"VICTORY."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11126, 15 November 1907, Page 5

"VICTORY."

m* WINNING THE MELBOURNE CUP. APOLOGUE'S RIDER TELLS THE STORY. SYDNEY November 6. bydney sent forth its usual quota of visitors to the great carnival m Melbourne, and as every part of the Commonwealth has done likewise the scene m Melbourne on Cup day is reported to have been more animated than for many years pastr^-indeed^ it is stated tliat the influx reminded one of "Exhibition year." The Women's Exhibition has doubtless accounted for the presence of many people who otherwise might not have visited Melbourne, but there can be little doubt that the period of- material prosperity through which Australia is passing has had its effect m increasing the importance of this national holiday, when thousands of people from all parts of the CommonWealth assemble at a racecourse a few miles out of Melbourne to watch a couple of dozen horses running for two miles, and carrying money, not alone from big cities, but from country towns and lonely hamlets, and bush camps and shearing stations away m the back blocks. This is a great country for betting, and the. Melbourne Cup, the great race of the year m Australia, represents the climax m .the 'difficult art m picking winners. Only a day dr a week ago Australians were as unhappy as this proverbially sunny hearted and careless people can be at the prospect of another drought ; but the general rains of this week, m Victoria, New Sbuth Wales, and Queensland, this calamity has passed, and the safety of the stock and promise of a good return from the late wheat crops have helped to .giVa a more roseate hue to this weeks holidaymaking m Melbourne. Hotels and boardinghouses are crowded, even "shakedowns'' are at a premium, so that late comers had to spend the night before the Cup getting 'what- sleep they might m easy chairs. One estimate is more than 100,000 people were at FJemington on Cup day, as the trains, which took 34,400 people to the course! — carry only one-third of those who go to see the annual spectacle. Tuesday was a great day for New Zealand, inasmuch as for the first time a horse owned m New Zealand won the Cup. Apologue won handsomely, too, after a sturdy battle m the straight with Mooltan, and landed a pot of money for the public, for he went out a hot ifavourite at -3 to 1. Those who supported him, however, had little idea how closely they ran to defeat,, not because of the horse, but because of his jockey, Evans, who collapsed after Apologue pulled up. Had the faintness which overcame Evans attacked him m the' brilliant run m the 6trait there might have been a different story for the backers of the favourite. The jockey's collapse was due to tlie wasting he had to undergo to bring down his weight. He had actually reduced himself by 41b on the morning of the race, a terrible undertaking, involving his remaining m a Turkish bath for about tlu'ee hours. Evans has given "Early Bird," of the Australian Star; an interesting narrative of his experiences on Clip day. He had nothing to eat or drink 'before the race, m his effort to take off his 41b. In the race Apologue was bumped when near the jockeys' stand and nearly thrown down. At the abbatoirs Apologue had again ii bad time, so Evans brought him out so as to get a clear run, and the New Zealand'er was five from the rails before reaching the straight. Just about half way up the straight Apologue made his run. "It was a terrible time," said Evans, "as Apologue, when he got to Mountain King and Mooltan, could not go a bit ifaster. Suddenly I saw Mountain King drop out, and the next thing I •■-'■ noticed was that McLachlan was uneasy oh Mooltan. But I could do no more than I was doing, for if I had moved or clouted Apologue I was gone. Therefore, I sat perfectly still, and when I got to the front I thought of the word 'Victory.' My word, it did look big! I remember pulling up, but I know nothing of what happened at the scales." As a matter of fact the jockey was so weak at the finish that instead of dismounting from the horse m the ordinary way he fell m a limp heap, and had to be carried to the scales, where he sat half propped up until "All right" was announced. Then he fainted away, and a doctor had to be summoned at once. But he was able to go to Wirth's circus at night and be presented with a goldmounted whip — a circumstance which speaks well for his recuperative powers.