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Cecil Godby Makes Plans at His Famous Cambria House Establishment
By "Musket"
CAMBRIA House, Neerim road,
Caulfield, is one of the most
up-to-date racing establishments
in Australia. And it is to be
improved still further. The historic
house is now occupied by Cecil God-
by and he has made plans for in-
creasing the size of the stables.
It is only a few months since God-
by took up his residence at Cambria
House, and already big things have
been carried out. The house has
been remodelled, and brought up to
present day standards in internal dec-
oration. The stables have been
added to by the addition of the
boxes which were used by Godby
for his horses at Mentone. There
are now 22 stalls at Cambria House
stables, and, in addition there is a
room for the gear, and a hosing
box inside the building. A night
watchman sleeps inside the stable,
and fear by injury to horses by intruders
is minimised.
Another up-to-date appointment is
a rolling box. This is adjacent to
the stables, and it is filled with
beach sand, especially sifted in
order to remove shells. The box is
fitted with electric light. In this
horses arc rolled when they return
from a race meeting, and Godby
says it is as freshening to them as
a bath to a tired business man.
A house at the rear of Cambria
House has been acquired by Godby,
and this has been given over to the
stable employees for their sole use.
It is a fine brick residence, and
there is every comfort of home life
for the boys. It is Godby's intention
to cut up the land surrounding
the stables into about 16 paddocks.
In these his horses will rest during
the day, while they are under the
Supervision of the stable boys.
Godby is a firm believer in open air
treatment for his horses, and he regularly
placed them in yards at his
Mentone establishment. He is
anxious to have the work of
fencing the small paddocks comp-
leted as he desires to resume the
open air system, which he has been
forced by circumstances to abandon
temporarily since he took up the
occupancy of his present establish-
ment.
Overlooking the Caulfield race-
course, Cambria House, with its
tower, is a noted landmark in the
district. When Godby opened up
negotiations for its purchase, the
previous owner had decided to
wreck the grand old home, and cut
up the land for building allotments.
The loss of Cambria House to the
district would have been looked
upon as something of a calamity
to those who have regarded it with
fondness for many years.
Now, in the ownership of Cecil
Godby, the famous home will re-
main to look over the Caulfield
coursc for many years to come.
Even from the verandah of Cambria
House, it is possible to get a
clear view of all that takes place on
the racecourse. No more ideal site
for an up-to-date racing establishment
could be imagined.
Cambria House was built nearly
40 years ago by Mr. G. Davis,
father of Mr. J. H. Davis, the present
V.R.C. handicapper. There the
late Mr. Davis established a great
racing stable. Names of good horses
of his time that come to mind are
The Swiveller, David, Camerine,
Day Star, Summerlea, and Emma-
lea.
Then Mr. J. H. Davis carried on
the establishment. He had such
noted gallopers as Fortunatus
Beneda, The Bucaneer and Dulcima.
Mr. Davis left Cambria House
about 20 years ago, and since then
the fame of the house has not
diminished.
Mr. John Widdis took possession,
and there such great horses as
Patrobas and Shepherd King were
located. Others, of a lesser light,
in Grastus and Rcmmon, also found
homes there in the Widdis reign.
Now Godby is left to carry on,
and he can be relied upon to do so
with honor to the house. He has 17
horses in work at present. These
include Sans Culotte, Staldcn, Belle
Gallante, Salzach, Ragazzo, Mathew,
King David, New Hope, Hinda
Rose, Micronesia and Alumnus.
Sans Culotte's four wins, and a
second, from five starts, is known
history, and the manner in which
Stalden outclassed a field of smart
two-year-olds at Caulficld has impressed
many.
In fact, Stalden is one of the most
interesting of Godby's horses. Certainly.
he is the most handsome. He
is a "peacocky" little fellow, but
one that does not live only for his
good looks. He can gallop, too.
The colt is a bay, of solid build, but
not very big. He is likely to be a
great three-year-old, and already is
looked upon as a likely Derby candidate.
Belle Gallante, who won the
Gimerack Stakes in Sydney early in
the season, has just come in from a
spell. Unfortunately, the filly cut
one of her hind legs while in the
paddock. The injury is not serious,
but it has prevented her from being
put into regular training. Owing to
her small stature, her likeable dis-
position and her galloping ability.
Belle Gallante is the pet of Cambria
House. The boys call her "Mary
Loo." Little more than a pony, the
filly has more pace than the average
sprinter.
Altogether, Godby has a bright
outlook for the autumn. His horses
look well and the pleasant surround-
ings under which they are prepared
must be a great factor in helping
them to give of their best in public.
C. T. CODBY Help
C. T. CODBY
A panoramic view of Cambria Home stables, which are being elaborately fitted up by Cecil Godby. Inset are the heads of the principal occupants of the stables. Help
A panoramic view of Cambria Home stables, which are being elaborately fitted up by Cecil Godby. Inset are the heads of the principal occupants of the stables.
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