All-Time Stakes Leader Passes Away
Written by: Peter Davis 19/04/10
Australia’s highest stakes earner Rapid Journey has passed away.

The brindle dog – affectionately know as Carl – spent all his days with John and Jane Carruthers at Castlereagh and would have been 15 years of age on May 31.

In an amazing racetrack career, Rapid Journey (Amerigo Magic – Miss Courtney) accumulated $530,995 in stakes and won six Group One races (Topgun, National Sprint Championship, Golden Easter Egg, Melbourne Cup, Perth Cup and Adelaide Cup), Group Two (Queensland Cup) and a Group Three (WA Interstate Challenge).

He retired in cracking form, boasting 33 wins from just 54 starts with his final outing, at Sandown on December 10, 1998, being a win in the best time of the night at 29.85s.

“He had bone cancer in a hind leg for a while and the disease eventually caused a break,” Jane Carruthers said.

“[Vet] Tom Astbury came as quickly as possible when it was seen that he was in pain and he was put to sleep. He was just a lovely dog and always wanted to be with us.”

Rapid Journey’s stakes record has been threatened by the likes of El Galo, Bogie Leigh, Paua To Burn, Cindeen Shelby and Mantra Lad just to name a few but, while alive, it remained a bridge too far.

He’s now gone and, with the Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg offering $250,000 to the winner, it will only take an elite sprinter three wins – at Group One level – to topple the Rapid Journey’s mark.

What is less likely is six wins at the elite level.

On the track Rapid Journey was in a class of his own.

The King is dead, long live the King.



One of the Best Dogs I have ever seen race. I will never forget his sensational win in the perth cup. He was true champion who will never be forgotten. Condolences to John and Jane Carruthers on their loss. RIP Carl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzItdhAbZhw