Race of the Century (Horse Racing)

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The Race of the Century was the name given to the encounter between Waverley Star and Bonecrusher in the W S Cox Plate of 1986. The two horses cleared the rest of the field, and each put its nose in front. Bonecrusher prevailed by a neck.

The Cox Plate of 1986 is one of the most replayed versions of the running of the event featuring an epic encounter between New Zealand horses Waverley Star (Lance O'Sullivan) and Bonecrusher (Gary Stewart). Melbourne commentator Bill Collins' call of the great battle is one of racing's finest. The two horses drew clear of their rivals 800m from the finish and engaged in a two-horse dogfight down the straight. Bonecrusher won by a neck over Waverley Star in a race which will always be rememered.

When Gary Stewart took off on Bonecrusher, and Lance O'Sullivan went with him, near the 800 metres, it was on. By the time they had the post in sight, it was like round 13 in Marciano versus Walcott, Philadelphia, 1952. Bonecrusher, whose name even had a pugilistic ring to it, won by a neck, and would never be forgotten. Neither would Waverley Star.

"Here come the New Zealanders . . . have they gone too early? . . . And Bonecrusher races into equine immortality . . . the crowd is roaring its head off." -racecaller Collins [1]