SHOWER OF SILVER.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 12

SHOWER OF SILVER.

AN" ONLOOKER'S LUCK. At leaat one patron of the Flat at Randwick went home a good winner before the second last race on Monday of last week. The person was T. McGovett, a lad of about nineteen years of age. He is a wharf labourer, and resides in Dowling Street, Randwick. When E. Moon was unseated from Blue at the second jump in the Steeplechase, several onlookers who were standing near the obstacle jumped the fence to capture the gelding. Mc- • Govett was the successful one, and he mounted Blue to ride the gelding back to the bird-cage. Blue went along quietly until turned for home. On seeing the judge's box ahead, the gelding took charge of hie amateur rider, and, instead of turning into the weighing enclosure, galloped at full speed down the straight. McGovett, with his coat-taila flying, hung on like grim death, providing considerable amusement for the big crowd. After covering the beet part of two miles Blue turned into the bird-cage, and, apparently thinking he was the winner of a race, cantered up to the end of the enclosure where successful horses are pulled up for their jockeys to dismount. When Blue stopped, M<-Govett, thoroughly exhausted after his long ride, fell off. He recovered several seconds later, and, as the lad was being assisted out of the enclosure, a shower of silver coins fell from the members' stand. Tn two-shilling- pieces, shillings, and Sixpences McGovett collected over £8, and when walking away he remarked that he would go through a similar ordeal for the same reward. MeGovett did not rejoin the band of punters, but went home while his luck was in.