SPORTING. THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Evening Post, Volume XXVI, Issue 111, 7 November 1883, Page 2

SPORTING. THE MELBOURNE CUP.

[SPECIAL TO UNITID PEKBB ASSOCIATION, Milboubkk, 6th November. The morning broko gloomily, and durincr the forenoon the sky vu overcast and threatening in appearanoe, but no rain fell. A hot wind was blowing, and the dust w«i" exoeodingly annoying. At noon a ohang» ooonrred, the nun oame ont and the weather beoamo moßt agreeable, although before that thero wag ovory appoaranoo of rain. Ploa* sure seekors, however, wore not to be daunted, and from an early hour in the morning a continuous stream of people was journoywg toward Flomington. The streets were donsvly crowded, »na groat excitement prevailed. Vehicles of all descriptions, from the aristocratic fonr-in-liand to the oostormonger's cart, crowded the road, whioh had boon thoroughly watered, and so a pleasant drivo was assured. The railway was also extensively patronised, and the arrangement* as usual woro perfeot, crowded trains being despatched in rapid suooession without acoidont or hitch. Toe attendanoe on tho ooursa just bofore the Cup was run was immonso. exoeoding that of the Exhibition year. All tho rosouroos of tho now stand filled bnt •> small gap, and the demand for spooo and th« orush in the lawn, stands, and terraoo, was torrifio. The hill was densely orowdod, whilst tho flat oontained tho largest orowd ever seen there. The total attendance is estimated at 140,000. Their Exoellonoiestho Governors of South Australia and Tasmania were present. The course was in admirablo condition, and no raoe was ever seen to botter advantage. Melboubnb Cup Handicap, of 1000 soys,, with a sweepstake of 20 soys. eaoh added ; second horse to rooeive 800 soys., and third 200 soys. out of stakes. Two miles. 160 nominations. Hon. J. White's b o Martini-Henri, by Muscat— Sylvia, 3yrs, 7st 51b ... 1 Mr. O. L. M'Uonald's cli h First Water, by Firo works— The Gom, aged , Bst . . . 2 Hon. W. Pearson's b o Commotion, by Panio— Evoning Star, lOat lib ... 8 The following horses also ran : — Magnet, Losbia, Anglosoy, Calma, Santa Clans, Dukodom, The Qom, Cunnamulla, BeooTory, Sweet William, Pollio, Dirk Hatteraiok, Sardius, Bißbis, Claptrap, Stoekwell. Despot, Nicholas, Aido-de-Camp, Arohie, Kingsdale, Le Grand, First Demon, Kohinoor, Linda, and Kathleen. The betting at tho start was -Martini* Honry, sto 1 ; Claptrap and Despot, 6to 1 ; Calma and Cunnamulla, 7 to 1 j Lo Grand, 10 to 1 ; Nioholas Dirk Hatteraiok, Aide-do-Camp, and Sardius, 100 to 8 ; Commotion and Archio, 100 to 5 ; Stockwoll and First Water, 100 to 8. Twonty-nine horses facod the starter, and Mr. Cuff got thorn off fairly well togethor, Arohie, Despot, MartiniHonry, and Claptrap being the first to cross the tan, Commotion, Stookwoll, and Linda heading the noxt division, with First Water, First Demon, Dirk Hatteraiok, and Le Grand following, Cunnamulla last. Entering tho course propor, Archie had a lead of half a length, with Claptrap and Linda a length in front of First Water, Stookwell and MartiniHonry boing closely adjacent. Commotion, Sweet William, Nicholas, and Pollio lying next. At tho distanoe-post Arohie had increased his lead to a length, followed by Claptrap, First Water, First Demon, ana Martini-Henry. At tho carriage paddook Claptrap had drawn up to Archie, and Linda was within half a longth, with Martini-Henry, Despot, and First Domon in close attendanoe. Commotion and Stookwoll headed the next division, with Calma, Nicholas, and Pollio following. Dirk Hatteraiok, Le Grand, and Sardius in a heap. Along the riverside Claptrap made tho running with Arohie, going very strong, attendiugolosely upon him.Linda and Martini-Henry being next, followed b» First Demon and Despot together, StookwoU half a length behind and Commotion two lengths, followed by Dirk Hatteraiok, Le Grand, Calma, Kingsdale, Sardius, and Aido-de-Camp olose together. Along the back stretch of the course Claptrap continued to force the paoe, but there was no material change in tho order of running until approaching the bridge, when Arohie got in front, followed by Linda, Claptrap evidently having shot his bolt. Passing the abattoirs, Linda wrested the lead from Archie, and, going at a rattling pace, soon put two lengths between them. The latter was closely followed by Martini-Henry, Aide-de-Camp, First Demon, Commotion, First Water, Despot, Stookwell, and Calma, Nioholas heading the rack. Linda kept her position till passing by the sheds, Archie still second and coming up strong. Commotion waß running in a good position in the centre of the course, Martini-Henry being in close attendance upon him, with Nioholas, Stookwell. and First Water following, the latter evidently creeping up. There was immense excitement at this stage of the raoo. and whon at the half-mile post Archie rushed to the front, there was a great shout of "Archie wins" from the crowd. Linda then held second place, aad Aida-de-Camp third, followed by Calma, Commotion, and Martini • Henry, First Water and First Demon all well up and going strong. Archie's pride of placo, however, was a short-lived one, for, on approaching the home turn, Commotion wrested it from him and led into the straight, with Aide-de-Camp and Claptrap following him side by aide, MartiniHenry, First Demon, First Water, and Despot next, and Sardius coming up. Stockwell now made an effort, but the pace was evidently too strong for him. At the distance Commotion led by half a length, with Aide-do-Camp and Claptrap next ; but, like a shot from a gun, Martini-Henry came out from the crowd, and passed them without any apparent effort on his part, and amidst deafening cheers landed the easiest of winners. First Water came very fast up the •knight, and beat Commotion for second piu^o by a length, after a splendid raoe between them. Sardius, First Demon, Magnet, Aide-de-Camp, Recovery, Arohie, and Nicholas followed in the order named. The last three to run in were Kohinoor, Kingsdale, and Bisbis. Some of the others finding they had no chanoe, eased up tho straight. The time was 3min 30}s©c, being the fastest on record. Tho ring have been hard hit by MartiniHenry winning, as he had been backed for thousands both in doubles and straight out. The public are greatly pleased at his win. Pollio or Stoekwell would have better suited the holders of heavy doubles. Nothing is as yet known as to the winners of sweeps. First Water is an aged horse and a wellknown public performer, but during the past year, although he has ran on many occasions, has not won anything. In 1881 he won the Australasian Cup, carrying 7st 61b, in 4min l^secs. Commotion, syrs, daring the past year is credited with the following wins : — Veteran Stakes Handicap, 1} miles ; V.E.C. Spring Meeting, November

last, carrying Bst 51b ; at same meeting won • Canterbury Plato, 2\ milos, carrying Kst ; at V.R.C. Champion Moeting in January, won Champion Stakes of 1000 boys, 3 miles, -carrying 9st, and also won Port Phillip Stakes, 2} miloi, at tho V.R.C. Autumn Meeting in March, with Ost. In 1877 the Hon. Mr. Whito, Martini- Henry's owner, . also won the double evont with Chostor.