Leading trainer Granny McDonald is shown with her husband, jockey Allan McDonald, and Catalogue, which won the 1938 Melbourne Cup. In 1924 McDonald was the first woman trainer to get a professional licence in New Zealand, but she could not claim credit officially for Catalogue's win because Australia banned women trainers at the time. Allan McDonald, who obtained a temporary trainer's licence and accompanied the horse to Melbourne, is listed in the Victoria Racing Club's official records. When Sheila Laxon trained Ethereal to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne cups in 2001, her achievement gained due recognition.
Using this item
Palmerston North City Library, Ian Matheson City Archives
Reference: Unprocessed archive regarding "Granny " Hedwick Wilhelmina McDonald
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