RECORD INVESTMENTS ON CUP

Evening Star, Issue 25634, 7 November 1945, Page 4

RECORD INVESTMENTS ON CUP

SIDE WAGER DECIDED ISSUE RAINBIRD SIXTH MARE TO WIN (Roc. 1 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 7. Yesterday's Melbourne Cup crowd of 105,000 was 15,000 short of the 1926 record, but the £232,688 put through the totalisator was an all-time record for Australia. The sum of £26,686 on the Cup through the tote was the biggest in the history of the race. At frequent intervals during the afternoon punters were told through loud speakers that the Victory. Loan (the extended closing date of which is Saturday) was still several, millions short. The winner of the Cup, Rainbird, started in the race mainly because of a side wager between her owner, Mr Cliff Reid, and his , brother, Mr Malcolm Reid. Mr Cliff Reid wagered that Rainbird would beat his brother's horso, Grampian, which finished fourth last. Rainbird is only the sixth mare to win the Cup in the 84 years it has been run, and the fourth in -the. last 50 years. Some claim Rainbird is the greatest mara to win the Cup. She bad the easiest win of her sex, and her time was 3seo faster than the previous best time by a mare—Rivette's 3.27 in 1939. With a second in the Metropolitan and a second! in the Melbourne Chip, Silver Link is the unlucky horse of the spring racing. Silver Link took fright and faltered when Rainbird ran to him a furlong from the post, but ho had no chance against, the winner. The Caulfield Cup winner, St. Fairy, had every chance, and was fairly beaten.