Robert Cooper Bagot (c. 1827 – 14 April 1881) invariably referred to as R. C. Bagot, was a horse racing official in Melbourne, Australia. He was secretary of the Victorian Racing Club and largely responsible for the early success of the Melbourne Cup.[1]
Bagot was the fourth son of (Anglican) Rev. John Bagot MA and brother of Canon Richard Bagot DD, of Fontstown, near Athy, County Kildare, Ireland. He emigrated to Sydney, thence to Moreton Bay, Queensland in the mid-1840s[2] or 1849,[3] and moved to Victoria in 1848[4] or 1855.[3]
By profession a civil engineer and surveyor, he was introduced to Australian sports administration when he was contracted by the Melbourne Cricket Club to redesign their ground, and gained such a reputation that in 1864 he was appointed secretary of the newly-formed VRC after its merger with the Victorian Jockey Club.[4]
He was largely responsible for the erection of a much larger grandstand, facetiously dubbed "Bagot's cowshed",[5] at Flemington Racecourse. He filled in the swampy ground at the centre of the course and had it grassed, creating "The Flat", and persuaded the committee to purchase the rising property adjacent, which became "The Hill", both now celebrated features of Australia's premier racecourse. He has been credited with persuading the Victorian Government to declare Cup Day a bank holiday in lieu of the Prince of Wales's Birthday,which fell on 9 November.[6]
Transparently even-handed, in all the years he was a VRC official, he never made a wager[7] and was not interested in horse racing as a sport.[1]
His was not a strong constitution, but was working until a few days before his death. His remains were buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery. Punctilious in his methods, there was nothing left left undone, and it was agreed his successor would have no difficulty following his work.[8]
He was twice married,[2] to Jane Smith (1833–1873), sister of mayor John Thomas Smith and in 1874 to Maria Gregory (1844 or 1845–1928); he had a son by his first wife and two daughters, Nellie and Olive, by the second.They had a home at Ascot Vale, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria.Maria Bagot married again, to Henry Capel Pigott (1825–1918).
Charles Hervey Bagot (1788–1880), Irish-born pastoralist in South Australia, who had a large and influential family, was not clearly related.