DIGGERS CELEBRATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24132, 26 November 1941, Page 5

DIGGERS CELEBRATE

MELBOURNE CUP DAY MEETING IN PALESTINE JERUSALEM, Nov. 17 While Skipton was making his winning Melbourne Cup run at Flemington, the A.I.K was conducting its own "Cup Meeting on a beach in Palestine. The Cup day tradition dies hard in the A.1.F., and there was a lighthearted holiday spirit wherever the slouch hat was seen. Horses for the local "Cup came from a near by British remount depot, and the Palestine police lent some Arab ponies. Soldier - bookmakers, "registered at inglcbnrn and Bnthurst." laid the odds and, did big business, , , , . , \S the horsSs thundered down a beautiful stretch of hard beach, the troops crowding on high bluffs cheered from their natural grandstand. „ The "Cup" winner was ridden by B. Carter, now a Yeomanry trooper, who rode Dry burgh in Ro.val Mail's Grand National at Aintree 10 During the day polo was played on doukevs, with tin-hatted teams using hockey sticks and a Soccer football. Depot cooks had worked all night preparing buffet, meals of Cornish pasties, buns. ro!<! meat, etc., which were set out in tents. Canteens were allowed longer trading hours. , . . , It was the A.l.F.'s biggest picnic day since the famous race meeting more than a year ago A record of the Melbourne Cup was broadcast at 3.40 p.m.