The Melbourne Racecourse.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XI, Issue 575, 16 November 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Melbourne Racecourse.

The Victoria Racing < dub started in 1863 with a small but very itifluencial list of members, and at the outset the committee was singularly fortunate in securing the services of Mr K. C, Bagot as secretary, who, though he did not possess the slightest knowledge of racing, yet had a faculty for organisation, and an energy in carrying out his plans, that proved of immense advantage to the club, and to which the success of the club has been mainly due. Mr Bagot, on accepting the office of secretary, at once set himself about to make the race meetings of the club popular. He spared no expense in providing every convenience for the visitors, and his efforts were so highly appreciated that the V.R.C. meetings, and particularly the spring meetings, soon became popular, not only in Victoria, but in all the Australian colonies. Year after year the number of visitors increased, anil soon it became evident that if the visitors were to be properly accommodated, a new stand must be erected; This was done, and the present stand was built iu the year 1873. The building, though it possesses no architectural attractions, is eminently useful. It will seat 4000 persons comfortably, and on a crush day, with the wide corridor and passages, it will hold about 6000 persons. The stand has been so constructed that it does not interfere in the least with the view of the occupants on the hill. This stand was in turn found too small, and a second stand was erected in the saddling paddock, which will hold about 2000 persons. The saddling paddock was increased, and a magnificent lawn laid oat. In the saddling paddock, which is a very large one, a fine lot of loose-boxes were erected, and trees were planted for giving shade. On the hill permanent booths were built in sufficient number to accommodate even the vast numbers that visit that portion of the ground on a Cup day. On the flat, which is free to everyone, the accommodation is not equalled by any racecourse in Europe. While attending to the wants of the public, Mr Bagot was not unmindful of the requirements of the trainers of horses, though it was complained at the time that he neglected the training-ground to provide for the comfort of the public. The training-ground was naturally very unsuitable for the purpose. In the winter it was a heavy bog, which strained the horses terribly, and in the summer it became as hard as Macadamised road, which was very trying to many horses’ legs. On this ground three tracks were laid out—a cinder track, for

working on in very wet weather ; a tan track for horses with delicate legs ; and an outer, or as it is sometimes called, the sand track, for ordinary work. These tracks have been so well cared for that how they are pronounced by the the trainers themselves as the finest traininggrounds in the colonies. All the improvements on the course have been carried out in a most substantial manner, and though the cost has in instances been heavy, the work is of such a lasting character that the money has been well invested. The expenditure on this ground in permanent works up to the present time amounts to within a trifle of L 40,000. The club has a debt of LIO.OOO in debentures, which could be very easily cleared off if it was thoughtnecessary. The receipts for last year amounted to L 11,743 17s lid, and the amount paid in stakes at the Spring, Champion, and Autumn Meetings amounted to a total of L 25,385. The sport of racing causes an immense amount of money to be spent in the colony. The support of such a number of racehorses from their foalhood till they eventually retire from the turf must be of great benefit to the farmers, while all! classes of citizens benefit by the enormous influx of visitors who annually flock to Melbourne to visit the V.R.C. Spring Meeting. The Melbourne racecourse has become one of the most noted sights of Victoria, and few strangers come to Melbourne without paying it a visit, and the liberality of the club is such that the Flemington course, and the improvements thereon, are spoken of with admiration over the greater portion of the world.