THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XI, Issue 574, 9 November 1880, Page 6

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

" Melbourne, November 2. The great event of the racing season took place to-day, For weeks p:<st thousands of visitors have been pouring into Melbourne from all the Colonies, and it is estimated that over 10,000 visitors were 1 brtfught'by late steamers. The city was never so'eroWded. 1 The weather ,to*day; was; beautiful. The' trains to the course 1 were crowded* starting every few i minutes from 11 to 2 o clock, The road was a busy, spectacle. ' There were a dozen four-in hands, the Hon. W. i J; (Olark'e'sibeingia specially fmeturn-Out. The Governor drove his own 1 drag. The Vice-regal party included Sir Wm, Jervois,i the' Dubej of j Manchester, and Sir Francis Smith,.,the Chief Justice of Tasmania. ' The course was a magjni-, i ficerit sight, there being the largest'attendance ever'knOWnV' It is'estimated that there were fully 100,000. The stand and lawn looked splendid. < The ladies i surpassed themselves in tasteful dresses, and the-Hill, with its un-' equalled slope, was a sea of faces. The Flat, which is open to the general public,, was crowded. . Melbourne Cup, a handicap sweepstakes of 20 sOvs each, 1 Oft, or 5 if declared, 1 with 500 added. The second horse to refceiv'e 200 sovs and the third 100 sovs out of the state. Two miles. (109 subs.) ' Mr J. G. Smith's b c Grand Flaneur, 3 yrs, , by Yattendon—First ,Lady, 6st 101b ..... ' , (Hales) 1 Mr W. Branch's b c Progress, by AnglerCoquette, ... (St. Albans) 2 Mr F. R. L. Rossi's brh Lord Burghley, by Yattendon—Lady Constance, 5 yrs, 7st 51b '.. ' (Pigott) 3 As the time for the Cup race approached, intense excitement prevailed. The favorites were Progress, Grand Flaneur, then Lord Burghley and Mata. There were also much fancied Richmond, Napper Tandy, and Auckland, but the ring laid so heavily bar the favorites that the betting was almost paralysed. Mata since his arrival had been greatly fancied, and was the worst for the ring, carrying over £70,000 of public money.' In the preliminary canter Grand Flaneur, Progress; and Burghley were most admired. Twenty-three started. The position of the horses at the start, outside the rails, was—Banter. Auckland, Secundus, Napper Tandy, Grand Flaneur, Woodlands, Elastic, Lothair, Progress, Martindale, Totalisator, Bosworth, Darriwell, First Water, Rivalry, Rothschild, Chester, Mata, Richmond, Lord Burghley, Wandering Jew, and Riverton. The start was effected punctually by Mr Watson. Mata went off with the lead, accompanied by Chester, Secundus, and Auckland. Bosworth, Martindale, and Richmond were the three last away. Falling into the straight, Napper Tandy was showing to the front, followed by Progress, Auckland, Lothair, Woodlands, Totalisator, and Grand Flaneur. Passing the stand, Totalisator took the lead, and Lothair, Secundus, Progress, Auckland, Woodlands, and Riverton followed in the order named. Lord Burghley, Bosworth, and Richmond last. At the river turn Totalisator was half a length in ad vance of Lothair, who was well clear ; Chester, Progress, and Auckland in the order named ; Secundus dropping last. Riverton, Totalisator, Napper Tandy, and Lothair were in front near the bridge, when Riverton shot to the front, followed by Totalisator, Napper Tandy, Lothair, Grand Flaneur, Woodlands, Mata, Chester, Martindale, Auckland, Rivalry, Richmond, Secundus, Banter, in the order named, Darriwell absolutely tailing off. Then Napper Tandy got in front, closely attended by Progress and Riverton, the three all of a heap, with Auckland conspicuous at the head of the rest; then Chester, Martindale, and Lord Burghley. Near the Abbatoirs Mata came up outside, Grand Flaneur, Progress, and Lord Burghley all looking dangerous. Entering the straight Lord Burghley was leading, with Progress and Grand Flaneur close up, followed by Auckland, Richmond. Chester, Mata, Riverton, Martindale, and Wandering Jew, Rivalry and Secundus being the two last. Coming home, Grand Flaneur went to the front about 200 yards from the winning-post, and came in an easy winner by a length from Progress, who beat Lord Burghley by half a length, then 1 othair, Richmond, Chester, Auckland,' Martindale, Mata, Riverton, Wandering Jew, Rivalry, Totalisator, First Water, Napper Tandy, Secundus, Rothschild, Woodlands, Elastic, Banter, Bosworth, and Darriwell absolutely last. Time, 3min 34|sec. There was tremendous cheering over the result. The time is very good, but three seconds longer than last year. The ring was heavily hit, but not so badly as if Mata, Progress, or Lord Burghley had won. Grand Flaneur has never yet been beaten.

PLACED HORSES FOR MELBOURNE CUP.

Year. First. Second. Third. Time StTt 1861 Archer 9 7 Mormon Prince 3 52 17 1862 Archer 10 2 Mormon Camden 3 47 20 1863 Banker 5 4 Musidora Barwon 3 44 7 1864 Lantern 6 3 Poet Rose, of Denmark 3 52 19 1865 Tory hoy 7 0 Panic Riverina 3 44 23 1866 The Barb 6 11 Exile Falcon 3 43 28 1867 T. Whiffler ... 8 11 Queen of Hearts Exile 3 39 27 1868 Glencoe 9 1 Strop Shenandoah 3 42 25 1869 Warrior 8 10 The Monk Phoebe 3 40 26 1870 Nimblefoot ... 6 3 I japdog Valentine 3 37 28 1871 The Pearl 7 3 Rumula Irish King 3 39 23 1872 The Quack ... 7 10 The Ace Dagworth 3 39 22 1873 Don Juan 6 12 Dagworth Horatio 3 36 25 1874 Haricot 6 7 Protos The Diver 3 374 18 1875 Wollomai 7 8 Richmond Goldsbrough ... 3 38 28 1876 Briseis 6 12 Sybil r l iniothv 3 36* 33 1877 Chester 6 12 Savanaka The Vagabond 3 33* 33 1878 Calamia 8 2 Tom Kirk Waxy 3 35| 30 1879 Darriwell 7 4 Sweetmeat Suwarrow 3 30 1 27 1880 Grand Flaneur 6 10 Progress Lord Burleigh... 3 34f 20