LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Media Release
June
16th, 2008
RECIPE BOOK JUST THE TONIC FOR CAULFIELD CUP VICTORY
Following the running of the 1924 Caulfield Cup, trainer Cecil Godby was rubbed out for 12 months after a
Stewards enquiry. His horse Purser had performed woefully three days before the Cup, yet on the day was
backed from 50-1 into 15-1, and won. It seems the stewards were less than impressed with his explanation.
This bit of trivia adds a tasty aside to a fascinating lot to be auctioned on June 25th by Leski Auctions in
Melbourne.
Up for sale is Godby’s horse-tonic recipe book, a rare 164 page notebook full of recipes for tonics and
ointments for racehorses. With ingredients like arsenic, strychnine, belladonna, cocaine and caffeine it is little
wonder that he trained some of the fastest (and happiest?) horses on the professional circuit.
His Caulfield Cup winners included Purser, Gaine Carrington (1933) and Northwind (1936). Clearly Godby
was happy to spread the love and with great success after jockey Ted Preston was given access to it and rode
Rivette to a Melbourne-Caulfield Cups double in 1939.
The recipe book has a presale estimate of $1,000 - $2,000.
“Leski Auctions recently sold Harry Telford’s Phar Lap tonic book for $37,000,” says Charles Leski.
“Godby is a contemporary of Telford and his recipe book is no less interesting given the pedigree of his
horses and their achievements.”
The Auction will be held at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn on Wednesday, June 25th at 6.30pm. The Godby
Horse Tonic Recipe Book is one of 471 lots of sporting memorabilia.
About Leski Auctions
Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia, Australiana,
Collectibles and World Philately.
Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art, wine, cameras, books, autographs, entertainment
memorabilia, medals, coins, stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway memorabilia, advertising artwork
and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..
It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™, which
allows participation from anywhere in the world. It currently runs 22 auctions per year.
Leski Auctions has previously sold many significant collections, including those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke, Sir
Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton. It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other auction
house in the world, and is one of the largest auctioneers of cricket memorabilia by value and volume. Leski Auctions
recently sold the newly-discovered Phar Lap horse tonic recipe book.
Managing Director Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Cultural Gifts Program through the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports Museum at
the MCG, Melbourne.
The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123 Australia. Telephone +61-3-864 9999 and
Issued by:
Charles Leski, Leski Auctions
Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting
Tel: 61-3-9864 9999
Tel: 0403 135 880
charles@leski.com.au
michaelkrape@krape.com.au
LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
NEWS 
