine, and pitched the idea to honour the bravery and sacrifice of the mounted troops and their horses from World War I.
In an incredible act of generosity, Gibbins funded the prizemoney and trainer bonus for the first four editions of the race with his own money.
In a statement, RV CEO Aaron Morrison confirmed his death after a battle with illness and said Gibbins was a huge contributor to racing that put his own money up to indulge a passion project.
Although it doesn’t carry the prizemoney or public prestige of the Melbourne Cup, the Jericho Cup has quickly become one of the sport’s most coveted trophies.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to Bill Gibbins’ family and friends on behalf of everyone at Racing Victoria and the Victorian racing industry,” Morrison said.
“Universally loved and highly respected, Bill’s contribution to both racing and the community cannot be understated.”
“Thanks to Bill’s vision and passion, we now run Australia’s longest flat race, the Jericho Cup, a recognised and much-anticipated event on the annual racing calendar.”
“Bill contributed over $1 million of his own money to fund the first four Jericho Cups because that was exactly the type of person he was – he stood up for what he believed in.”
“He was passionate about Australia and its heritage and recognised the importance of remembering our service men and women, something that I’d like to personally acknowledge and respect.”
