OLD BILL BEATS BEAU VITE IN STIRRING CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 98, 19 January 1940, Page 6

OLD BILL BEATS BEAU VITE IN STIRRING CONTEST

Record Crowd Watches First Day’s Racing at Trentham

SPRINT TO STERNCHASE IN BLANKET FINISH

Very Substantial Increase In Totalizator Figures

(By The Watcher.) The favourite won the Cup. That was the outstanding eve Trentham yesterday for the largest crowd that has ever attended a We - lington Cup Day. It appeared that everybody who took an racing had saved up to be present on the occasion, and so great was t rush of business on the totalizator in the cup thatsome of the windows had temporarily to close down while they reloaded the selling machines with fresh rolls of tickets. The weather fitted the occasion. It was brilliant and warm and the enclosures were well filled long before the first race was due to start. The lawns made an animated scene with their densely-packed ranks ot spectators, who were regaled with one of the best day s racing in recent

years. . . •Old Bill won the Centennial Cup. He was expected to do so by the majority of those present and when he reached the post first, just withstanding a strenuous challenge by the crack three-year-old Beau Vite, :here was a spontaneous outburst of enthusiasm which continued as he came back to weigh in. The sprint event, the Telegraph Handicap, was won by Sternchase and the other open race, the Anniversary Handicap, went to Sleeveless in a gallant fighting finish which captured the enthusiastic imagination of all true lovers of the thoroughbred horse. The classic race, the Wellington Stakes, drew a rather disappointing field for the good stake and it contained no three-year-olds, but it introduced to the Wellington public an outstanding colt in Sir Beau. The South Island started the day in good style, winning two ot the first three races, but that was about the end of their tether thoug Haughty Winner nearly won the last. With the large crowd present it was only natural that there should be heavy wagering, but few anticipated the substantial increase that was shown. The total for the day was £87,515/10/- (win £35,857 10/~* place £51,658) compared with £57,284 last Cup day, an increase of £30,231/10/-.