Stony Creek Racing Club (SCRC) is set to celebrate one of the most remarkable moments in Australian racing history at its upcoming Triple Dead Heat Anniversary Races on Sunday 18 January.
The meeting marks the 39th anniversary of the famous Triple Dead Heat that made global headlines and put Stony Creek on the world racing map On 23 January 1987. There have only ever been four triple dead heats in Australian racing history.
Robert Meyer, who has been on the SCRC Committee for 50 years now, recalled what it was like to be there on the day.
“At the time of the triple dead heat I was the timekeeper, so I was in the judges box,” he said.
“My memory was that everyone was fairly cool at the time, and didn’t realise it was a triple dead heat for a start. But once they looked at the photo they decided that it was very close, and in the end it was obvious that it was in fact a triple dead heat. So then everyone got a bit excited.”
“It put Stony Creek on the map, but I don’t think it made much of a difference to the people involved in the club. We always thought it was a great club, and still do,” he said.
Longest serving committee member Tony Livingstone, whose sister was CEO of the Club at the time, also reflected that it didn’t seem what it turned out to be.
“Everyone was in a bit of shock, and they didn’t realise how important of a day it was,” he said.
“All these years later, luckily enough we’ve still got the triple dead heat and we’ve got a photo of it on the wall. I’m pleased that the club’s going to make a special day of it, because it’s something that really deserves to have a special day.”
The famous finish is also remembered for the quick wit of then Club Chairman Alan Bell, who famously responded to the question ‘what do we do now?’ by saying: “I don’t know what you have to do, but I’ve got to find two more trophies.”
Committee member of close to 40 years, Paul Boag, who was in the judges tower that day working with AAPT (Australian Association of Professional Tipsters), remembers the lengthy deliberation that followed.
“It took 20 minutes or so to finally decide that there was a triple dead heat,” he said. “None of us really realised at the time what a rarity it was. There was a lot of fallout from it in the industry. The fact that the press from Melbourne even flew a helicopter down later in the afternoon to get the ins and outs of it all — it was an amazing afternoon.”
He also reflected on how advances in technology may mean such a result is unlikely to happen again.
“Nowadays, I believe the technical expertise of the industry is so great that they probably would’ve separated those horses. So times have changed.”
SCRC CEO Jason Benbow said the anniversary race day is a proud and significant occasion for both the Club and the local community.
“The Triple Dead Heat is a moment that still resonates strongly with racing fans across Australia. It’s a huge part of Stony Creek’s story, and we’re proud to celebrate that legacy with a great day of racing and entertainment,” Benbow said.
As the third Summer race date of the season, the Triple Dead Heat Anniversary Races promise a relaxed and family-friendly day out, making it an ideal school holiday activity.
Racegoers can bring their own picnic setup or choose from a range of packages available, including private marquees, picnic tables, umbrellas, and bean bags. There will also be plenty of free kids’ activities, including pony rides and the popular JockeyCam VR experience.
It’s not too late to become a member and make the most of the season. SCRC memberships offer exceptional value, including free entry to all five race days, exclusive access to members’ areas and bars, happy hour drinks and discounts on marquee bookings. Members also enjoy reciprocal rights at neighbouring clubs including Moe, Sale, Bairnsdale, and Traralgon. Secure your tickets and find out more at country.racing.com/stony-creek.
