THE VICTORIAN DERBY AND MELBOURNE CUP OF 1883.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6789, 17 November 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE VICTORIAN DERBY AND MELBOURNE CUP OF 1883.

(By ouk Speciai, Tcef Correspondent

SPOUTING.

RACING FIXTURES. ~ . 1883. November SO.—Wellington Spring. D°ccmber rSi:}- DunedinSl )ril * December 7.—Hivorßi!alo (Ctaßo) Annual. Dcoumber ;!«.—tioro (otaxo) AiiT.ua], Dccioittrer 10, 27.—Invcrcargill Annual. December 20, 27.—Ucefloii Hummer. Decembjr-21).-- Lunisileii (Ota^o) Annual, January" '^l'} Groym»utK Sumnrer K^Uitokltad Stammer. tesiu ■ January 1> 2.—Waitara ASuual. January 1, ft.—Vlncont County. Fefiruiry 1, 2.—Wellington Autumn. Fcbiuary 15,10 —Slnrlbjrough Annual. February 21, 22, 23.—Dunoilm Autumn, March 0, 7.—Wan^anui Autumn. April 14,15.—AucliMiid Autumb.

NOT'^S BY BEACON,

" Wabbiob.")

The Victorian racing carnival opened under he most favourable circumstances their Spring Meeting on Saturday last. The weather was delightful, the attendance above previous years, and the racing excellent. As usual, the business commenced with the weight-for-age race, which brought to the post Commotion, First Demon, Dirk Hatteraick, and Recovery. Previous to starting one of the most painful sights ever witnessed on a racecourse happened. The Plunger, with Pigott up, and Gough on Delusion, were taking their preliminary gallop past the stand when they collided with each other. The first horse was sent flying for a couple of lengths, and the jockey picked up almost lifeless, whilst Delusion was killed on the spot, and Gough scarcely hurt. The race was suspended for some time, horses and men having to be removed from the course. This event proved a very bad omen for Archie's chance in the Derby, for Mr A. P. Smart declared openly that he would have sooner lost three Archies than his beautiful filly Delusion. He had purchased her for £2000, and he would have refused £5000 before leaving the saddlingpaddock. Of the six starters Commotion looked the best, First Demon and Le Grand showing signs of having gone through too Beyere a preparation. The Adelaide demon— Dirk Hattoraick —looked stale, and Boolka not forward enough. The bookmakers opened the ball by asking the public to buy money by offering 6 to 4 against Commotion, 5 to 2 Le Grand, 4 to 1 Jirst Demon, 5 to 1 Dirk Hatteraick, 6 to 1 Boolka, 8 to 1 Kingsdale. Boolka was the first to lead off, followed by Kingsdale, the rest of the field some lengths in the rear. When the half-mile post had been reached, Commotion tackled the leaders, First Demon and Le Grand running last, Hales moving on Dirk. Passing the scraping-sheds (quarter of a mile from home), the son of Panic forced his way to the front, Boolka second, and Kingsdale close up. Rounding the turn for home Commotion still led, Le Grand rushine past his horses, making an effort to catch the leader, but it was of no avail. First Demon than came with a wet sail, and a terrible struggle ensued for second honours, Le Grand failing when O'Brien called on him, Commotion winning by three lengths, First Demon beating Le Grand by a length, Kingsdale and Boolka running laßt. The Hotham Handicap brought out 16 starters, among them The Drummer, Sardonyx, The Gem, Suwarrow, Footstep, Josephine, and the Israelite. Wallangra, by Kelpie—Thirza, and Mr Mondy's Bristol, started at 4 to 1, and ran first and second, Mr Branch's Dukedom third. Then followed a surpriso to the public in the winners of the Maribyrnong Plate and Derby. lolanthe, a discarded filly who has nover been mentioned, started at 20 to 1, and beat a field of IS by three lengths, King's Own gaining second honours, and David third. The favourites ran very unkindly, Garfield running fifth, and Holene absolutely last. [" Warrior " tipped King's Own to ran second in last Saturday's Otago Witness.] My old friend

Phantom started for tho Sailing .lace at 5 to 4 against him. The son of Leabirn did as he pleased with a respectable field of 12 horses^ completing the seven furlongs ia ', min.27^«eo. Now cam* tiii rioTOßii DKarir for which Archie was the idol. Shortly aftet the ball announced tho weighing ht the " b'ue ribbon," hundreds of [.<eop!3 w&iemqulring for Arohto horO and there ; but " Varribr" hiquired for his favourite Martini-Hanry. There he was in the far corner of the piddof.k, with Fennilly boaming with EmiltjS. Tie 15 turf oraoled who tipped him in tho weeklies of Victoria, South Australia, Now South Wale.B, and Tasmania that Martini couldn't go tho distance rushed off to their pot Archiei- rThe oßu c,l Musket nevor looked bettor, hia thighs and anna showing strong muscle, My next visit Vv'as to Sardius, who was the picture of health. Signor appoared as if he had wdorgono too much preparation, and Archie ditto, whilst Hurricane showed signs of a ami colt. Off Colour was "off colour," end dvlu't ploasti many admirers. Mr QeorgO V/atsdl soon had tlio Jiarliy candidates at tho milevnd a-half post (nearly opposite tho centre of ;he grandstand). The latest betting waa ito 4 on /.rchio, and sto 1 against Martini Henry. I will here Rive the race in full, mnknff fitrthor remarks ftftewnrds :-~

VICrOiUA DERBY, A sweepstakes of 25 soul Dach, 6 (t, wih 800 added. For three-year-olds. Colts, Sit 101b; (lilies, Sat 61b. The second horse to receive UO boys, and tho third co boys out of tho slake. One mile and a-half. Hon. }. White's b S Martini-Henry, \ MusUet (top.^-Sylvia .. .. (Wiliamson) 1 Mr J. 11. Aldrid<re's b c Sardius (ate Imorald), by Kmulation-lluby .. .. (Wyman) 2 Sir C. Fleming's eh c Hurricane, by Counryman— Serenity .. .. .. (O'Brien) 3 Mr A. F. Smart's br c Archio, by rapidity— Eu(?enlo .. .. ~ (ffuxlqy) 0 Mr W. Branch's br or bl c Signttf, by Kht} of the it », ln£—SenqHt* •• •■ (Batty) 0 Mr W. Branch's b f Littio Sister, by Klur of tne Kinß—Maid of All Work .. («. Albans) 0 Mr W. Branch's b c Off Colour flat* Precious Stone), by King Colo—The Gem .. (Moore) 0 Mr J. A. Lang's br c Napier, by King Cble—Frou F«>u .. .. .. (tanir) 0 SirW. Clarke's br c Verna, by Bordeiux-Kato, , (ilaPo .. .. .> (Murphy) 0

Betting t 5 to i on Archie, 5 to 2 agst Oft Colour, 6. to 1 agst Martini-Henry, f to i aget Sardius, 10 tp 1 each agst Hurrieauß and Sighdr; 20 to 1 agst Little Sister. After tho usual preliminaries, tho nine candidates were marshalled to the post and allotted their respective positions at the Btart, the favourite being on the inside, with Hurricane next, Martini-Henry, Off Colour, and Vernet in the centre, and Little Sister on tno outside. Without any" delayj tte field were despatched ou their joiirney. O£ Colour and SardiUs Were the quickest on their legs at the start, but when tho lot were fairly Bet going, Little Sister, in the interests of her stablo companion (Off Colour), cut out the running at her best pace, and led past the stand, just clear of Off Colour, at whoßo girths came Sardius and Martini-Henry. Little Sister itcreased her lead as they rounded the turn, and MartiniHenry exchanged places with Off Colour. Then came Vernet, Napier, and Hurricane, Archie in the meantime having dropped further in tho rear. Along the river side the relative positions were unchanged, save that Little Sister hid increased her load to fully four lengths. At tho bridge the St. Albans' filly still led the yin, and Williamson judiciously eased Martini-Henry, and surrendered his place to Off Colour, who appeared determined to hoid a good position. Sardius was next, close up—then came Signor s Martini-Hen^ and Vernetj in the order indicatedv The rider of Archie, to the surprise of the backers of the favourite, did not appear to mako an effort to diminish the gap betweon his mount and the leading horses. , Along the back Little Sister held selfish possession of the lead, and as they nwopt past the abattoirs she was still a couple Of lengths in front of Off Colour; tho pace being terrific. Soon after passing the snedß Little Sister bsgan to hold out signals of distress, and Sardius made a brilliant run and assumed command, the filly retiring to the rear, with Archie. Rounding tha turn Sardius held a commanding position on the inside, and Martini began to Bhow a bold front, while Off Colour, Napier, Hurricane, Vernet, and Signor were close up. At this point Huxley was seen to move on Archie, and the favourite raised the hopes of his backers by speedily improving his position, and passing Signor and Vernet. The effort, however, was a feeblo one, and Sardius swept into tho straight first, two lengths in front of Off Colour and Hurricane. On they camoi victory appearing certain for the Caulfield Guineas winner, when just before reaching the distance Martini-Henry emerged from the centre, and gaining ou Sardiua at every stride soon got in front, and won a brilliant race rather easily by two lengths from Sardius, who ran home very gamely under the whip; Hurricane waa third; a length away; and Off Colour foutthj Huxley, with questionable judgment, flogging Archie into fifth place. Little Sister, Napier, Vernet, nnd Signor following in the order written. Time. 2 mm. 39 sec.

As soon as the horses passed into the weighing enclosure, thousands of people who bad backed Archie hooted both his rider and owner for 10 minutes or so—a scene at Bedlam. On the Morning the Age csme^J ] v| IXJ°!JBh: "very mysterious character) and if one df the most flagrant swindles that were over perpotrated on a, racecourse was not brought off, it is hard to reconcile Archie's performance as being his true form. The horse was fighting for his head for the first three-quarters of a mile, and when he did commence to travel he was so far behind that pursuit was hopeless. The public who backed him so heavily— fmy italics]—could scarcely be satisfied that they had an honest run for their money, and it was not surprising that both horse and. rider should have been heartily hooted on their return to scale.". Mr Smart, on the advice, no doubt, of some 15 well-paid turf writers who wont for Archie, bad Huxley before the V.R.C. stewards on Monday, At the investigation Huxley stated " that Mr Forrester, the trainer of Archie, had ordered him to ride a waiting race, as hitherto Archie had been brought to the front; but as it was a longer distance, ho should pursue different tactics, as he might tire in the last furlong if taken to the front. He stood to get £300 and his percentage of the stakes if Archie won, and now he received nothing." The stewards discharged him with a caution. This morning (Cup day) the Age attacks the stewards and Huxley in a most unwarrantable manner, as was proved in the Melbourne Cup to-day, when Archie ran from the start for a mile and aquarter among the first three, when he shot his bolt, MartiniHenry beating him by a hundred yards. The Press of somo of the Colonies will no doubt feel ashamed of their conduct. Tho Melbourne turf correspondent of the Otago Witness was the only turf tout in tho Colonies that tipped Martini-Henry and Sardius for the "Victorian Derby. On the 29th of September last Martini-Henry's likelihood of winning this event was published in the Witness, and in justice to myself I refer my readers to the issue of the paper of that date.

THE TWENTY-THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE MELBOURNE CUP. Cnp Day.

[Br our Special Tubf Cobbespondent "Wabbiob.")

At an early hour yesterday morning thousands of people weae moving to and fro in the principal thoroughfares of Melbourne; the streets showing signß of having suffered during the night from scores of thousands who had paraded,them, the corporation men and watercarts were hard at work Temoving the debris and watering afterwards. By 10 o'clock Bourke street was alive with people, some wending their way to the Spencer street rail-way-station, while others were taking their passages to the Saltwater Eiver, by omnibuses and cabs. Looking down from Kensington Hill the spectator's sleepy mint was aroused to the fact that something was occurring which would not happen for another year, perhaps never live to see again The road across Hotham Bill for a mile and a-half was a string of pedestrians walking to the races. On the Flemington road w«re thousands of vehicles, consisting of all kinds, from Sir W. J. Clarke's four-in-hand down to the brewer's waggon. We reach Flemington before the busy crowd has arrived, and I notice a vast amount of improvements. A new grand stand has been erected at a very great cost, and numerous rooms have been provided underneath for ladies and gentlemen, the apartments for the Governor and suite being something superb. The lawn, paddock, and hill had also undergone many necessary changes. In my next I will give an elaborate account of all I witnessed, therefore " Warrior " intends confining himself to the great racing event of the year, the HELBOUBNE OUP. Twenty-nine horses paraded before the vast concourse of people, which was something like 125,000. Looking from the judge's box up to the twe stands and the hill, the spectators witnessed one of the most imposing sights to be seen in any part of the world—loo,ooo living souls packed together as closely as sardines. The veteran Billy Yeomans was the • first to catch the eye, on Sweet William ; then followed Tommy Hales on Nicholas, and thousands o£ cheers rent the air; but as soon as Williamson appeared on Martini-Henry shouts were heard in all directions. The gods on the i"lat could be heard calling out " Bravo, Martini-Henry; you'll beat the supposed wonderful Archie again to-day." Commotion, with Trahan up, was cheered when passing the stand. Sweet William, Cunnamulla, anc The Gem were the 6rst to take their preliminary, after which Mr White's blue and white colours came pacing down the straight, Despot assuming the lead ; but Martini-Henry had the most friends, for he moved like a piece of machinery. No horses moved better or pleased the audience more than First Water, Sardius, Commotion, Pollio, First Demon, Claptrap, and Nicholas. It gives me great pleasure to record the fact that, notwithstanding the unfounded attack of the Melbourne Press, Huxley bad the mount on The Gem, and he certainly rode a. splendid race. Dirk Hatteraick, who had been backed heavily on the_ strength of a dream, which partly came off—viz., a man in one of the suburbs dreamt that Martini-Henry won the Derby and Dirk Hatteraick the Cup, and that he would be dead before the race. Both events were realised, for the man died before the race—and we know who won the Dorby. Magnet no doubt was sent expressly to cut out the running for Commotion. Stockwoll showed less dash than last year, and, therefore, had very little support. The public neglected the son of Musket on the Dorby day, whan the Australasian quoted him at 100's to 4; but as goon as he won the " blue ribbon " the books hardened his price to 7 to 1, and he started at 5 to 1, the public backing him up to the last momont at this figure. His stable companion (Despot) occupied second position in the betting market,

whila the Caulfield Cup winner and First Demon had scores «f friends at 0 and 10 to J.i Claptrap and Aldo-da-Camp startod at the some figure as was quoted the day before. First Water received a good share of attendance, the South Australians going in.lemonK for htm At 100 to 0, believing him to be tlio nag; as was seen afterwards; Santa Claita liad very few followers, the Kensington and Fleinirtffton people jioinft dv hint for a trifle, JfiiphoTaE rodeoed Vety nilicn iti the betting, whilst Cunnamulla improved some ten points, both horsoH starting at 10 to 1. Commotion had a few of his old friends still loft, and they took 15 to 1 a.bout him, at which price lie (Irand .atartfld, You1 cditld got 20 tb 1 about Archio, 50 to 1 Stockwoll, and 100 to 1 against Kingsdale, Linda, Bia Bis, and Kathleen Mavourneen. Exactly at 4 o'clock our esteemed friend George Watson had the whole of the horses in a straight line, when all at once 100,000 voices tirlod out" they're off," and thelong-tulked event had been started, Crossing tlio tan, tlio night of ed niafly colours vVrta dazzling to the oyes. Approaching the stand tho horses wero all of a cluster. Gough, on Archie, was giving him his head, and he was forcing tho pace at a terrible bat. Hundreds exclaimed; "A .aeeond Itaricot Melboikne' Clip I Archio Will never be caught!" Williamson had his eye on the Derby " boil-over " favourite, and consequently followed in his wake. Turning to tho river side, Linda led Archie by a nose. Claptrap came up, and tho three raced together as far as the bridge, when Trfthan fcrcod Cdmiho'tibh1 to tho fryh'tdivisldhj Williamson was pulling the head off the Derby winner near tho old grandstand. Stockwell then began to show his last year's form; for ho was catchipg the leaders handover-fist. Afthe Bcraping-sheds Archie fell back sick, and Bis Bis waa whipping them in 20 lengths off. As they approached the home.tUrh) thß bluß-and: white colours could be seen the most conspicuous. Sammy Cracknell and Trahan, when the stroighthad been reached, were fighting hard for first place. At this juncture the yells of tho crowd were most hideous, and no doubt for tho few moments those who had speculated half-a-orown, a pound, or five pbuilds in a sweep wars' as great lunatics as ,the speculator who stood to win his hundreds Or tens of hundreds. At all events; they gave Vent to. their felilihfcs by crying otitj " G!jtptrdrj wins ; no, it's Commotion. " First Water's coming up." " Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, Martini-Henry wins—wins in a canter." One hundred yards from the judge's box thoy still continued, " Martini-Henry wins easy," and amidst all this excitement, the much-abused son of Musket —Sylvia passes the p<wt' an easy winner by tjvo lengths. 3?irat Water made a dashing effort fcb, reach the leader ih the last five lengths. No doubt that the performance of Martini-Henry stamps him as ono of tho best horses in the world, for to carry 7st 51b in 3 mm. 30J sec. places him far above Grand i'laneur, who carried list 101b, which took the never-beaten chatnpion 3 mm. 34J sec, or Chester, who humped home Cst 121b in 3 mm. 33i sec. My readers will see by my account of the Derby day that I spoke of this colt in the highest terms somo mouths ago. The Hon. John White ha 3 achieved what very few men, either in England or France has, in winning three such events as the Maribyrnong Plate, Victoria Derby, and Melbourne Oup at one meeting. Mr Pearson, ah honourable member of the Legislative Council, possesses in Commotion ono of the best bred animals couth of the lice. A horse that can cany lOst 101b for two miles, and run third to a horse like Martini-Henry, in euch fast time, must be a grand one. First Water's performance was also good with Sst, and since the race Was inaugurated never were there such heavy weights among the first thrßßi After the Cup was decided half the peoplo left for home. The day waa a iovely one, and the dresses on the lawn showed to great advantage. The railway returns to and from the course showed an increase, of nearly £450 from laßt year, rlo less than £7465 17s being realised; Mr Byron Moore was very busy assisting visitors to make themselves comfortable, while Mr Miloswas all at home in the weighing-room. The Omnibus Company conveyed 56,000 passengers to the course. Tao first raco of the day, the Hurdles of three milesj was won easily by the favourite, the Tasmanian-bred Kingwood, by St. Albans out of Deception. Scobio piloted the gelding in his usual first-class stylo, winning by four lengths from Tommy Corrigah's Lady Hampden, Agitation gaining third honours. Mr S. Barnard's South Australian colt, The Broker, beat the favourite Falkirk, Antoinette, Seahorse, Gipsy's Warning, and three others in the five-furlong raco, the time occupying 1 mm. 3J sec. Mr De Mestre's Ike won the Railway Stakes, one mile, defeating a field of nine. The Darling Stakes, mile and a-half, fell to Phantom, and Mr De Mestre's Olga won the Van Yean Stakes, beating 17 first-clasa animals ; the mile was completed in 1 mm. 434 sec. It won't bo out of place to state here that poor Paddy Pigott, who was riding The Plunger on Derby day, ia not expected to live, the doctors having given up all hopes. Some years ngoj Pigott was riding Lord Burleigh, and Gough on Rokewoorj, when a similar accident occurred. Rokewood was killed, and Pigott severely damaged, breaking one of his legs, Gough getting off scat free. The only way I can account for it is that GoUgh, who is one of -tha haat light weights in the Colony, loses all JJOWBr OVBr BlrUIJg Aarajulbi

ENGLISH.

The Doncaater Cup has never been walked over for until this year, when Sir F. Johnstone's mare Thebaia found no opponents in her way.

The highest-priced yearling of the Doncaster sale week was a half-brother to Goldfield, named The Coiner, sent up by Mr Crowther Harrißon, andknockod down to the bid of Mr W. Burton for 2Ssoge, after some keen competition with Mr Walton, the American " plunger." The Coiner is a nicely-shaped eon of Hermit and Crucible, by Rosicrucian. At the dispensing sale of the Middle Park stud 52 brood mares realised 6200 guineas, or an average of 119 guineas each; 28 foals fetched 3460 guineas, or an average of 123 guineas. The Bire Scottish Chief, leoking in fine health and condition, was next " put up," when Mr Burton offered 500 guineas for him; and after Mr Tattersall had in vain tried to elicit another bid, this good horse and most successful sire beoame the former's property at that very inadequate figure. Mr W. A. Long, the New South Wales sportsman, bought 15 lots for 3415 guineas. The statement that the Duke of Hamilton

won £150,000 over Osian's victory in the St. Leger proves to have been only another Yankee invention, for Bell's Life and the Sportsman have authority to state that he did not win more than £15,000. . The Field states that the Sandown Park

authorities have now advertised a race in which they will, if it closes, give 10,000 soys to the winner, under the following conditions:—The Eclipse Stakes of 10,000 soys net, with 500 soys for the second, the third to save his stake of 110 soys; for three-year-olds, Bst; four, Bat 121b; five and upwards, 9st; m and g allowed 31b; winners of a stake value 400 soys to carry 41b, of 1000 soys 71b extra (handicaps not included), winners of the Derby, Oaks, St. Leger, »r Grand Prix de Paris to carry 101b extra j about one and a-quarter mile. By subscription of 10 soys each, the only forfeit if declared by the first Tuesday in February; if left in after the first Tuesday in February 1884, a further subscription of 20 soys; if left in after the first Tuesday in January 1885, a further subscription of 30 soys; if left in after Tuesday in January 1886, a further subscription of 50 soys ; 300 entries or the race will be void. On the face it, this appeared a big offer, so much so that its announcement at New-

market was received with incredulity; but, after all, the race will only be in the order of things now so prevalent—giving with one hand to take back much more largely with the other. At a moderate computation of the forfeits, it can easily be shown that, Bhould the 300 subscribers stipulated for be found, the Sandown authorities will recover nearly 15,000 soys for the 10,500 soys they give. So that another instance is provided in which owners of horses would be much better off if they ran for a sweepstakes with nothing added. The race is to be run in July 1886, and nominations are due on December 11 of this year. Mr Gebhardt's Eole did not start for the Csesarewitch er Cambridgshire. The figures of the leading jockeys up to Sepember 29 were as follows:— Mounts Lost Won Archer, F .. 483 .. 3CO .. 183 Wood, C .. 605 .. 348 ~ 167 Fordham, G .. 209 .. 143 .. 66 Loates, S .. 357 .. 297 .. 60 Barrett, O .. 267 .. 222 .. 45 Loates, C .. 231 .. 237 .. 44 Martin, E .. 281 .. 242 .. S9 BrucUshaw.T .. 184 .. 118 ..'B6 OBborne,J .. ]D 1.. 155 .. 36 Giles, A .. 223 .. 193 .. 35' Watts, J .. 177 .. 143 .. 34 Cannon, T .. 162 .. 120 .. 32 Fagan, J .. 161 .. 129 .. 33 Wood had 22 unsuccessful mounts in succession at Newmarket, and Archer thereby gained a long lead of him. Border Minstrel, the beßt three-year-old of the season, pulled up lame after winning the Ayr Cup on September 21. Lord Falmouth's filly Busybody won her first race in the Eous Memorial Stakes at Newnarket First October meeting, and a fortnight later secured the Middle Park Plate, as cabled out.

Galopin, for whom the Duke of St. Albans and Mr Chaplin gave 8000 guineas last July, is doing well. His list is full for next season, and several subscriptions (at an increased rate) have already been taken for 1885. Hermit's list of 15 mares, at 200 guineas each, is also

Walton, the American " plunger," took to a heavy amount the long odds offered against his mare Girofid for tho Cssarwitch Stakes. He had made a clean sweep of the ring at Newmarket. There were 22 starters, and when the leaders were six furlongs from home Girofle1 fell away beaten. This waß one of the races " Plunger " Walton was so confident of winning with his mare. There was a fierce dispute between Walton and his trainer (Day) concerning her running. . At first it was alleged that Giroflc! was poisoned, but on a veterinary surgeon examining her he testified that nothing was wrong. It was then referred to the Jockey Club. Walton transferred his horses to the trainer, Sherwcod. Walton's heavy backing of Girofld induced a number of Americans in London to put money on the mare, and they are heavy losers by her failure to win the race, Walton's means are Bwept away.

—In 1840 Harriet Martineau found seven Tocations open to women in the stats of Massachusetts ; now there are two hundred and eighty-four occupations, in which two hundred and fifty-ono thousand one hundred and fiftyeight wearers of petticoats earn their own

living, receiving frem one hundred and fifty dollars to thren thousand dollars each per annum.