THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1248, 30 October 1875, Page 17

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Although the growing interest in onr Derbies is in course of time likely to eclipse all sensational races known as handicaps, it will, nevertheless, be long before the Melbourne Cup race becomes one of indifference or unattractiveness to the public. The present one promises at this moment to surpass all former cups, both in the number of its field, the quality of its horses, and the admirable adjustment of its weights. With all these favourable circumstanced th*e race cannot be other than a success, and such being its ]-r«mise.it will be most surely witnessed by many£ thousands of ' persons. A great many alteiations, improvements, and additions have been made to meet the extra demand that will be made upon the space of the club grounds on that day. The secretary is prepared to recesve and accommodate 100,000 persons, and, extraordinary as it may seem, fully expects that number will be reached When the nomination first appeared for the Cup race they numbered as many as 88, the largest entry ever yet made for a handicap race. Of this number 33 horses have from various causes retired from the list, leaving 55 still on the roll. That this number will bo yet further subjected to a reduction is certain, though of what they may consist if. is not so easy to determine. Suppose 20 fall out, as seems possible enough, there would still be a field of 35 horses. What a night they will present, and what a fight it will be to get into position before the Saltwater River is reached; for those who dally, or are so unfortunate as to get a bad start, will have a large crowd of horses to run round before they get to the front, if ever they do. To have a chance of winning this race, horses must, therefore, be good beginners as wall as good stayers. — Loader.