TRACKS AT RANDWICK

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 76, 26 September 1925, Page 20

TRACKS AT RANDWICK

Work ' at Randwick will be of prime t importance next week,.so that the following from the Sydney "Sun" may be of use in explanation of the different tracks being galloped on :— - Randwick is a busy place at this period of the year, with morning work, on the | "course proper," the "magpie," the'"tan," the "midlegrass," or the "B grass." No racecourse in Australia is: better supplied than Randwick with tracks on which trainers can prepare horses for racing. There are six of them altogether, though all are not available at the same time. ''""■:

Best of all, of conrse, is the sward on which races are run, a mile and three furlongs, around.'.lt is'.npt.open every morning, and very seldom,. except in actual races, are horses allowed to gallop near the rails.' If they: were, some' watch-smashing trials would : be "done. When' the course proper, is open, flagpoles from 20 'or 30 to 60 or 70 feet from the inner rail, indicate the portion which can be used, and it was to elucidate such gallops that the. A.J.C., a few months ago, prepared a table showing tne extra ' distances horses . travelled when wide out.'./. '..-. . '

_Next to the course proper is the middle or. ;A; grass'"track, a shade over a mile;and; a quarter around, which has', been- regrassedV' between the four, and' one furlong posts, ■ and,' for: the time' being,' is"; hot in general use. - : ; "■ The tan. track,, of. a- mile, and 17 yards/'is^ next,, and !when heavy rain ■has -made "all- : other too>.■•■■ heavyfor ' galloping,'' the 'cinders';' track yad joining it-is .available;; t -;' The tan,-'''whicb. has ' been' completely' relaid' arid. '-'only, recently-opened, is.' probably ; the fastest rink at Eahdwick; just now.- i; L All gallops on it are done along the rails, so that .the horses cover only the measured furlongs. ■'■'.• ■'..'' , :. ' •Similarly,- gallops cm, the . magpie: track are all done close to the rails. A, venerable story says that the-word' "magpie" was given to the track because, on the first : morning it :was used, a fine magpie was perched on the fence rail. - Be that as it may, the tops of the posts marking the tracks are now painted black and whits. The "magpie" abuts 1 on the ! steeplechase course in the straight, and inside it; railed off, is the B grass of seven fur-. longs, which has been in use about 12 months. It /was exceptionally fast when it was first opened, but it is getting slower now. Occasionally flags are used' to send tho 20ft out from the! rails. '■■ .. :."■ '" ' -.•■■ •■ :. •'.- ■■..;, ■ ;