Van der Hum


Van der Hum was a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse, who won the 1976 Melbourne Cup when ridden by Bob Skelton.
He was sired by the versatile stayer and sire of the winners of over $2m, Hermes, his dam Tip O'Dawn was by the good sire Count Rendered.
The favourite for the 1976 Melbourne Cup was the Bart Cummings trained local Gold and Black, but Van Der Hum was a wet track specialist, and on cup day there was a very heavy downpour on the course, and Gold and Black came in second to Van Der Hum. Trainer and part owner Leo Robinson had spent two nights prior to the 1976 Melbourne Cup in his car, armed with a shotgun, outside Van Der Hum’s stall.
Van der Hum was ridden again by Bob Skelton when placed 10th in the 1977 Melbourne Cup which was won by the "Cups King", Bart Cummings, with Gold and Black from Reckless and Hyperno.
He later won the Waikato and Hawkes Bay Hurdles.
Van der Hum was euthanized on 27 July 2001, four days short of his 30th birthday.