Gloaming (September 1915 – 5 May 1932) was an outstanding Thoroughbred racehorse, owned, trained, and based in New Zealand. He set many records which included the Australasian record (jointly held with Desert Gold, Black Caviar and Winx) of 19 successive wins, many in Principal Races. Gloaming was unusual in that he was a champion who won many major races in both Australia and New Zealand. Gloaming still holds the Australasian record of 45 seconds for four furlongs.
Breeding
He was a robust bay gelding standing 15 hands 3 inches high with a good length of rein. Gloaming was sired by the good imported racehorse and sire, The Welkin (GB) out of the unplaced mare, Light (GB), by the good sire, Eager. His paternal grandsire was the English Triple Crown champion, Flying Fox. Gloaming was a brother to seven other named horses, all by The Welkin, including Gloaming's Sister (won AJC Kirkham Stakes), but none were nearly so successful as him. Light was inbred in the third generation (3x3) to Sterling.
Gloaming was sold as a yearling in 1916 for 230 guineas to H. Chisholm acting on behalf of George D. Greenwood, of Teviotdale in the Canterbury region, New Zealand. Following the sale he made his first of 15 crossings of the Tasman Sea.
Racing record
Gloaming had a long career, racing from age three to nine years, which included victories over other champion racehorses such as Desert Gold, Beauford, Kennaquhair, Whittier and The Hawk. He was successful at distances from four furlongs to a mile and a half.
He was put into work as a two-year-old, but became shin-sore, and was gelded before being spelled. In June 1918 he was shipped to Sydney, after he had showed promise in track work in New Zealand.
1922 Racebook
At three years: 1918-19
At his first start, in the Sydney Tattersall's Chelmsford Stakes, over nine furlongs, he ran a race record time to defeat a class field that included the imported five-year-old Rebus and Kennaquhair. This was the first time this race had been won by a three-year-old having their first start. In his first season's racing Gloaming went on to win three Derbies, the AJC Australian Derby, the New Zealand Derby Stakes, and also the Great Northern Derby in New Zealand. In addition he won the 1918 Wellington R.C. (WRC) Champion Plate weight for age (w.f.a.) over 10 furlongs by 2 lengths 2nd in G. G. Stead Memorial Stakes (w.f.a.) (defeated by the New Zealand Cup winner, Sasanof). won Auckland Racing Club (ARC) Islington Plate (w.f.a.) 1 mile. won Wellington Stakes 5 furlongs in 58 3/5 seconds (race record) won WeRC Kelburn Plate (w.f.a.) 4 fur. (defeating Surveyor) 2nd in Taranaki Stakes (defeated by Desert Gold). won Egmont Stakes (defeating Desert Gold). won Hawera Stakes (defeating Desert Gold) won WangJC Wanganui Jackson Stakes (w.f.a.) 6 fur. won WangJC Wanganui Guineas, 1 mile won Canterbury Jockey Club (CJC) Challenge Stakes, 7 fur. (defeating Surveyor). fell in the North Island Challenge Stakes (which was won by Warplane who was in receipt of 31 lb.).
At four years: 1919-20
Gloaming won all but one of his starts during this season. All of his starts for this season are listed below: won Rosehill Spring Stakes (w.f.a.) 1 mile (defeating Wolaroi and Prince Viridis). 2nd in Australian Jockey Club (AJC) Spring Stakes (w.f.a.) (beaten a head by Poitrel; Cetigne 3rd), 12 furlongs won AJC Craven Plate (w.f.a.) 10 furlongs (defeating Wolaroi and, Rebus 3rd, Sasanof). won Wellington (N.Z.) Champion Plate (w.f.a.) 10 f (defeating Affectation, Mascot, Vagabond, and Desert Gold). won G. G. Stead Memorial Gold Cup, 10 f (defeating Rossini and Desert Gold). won ARC Islington Plate (w.f.a.) 1 mile won ARC. Royal Park Stakes, 6 furlongs in 1:13 (race record)
At five years: 1920-21
As a five-year-old Gloaming had 15 race starts and won all of them including these principal races: 1920 ARC Islington Plate (w.f.a.) 8 f 1920 ARC Royal Stakes 6 f 1921 ARC Auckland Plate (w.f.a.) 12 f 1921 CJC Challenge Stakes 7 f 1921 TaraJC Taranaki Stakes 6 f 1921 WangJC Jackson Stakes (w.f.a.) 6 f
At six years: 1921-22
As a six-year-old Gloaming had 12 race starts and won all but one, in which he ran second. The principal races he won were: 1922 ARC Auckland Plate 12 furlongs 1922 TaraJC Taranaki Stakes 6 furlongs 1922 WangJC Jackson Stakes (w.f.a.) 6 furlongs, in 1:11 4/5, a race record 1922 WRC North Island Challenge Stakes 7 furlongs 1922 CJC Challenge Stakes 7 furlongs 1922 HBJC Ormond Memorial Gold Cup 8 furlongs.