MUMFORD’S VAST COLLECTION NOT BOOKS BY ANY OTHER NAME

NEIL Mumford is a “bright spark” indeed!

Not only does he have his own busy electrical business, but somehow finds time to also collect books.

Some three to four thousand of them.

But these are not the books most readers would keep.

In fact they are racebooks – and this avid collector has scouted long and hard over many a year to add them to his stockpile.

And he doesn’t mind paying to secure books he wants to have.

Mumford says he started this “hobby” more than three or so decades ago to make a concerted effort to keep the history of the racing industry alive.

“I’ve always been a collector,” he told Provincial RacingNSW.

“As a kid I collected stamps and coins.

“It’s not just racebooks either. I have more than a dozen Australian baggy green cricket caps, NRL memorabilia and plenty of other memorabilia of those great racehorses Phar Lap and Carbine.

“But there’s something very special about a racebook.

“I’ve always enjoyed a bet, though I’m not a big punter.

Neil with 1868 Champions' Carnival book at Launceston in Tasmania, and Phar Lap's historic 1930 Melbourne Cup book

“I love the history of racing, and the books tell their own stories.

“Some of the older ones carry details about how to get a train or a coach to the track, how much the trips were, and the cost of entry to the course.”

Mumford maintains his books by keeping them in folders, and enjoys having a beer and looking through them whenever the opportunities arise.

“It’s great,” he said. I never tire of reading about the history of racing.”

In his passion to collect these books, he has picked up some advertised on eBay, others through Racehorses Australia on Facebook and calls from people who have got in touch courtesy of word of mouth about his labour of love.

Mumford says he is especially proud to have a book of the 1868 Carnival of Champions held at Launceston in Tasmania.

“It’s pretty significant; I don’t think there would be another one around,” he said.

“Five of the first 10 Melbourne Cup winners (such as Glencoe, The Barb, Tim Whiffler, Toryboy and Nimblefoot) all competed at the carnival.

“They went across Bass Strait on a boat in rough seas all those years ago in what no doubt was a fantastic boost to the racing industry in Tasmania.

”Those Cup winners all tackled various races over the carnival, and returned to Melbourne on that same rickety boat.

“That wouldn’t happen nowadays of course.”

Mumford says it took him “ages” to snare his first Melbourne Cup racebook, and it came purely by chance.

Someone had contacted him to say their grandfather had passed away, and had kept old racebooks.

Mumford bought the 1930s and 1940s collection, without a clue what was in them and was understandably rapt to discover the immortal Phar Lap’s 1930 book.

“It was unbelievable. It had a few markings on it, and then I found another one in much better condition in the same collection,” he said.

“Now I have three 1930 Cup books. All of them came to me in less than a year.”

Mumford goes way back to 1901 (Revenue was the winner) with his Melbourne Cup books, and says some of the early ones are never seen, and thus virtually impossible to find.

“But I keep looking,” he said. “It’s amazing when you do come across an old book, and then you want to find another one.”

Whilst he can’t put a price on his vast collection of racebooks (they’re priceless, he says), he worries about future generations keeping such remarkable chapters of Australian racing history.

“I’m 57 and I’m still enjoying collecting the books,” he said.

“But goodness knows what will happen when I’m no longer around, or can’t do it?

“The young ones aren’t interested in what I’m doing, though the racebooks are such an indelible part of our history.

“In the meantime, I’ll keep collecting as long as I can.”

HOOFNOTE: Mumford would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in passing on old racebooks, and can be contacted on 0417 213400.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 28, 2026