To this stage Kingston Town had won 21 consective races in Sydney with his only defeat his very first start. He lined up for the Chelmsford Stakes for what was expected to be his 22nd. Travelling well fourth on the rails Kingston Town was in trouble turning for home as he found himself pocketed behind the tiring leader Port Carling. Rare Form had surged to the front as Gurner’s Lane chased from Artist Man as Kingston Town finally got clear but it was all over and he passed the post in fourth place. The run was scrutinized but in the end the small field of 8 with a tiring runner falling back led to his defeat.
A fortnight later Kingston Town lined up in the Hill Stakes with fans wanting revenge for the bad luck of the previous week. In a tiny field of four Kingston Town’s opponents were the 3yo Cossack Prince, Rare Form and Fairy God. Kingston Town led throughout and looked set for victory in the straight before Cossack Prince (in receipt of 11kg due to the weight for age system) started to make ground. Soon Kingston Town was under siege as Rare Form finished strongly too. In the run to the post Kingston Town was headed by Cossack Prince with the 3yo too strong by a neck with Kingston Town holding Rare Form off by a head for second.
After the two defeats the critics appeared saying the horse was past it and should be retired before tarnishing his record further. Connections however knew better and he lined up a week later in the George Main Stakes. By the 800m Northern Reward led the 6 horse field from Kingston Town then Honey Glow and Ksar Royal then Grey Receiver. Little changed until into the final stages where Kingston Town joined Northern Reward who fought back strongly. Under strong hands and heels riding Kingston Town slowly gained the upper hand to win by a half length with a gap to Grey Receiver third.
Kingston Town then headed to Melbourne for the spring carnival. In the Caulfield Stakes Deb’s mate led for home as Kingston Town gave chase. By the 200m Kingston Town took control under hands and heels to race to victory from Deb’s Mate with Allez Bijou third.
It was then onto the Cox Plate and to attempt a feat no other horse had achieved before (and none have since) to win three Cox Plates. The closest any horse have achieved before was Chatham in the 30’s with two wins and a second to Phar Lap at his first run in the race.
Fearless Pride jumped to the front but was soon headed by Deb’s Mate with My Axeman next then Allez Bijou followed by No Peer then Magari with Kingston Town next inside Lawman from Sovereign Red, Grosvenor then Rare Form and Gurner’s Lane. By the 800m Deb’s Mate led Fearless Pride then Allez Bijou and My Axeman followed by Lawman out wide around Kingston Town and No Peer then Rare Form and Grosvenor from Magari and Gurner’s Lane. It appeared Kingston Town was in trouble he was under the whip and struggling with racecaller Bill Collins (nicknamed the Accurate One) stating the famous ‘Kingston Town can’t win’. As he said the words it was as if the black horse heard him as he started to pick up momentum and planned to push clear. Around the turn Fearless Pride led My Axeman from Grosvenor and Lawman then Allez Bijou with Kingston Town trying to get clear. In the straight My Axeman joined Fearless Pride as Grosvenor challenged and Kingston Town started to power home down the outside though still a fair way back. Grosvenor hit the front 70m to go but Kingston Town swamped the 3yo to grab the lead inside the final 30m to win by a half length with My Axeman third from Fearless Pride and Lawman. The crowd went mad as Kingston Town created history and prepared to make amends for the previous years Melbourne Cup.
Concerns over his legs resulted in Kingston Town going straight into the Melbourne Cup where he started at 6/1. Noble Comment, Carringbush and Gala Mascot led early with Kingston Town behind them on the rails. Brewery Boy led past the post the first time from Noble Comment then Carringbush followed by Kingston Town and Gala Mascot then Port Carling and Allez Bijou. Little changed to the 1600m where Carringbush joined Brewery Boy from Noble Comment and Triumphal March. By the 700m Brewery Boy and Carringbush were joined by Noble Comment and Kingston Town with Triumphal March and near the rails Port Carling. With 300m left Kingston Town took the lead from Noble Comment then Triumphal March, Astrolin and Gurner’s Lane who was making a run near the rails. At the 100m Gurner’s Lane joined Kingston Town from Noble Comment. By the post Gurner’s Lane was a neck in front of Kingston Town denying him the Melbourne Cup that race fans so desperately wanted to see him claim with Noble Comment third from My Sir Avon and Bianco Lady.
After the disappointment of being run down in the shadows of the post Kingston Town headed to the Perth Carnival with the Perth Cup his target. He was the talk of the city on arriving in Perth and remains probably the bet horse to ever race at Ascot racetrack. First up he started in the Westerrn Mail Classic. Due to concerns with his action in the warm up and the hard track Malcolm Johnston kept him wide throughout the race. By the 800m Kiwi Bride challenged for the lead from Rare Flyer then Cheeky Trot and Getting Closer as Kingston Town made ground. By the 400m Kiwi Bride led as Kingston Town moved up wide from Grosvenor and Getting Closer. By the 200m there was a line of four of Cheeky Trot, Rare Flyer, Getting Closer and Kingston Town fighting the race out. By the 100m Kingston Town edged ahead of Getting Closer then Rare Flyer and Cheeky Trot. In the final 50m Kingston Town came away to win by a length over Getting Closer with Rare Flyer third.
Kingston Town was then due to race at Pinjarra just over two weeks later but the leg injuries flared again and Kingston Town withdraw from his Perth engagements and headed home for another break. This time his legs didn’t respond to treatment and it was announced during the winter that Kingston Town would not be competing during the spring of 1983. The Cox Plate meeting did feature Kingston Town as he led the field out then cantered down the straight ridden by Roy Higgins. Strawberry Road went on to victory that year.