VICTORIA'S GREAT RACING CARNIVAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10900, 3 November 1898, Page 5

VICTORIA'S GREAT RACING CARNIVAL.

NOTES ON CUP DAT.

HOW THE RACE WAS LOST AND WON. By Telegraph.-Press Association.-CopsTieilt. Melbourne, November 2. THE ATTENDANCE. The influx of visitors from other colonies for the Melbourne Cup this year has net been equalled since Carbino's year. It is

an open question whether the courso erer presented a bigger or better dressed crowd. Tho attendance is estimated at 70,000. The railway returns ehow 23,370 passengers f rom Spencer-street station, representing £3953, an increase of 3267 passengers and £1717 on: last year. It was the largest Cup attend?'ice for six years.

THE CUP FIELD.

The big field was got into line punctual to time, and the crowd was then densest. As tho horses passed tho stand for the first time it was a 50 to 1 chance that War God would win. He was prominent right round tho course, and he improved his position until, as the field turned' into the straight, a roar which arose seemed to indicate that ho was the winner. At tho distance, however, he was dono with, and Cocos came to the front and looked dangerous, but Tho Grafter tackled and beat him, and, leading down tho straight amidst tremondous enthusiasm, finished and won an exciting race by half-a-neck from Wait-a-Bit.

FLEiUNGTON IN CHEEKS.

Tho Grafter's victory was immensely popular. No win was ever better received at Flemington. The many thousands assembled on tho flat combined in a great roar as The Grafter passed the post in front of Wait-a-Bit, who for once in his life ran at his best, the cheoring being taken up by tho multitn.lis on tho hill. In the grandstand enclosure the noise was almost deafening.

THE WINNER. Aβ the Cup winner, all unconscious of his great display, went down the passage to the w< iphing-yard, Mr. Forrester (who is The ttrafter's sole owner, despite nil report to the contrary) was literally beeioged, and it was Borne time before he succeeded in extricating himself from the kind attentions of the crowd.

UNLUCKY WAIT-A-BIT. Undoubtedly Wait-a-Bit was unfortunate when racing into tho straight, and there aro mnny who aver that but for jostling ho must have won. Clarion was never dangerous. Hβ was Btruck bndly six furlongs after the start, thus putting him out of the race. Only once was Massinissa seen, and then but for a moment, as the homo turn commenced. Merlooks was hopelessly in trouble quite six furlongs away. Plutue ran a good horso.

Wait-a-Bit lost tho Cup through getting blocked between Cocos and The Grafter bolow the distanoo, necessitating his rider, Fielder, to pull outside the latter.

THE WINNING JOCKEY. John Gough, who steered the Cup winner, states that after passing the distance-post he felt he had to race hard. Wait-a-Bit throw out a dotermined challenge in the last few strides, but The Grafter was travelling so well that ho felt little or no anxiety. As to tho alleged fouling, Gough says he never saw Wait-a-Bit after passing him.

OWNER OP THE WINNER. Mr. W. Forrester owns The Grafter, having offered his breeder, Mr. J. R. Smith, of Tueka Tueka, the sum of £1000 for him after ho finished second to Gaulus in last year's Cup. Mr. Smith replied, "Aβ you have made him what ho is, you can have- him for £300."

HOW THE RING FAKED. Mr. Alfred Josephs, the well-known ring man. Bays it was undoubtedly the worst diiy tho I'ng has had for 30 years, and presumably it must be the best tho public has Va , ! ih'ring tho same period. All double books both Caulfield and Melbourne Cups anc' Derby and Cup, have been struck, says the leviathan, and tho winner carried perhaps . much money straight out as any horse in die race. There were many popular favourite , in the race, notably Massinissa and Clarioi. the latter of whom came down to a very short price as money continued to pour on to him. Mr. Josephs states that his liabilities on the two Cupa total £25.000. Tho losses of other bookmakers are proportionate. He states confidently that Mr. Wm. Forrester, owner of The Grafter and The Chief, would have won five times tho amount he did had The Chief oomo in first. Mr. Abrahams, another leading penciller, gives much the earns version, wlu'le admitting the victory of Longfordi, otvned by his oartc ner, would have represented the thick end of £60,000 for the firm. The winnings are distributed pretty generally throughout Australasia. Outside of the Cup, tho bookmakers experienced a most disastrous day.

CUP ITEMS.

Mr. I. Foulsham, owner of Massinissa, states that though his horse was looking well, he was decidedly amiss during the last few

days. CalKnan, rider of Clarion, gtates ho was fearfully bumped all through tho race. W. Redfearn, rider of Massinissa, states his horse kept hanging throughout, and finally stopped altogether. The Argus quotes Clarion favourite ni Urn last moment at 5 to 1; Maseinissa, 7tc 1; Tho Grafter, 8 to 1. Rosebery jarred one of his legs in the Melbourne Stakes, which filled, and his owner deomed it advisable to strike him out of tlie Cup contest, rather than run the risk of a breakdown. Elusinion was off in his feed since Saturday, consequently ho was scratched. A lighted match carelessly thrown down ignited a muslin dress of a lady on the lawn, who luckily escaped with nothing worse than the dress being a completely ruined garment.

TRAINING NOTES.

Cocos, looking bright and well after yesteroay's exertion, exercised slowly this morning at Flemington. The Grafter and Tlie Chief centered mildly, and they likewise presented a healthy appearance Bobadil beat Auriferous with great easo over five furlongs in lm. ss. Scorn and Graceful finished together at the termination of half-a-mile, run in 54e. Carinthia had the best of Badge and Sweet Mario in a six-furlong flutter, wound up in lm. 20s. Piosobery and Eleusiman were walking about. Mr. Forrester refused an offer of 1500 guineas for The Grafter after winning the Cup yesterday. 1 SCEATCHINGS.

Mnssinissa, Wait-a-Bit, and Tromarden have been scratched far all engagements.

ACCEPTANCES.

The following are the acceptances for tho Spring Stakes :-Bobadil, Rigby, Les-Met, ford, Heretic, Cocos, Copperas, Chirnsido, and Miss West.

THIED DAY'S EACES.

BOBADIL V. COCOS IN THE FLYING STAKES.

A great deal of interest will bo centred ; .n the meeting of Bobadil and his Derby vanquishor Cocos in the Flying .Stakes to be run to-day. This event is run at weight-for-age over Eeven furlongs. The following is a list of the horses engaged, with their respeotive imposts;— Mr. W. Dnggan's b h Amberite, 4yrs ... 9 0 Mr A. McCracken'sbr h Patriot, 4yrs ... 9 0 Mr G. Gilbert's b g Merloolas, aged ... 8 11 Mr. S. Kennedy's br g Blair, aged ... 811 Mr Forrester's br g The Grafter, syrs 811 Mr W Forrester's b g The Chief, syrs 8 11 Mr] H. Oxenham's b g Sailor Boy, 6yrs 8 11 Mr. J. Wilson's g s Reaper, 6yrs 8 11 Mr W. Bailey's ch c Cocos, 3yrs 8 0 Mr E.G. Row's br c Repeater, 3yra ... 8 0 Mr W E Wilson's br c Bobadil. 3yrs ... 8 0 Mr! J. Mitchell's bo Holster. 3yrs ... 8 0 Mr J. Wilson's b c Canada, 3yrs 8 0 Mr W. R. Wilson's br c Scorn, 2yre ... 6 2 Mr W B. Wilson's b c Bevenue. 2yrs ... 6 2 Mr! T. Keily's br c Gipsy Bill, 2yra ... 6 2 Colonel Campbell's br f Carinthia, 2jtb 5 11 Mr D James'fl b f Sunny Morn. 2yrs 5 11 Mr' J Eaet'a b f Alice Moatyn, 2yrs ... 5 11 Mr. J. Wilson's b or br f Grizzle, 2yra ... 5 11 Mr. J. Wilson'B b f Nitre, 2yrs 5 U

TATTERSALL'S SWEEP.' NEW ZEALAND WINNERS. [BY TELSGBAPH.—FBESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Wednesday. The Grafter was drawn in Tattersall's No. 2 sweep by Mr. Trelford and family. Trelford is employed in the caretaker's department of the Government Buildings. If the sweep was filled the first prize is worth £7500. [BY TELEGBAra.—OWN' COBBESPOKDEKT.] Pakroa, Wednesday. It is stated here that a miner residing at Waitekauri secured Cocos in a 5s sweep and thus wins £1250.