Charles Leslie Macdonald (21 December 1856 – 16 November 1929), generally known as Leslie or C. Leslie Macdonald, was a racehorse owner and breeder, noted for two Melbourne Cup winners, Revenue in 1901 and Night Watch in 1918.
History
Macdonald was born in Bunglegumbie, New South Wales, near Dubbo, a (perhaps the only) son of Charles E(dward) S(tuart) Macdonald (c. 1824 – 29 December 1862), wine merchant, Dubbo, later stock and station agent of Mort Street, Sydney, and his wife Janet Macdonald.
His elder sister Isabella Sarah Charlotte Macdonald (23 October 1854 – ) married John Eden Savill (c. 1847–1920) in Adelaide on 4 September 1872; by 1874 Macdonald was also in Adelaide. At that time Savill was working as a graphic artist and Macdonald was starting in business as a racehorse owner, with a chestnut gelding Gladiator (late Red Deer), which won the Lockleys Cup in August 1874. This was an amateur race held on E. M. Bagot and G. Bennett's property at Lockleys. In 1878 at a similar meeting, his horse Firefly won the Hurdle Race. In April 1879 he purchased the Adelaide Cup winner Banter. At what may have been his first professional race at Simeon Barnard's Newmarket meeting at Morphettville in August 1879, his bay colt Pawnbroker came second in the Handicap Flutter and won the South Australian Derby in 1879. He won the Birthday Cup in 1880 with Banter.
Macdonald was working closely with Savill, at his Lockleys stables, preparing horses for owners such as W. R. Wilson. Savill won the South Australian Derby with Pawnbroker in 1879 and the Adelaide Racing Club's first two City Handicaps with Miss Harriet in 1879 and Footstep in 1880. Savill was owner of The Assyrian unexpectedly who won the 1882 Melbourne Cup, and only because a last-minute shower of rain made the track "heavy", which suited The Assyrian admirably. The large sum of money Savill had put on the mare (and in a panic had tried in vain to hedge) made him wealthy enough to return to England and live in grand style. Macdonald took over operation of the Lockleys stables, and had some success with horses Rory O'More, The Israelite, and Footstep. He leased Hortense from Sir Thomas Elder and raced her with some success. Macdonald had sole management of Tom Barnfield's First Water, a horse previously owned by William Pile. They got him ready for the 1883 Melbourne Cup, and Barnfield, confident of victory at good odds, backed him heavily but lost £80,000 when Martini-Henry won the Cup. Macdonald took over the training of Lord Wilton for E. W. Ellis (later chairman of the V.R.C. stipendiary stewards) after that horse had won the 1885 Adelaide Cup, famously was run at Flemington.
St Albans
St. Albans stud and racing stables in Breakwater, near Geelong was founded in 1872 by trainer James Wilson, and the homestead was completed the following year. In 1886 St Albans was purchased by John Crozier, Jr., who sold it to mining magnate W. R. Wilson four years later for a reputed £75,000. Wilson appointed Macdonald manager of the stud.
Wilson broke up his St. Albans establishment in 1895, selling the stock and property on the art union principle. At a separate sale Macdonald purchased Revenue for 725 guineas, and backed him heavily for the 1901 Melbourne Cup, despite his starting at 7 to 4, the hottest favorite in the history of the race up to that time. His other great purchase was Wakeful, regarded by many as the greatest mare that ever raced in Australia, having won the Sydney Cup, Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap, and Doncaster Handicap. Among Wakeful's offspring were Blairgour and Night Watch, winners of several important races. Macdonald's trainer for a number of years was Hugh "Hughie" Munro (c. 1858 – 2 June 1925), father of Sydney jockeys James Leslie "Jimmie" Munro (1906–1974) and David Hugh "Darby" Munro (1913–1966).
The St Albans Estate property, valued at £40,000, was won by J. W. Jordan, of Seymour, Victoria, who offered it for sale at a great auction in November, and was knocked down to W. R. Wilson, who bought the property back for £24,000. He also bought back some of his horses at "sensible" prices from "lucky winners", who no doubt found ownership of a thoroughbred horse a "white elephant" proposition. With this nucleus, Wilson re-established the stud and racing stables, retaining Macdonald as manager.
Wilson died in 1900 and the St Alban stud was broken up again. The great sire Bill of Portland was purchased by an English stud. The property was purchased by a consortium which included Guy Raymond, a friend of Macdonald's.