MELBOURNE CUP RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20105, 16 November 1928, Page 10

MELBOURNE CUP RACE.

SPELL OF GREAT EVENT. STATESMAN'S POPULAR WIN. THRILLS AT FLEMINGTON. CROWDS AND THE RADIO. [FBOM oub own correspondent.] SYDNEY, Nov. 8. One must live in Australia to appreciate the great spell of the Melbourne Cup. Strangers are able to realise in a superficial manner that the race is of national importance, but there is need to get behind the scenes to discover the enormous ramifications of the Cup. People who frown on racing daring the remainder of the year like to back their fancy for the Melbourne Cup, and those who are backing horses all the year round usually go one better on Cup Day. In every office, nay, in almost every home, and certainly in every flat, sweeps are organised, and it is safe to say thai closo on £1,000,000 changes hands after the result of the Cup has been flashed over the continent. Statesman's win this year was the most popular for years, consequently the amount of money changing hands will be greater than ever, and the poor bookmakers, if one is to believe all that is said and written, are the only ones who ure left lamenting. Certain it is that the bookmakers have been "hit" for thousands, but as they so often win public sympathy for them is not very pronounced. Dame Melba's Farewell. The Flemington course was at its best for this year's race and the crowd was as great as ever, and perhaps more distinguished than usual. The GovernorGeneral and Lady Stonehaven were present, and in addition there were five out of the six Governors. The sixth, Sir Dudley de Chair, is absent from Australia. The Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, was there looking as immaculate as usual —the best dressed man in Australia, he has been termed—and bright and fresh despite the strenuous nature of his eleo tion campaign.

Dame Nellie Melba took the opportunity of saying farewell to many Australians, and immediately after the races joined a boat for England. She expects to be absent for about two years. Then there were the English cricketers who amended their programme so that they could be present at Australia s greatest sporting event, and the members of the Economic Mission? getting a further insight into, Australian conditions. About 110,000 Spectators. It is stated that 110,000 people saw the race in the brilliant sunshine that prevailed after a night of rain. The humidity made conditions rather unpleasant, but race crowds seem to overlook such discomforts as they pre3S and push and scramble in the great, rowdy betting rings. And when such a warm favourite as Statesman won, what did it matter.

It was not necessary to be at Flemington to enjoy all the thrills of the race—and there were many thrills. The Cup only served to emphasise the importance of wireless in the life of a modern community. Full descriptions of the everft were broadcast in every State, and Australia stood still, as it were, while the race was being run. In Sydney loud speakers were operated by all the radio houses and by many others, and the police overlooked the'traffic regulations as great crowds blocked the footpaths. In fact, the police were just as eager as anyone else to hear the progress of the race, and they assisted to block the traffic. Tbe result by wireless was instantaneous, but the Telegraph Department flashed the result to Sydney in half a mitiute—a remarkable performance. / All Australia Listening. Racegoers who attended the Epsom trotting races in' Sydney were able to wager on the Cup, and then go and listen to a radio description of the race—; a facility provided by the trotting club. The betting ring was deserted as soon as tho race was timed to start and the crowd gathered around the various amplifiers. "They're off," came tho voluminous voice, and silence emerged from the babble of the betting.. Such is the age we live in. Five or six hundred miles away an an-* nouncer, in front of the microphone a little bigger than the hand, put into words what his eye 3 could see, and all Australia listened. As tho race was described, and the varying fortunes of the race depicted, the bookmakers offered to bet "in the running," and punters were just as eager to do business with them. It was a remarkable scene made even more so when the announcer said that Statesman had the race in his keeping. The cheers drowned the remainder of the description and the bookmakers proceeded to pay out. The actual race has been described as one of the cleanest in the history of the Australian, turf. Not at any time were any of tho starters the victims of interference, It was, too, the supreme occasion m the long turf career of the owner and (i nner of the winner, Mr. W. Kelso, of lid wick. Many great races have gone to liii stable, but never before tho Melbourne Cup. Ho announced some time that lie would retire if ever he won the Melbourne Cup, which was his greatest, ambition. Silver-haired and of a kindly disposition Mr. Kelso is as popular to-day as the great horse he trained with such precision. He has lived to see one of his charges the idol of the Australian public.