The Melbourne Cup Carnival covers four days of racing and includes the Melbourne Cup, Derby Day, Oaks Day and the Champion Stakes. The four day carnival began in 1869. The first Melbourne Cup was run in 1861, and Derby day in 1856. In 1899 the winner of the Melbourne Cup was Merriwee who also won the Derby that year. At that time the Champions Stakes was called the Mackinnon Stakes, named after Lachlan Kenneth Scobie Mackinnon, a previous chairman of the Victorian Racing Club. In 1899 the race for age race was won by Mora. The Oaks is a race for 3yo fillies racing over one and a half miles in 1899 when it was won by Nitre.Large ledger book probably from Arthur Allsop. Includes the starting prices wagers of horse races in Victoria and the Commercial Bank records of deposits and withdrawals. It covers the years from 1897 to 1922. With the book there is also a handwritten letter to Arthur recording the bets of A. Connell and W.P. Bayus (?) over the Melbourne Cup carnival 1899.bookmaker's ledger, horse racing, 1899, melbourne cup carnival

Arthur Allsop went into the business office at Bendigo (Vic.) of the late Mr. Alfred Joseph. He later operated as an independent bookmaker. Arthur Allsop was a partner in the firm of Kelly and Allsop and was involved in mining and speculation in Bendigo. He was elected as a member of the Bendigo Stock Exchange in 1906. He started his athletic career at picnic sports and was a fine athlete winning many foot races. For 15 years he acted as secretary of the Sandhurst City Fire Brigade, he was captain of the Bendigo lacrosse team. He was a fair cricketer, and played against the English and Australian Elevens. He played football, and acted as secretary to the Bendigo Football Club. In later years he played bowls and captained pennant teams. He was a Past District- Grandmaster in the M.U.I.O.O.F. Allsop eventually moved to Melbourne and then Sydney working as a bookmaker. He died in Sydney in 1921. His wife Belle died in Bendigo in 1914 and is buried in the Bendigo Cemetery.Day book used by Bookmaker Arthur Allsop as a ledger. The paper covering of the cover has been worn off on most of the book. Pages have ruled columns. The book contains handwritten records of races across Victoria including names of horses and betting records. Handwritten entries contain names and payment records.horse racing, bookmaker, arthur allsop, kelly and allsop