The Melbourne Cup.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 174, 2 November 1910, Page 4

The Melbourne Cup.

WON BY COMEDY KING. A MEMORABLE MEETING. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 1, G. 30 p.m. Flemington, November 1. This year's Cup meeting will long remain memorable in the club's annals. It was fitting that the occasion of the club's Jubilee Cup attracted one of the biggest gatherings on record. The city was already overcrowded. Inter-State boats during the week brought 51)00 people, including 1000 from New Zealand and Tasmania. ' t .ie weather, which was unpromising even on the opening day, cleared on Gup morning, and pleased everybody with brilliant sunshine, a bright sky and a gentle southerly breeze. The conditions could not be surpassed. On the lawns, for fully an horn before the first race started, there was not standing room, while the bettin<* ring and paddock were crowded to suffocation. There was more than usuai interest, too, in the racing. Extraordinary reversals of form and perversity among the three-year-olds at Randwick and Caulfield left even the best judges baffled. The performance of Comedy King, Tanami, Alawa, Parsee, and especially the New Zealand mare Artillerie's extraordinary run in the Caulfield Cup left the public in a state of perplexity. The only really consistent performance was that of Trafalgar, who held firm in public favor, while another New Zealander, Lady Lucy, had a host of admirers. When the horses went to the post every point was occupied, but thousands saw nothing until the horses finished. Comedy King always had a gooo. place, and put.in fast work at the right time. Alawa galloped better than on any previous occasion, and at one time was proclaimed the winner. Intense excitement reigned when Trafalgar came at Comedy King, who, contesting stride for stride along tire straight, just managed to win. Artillerie was again disappointing, running all the way in the ruck in company with Lady Lucy. Results:—

Cup Hurdle Race, of 300 sovs; two miles—Kabinbokka, 10.12, 1; King's Ransom, 10.9, 2; Black Native, 9.9, 3. There six runners. Honeymoon fell. Won by a head, with five lengths between second and third. Time, 3min 4314 sec. Railway Handicap, of 300 sovs; six furlongs.—Broadsword, 8.3, 1; Little Lad, 8.1, 2; McCulloeh, 7.3, 3. Other starters: Gold Lace, Salvia, Sperry, Frenchman, Aurifera, Rigadoon, Loru, Gundaroo, Bostra, Nari, Ardlui, Rheims and Lord Kilcheran. Won by a short head, three-quarters of a length between the next two. Time, lmin 14sec. Nursery Handieap, of 300 sovs; 5% furlongs.—Woolerina, 9.0, 1; Sanscript" 7.4, 2; Takipono, 7.4, 3. Other starters: Piastre, Seville, Flaith, Bel Sorel, St. Vano, Little Pos, Blythesome, Savanax, Veneta, Calve, Mashtun, Duel, Silver Shield and Vega. Sorel led fromi Woolerina, Savernax and Mashtun. Then Seville took charge, with Takipono next, but Woolerina came again, and won by half a length. Time, lmin 1% sec. MELBOURNE CUP, of 6000 sovs'; two miles. Comedy King, 7.11 (McLachlan).... 1 Trafalgar, 9.2 (Cameron) 2 Applie Pie, 7.5 (Foley) 3 Pendil, 8.12 (Pike) 4 Scratched: Parsee, Conge, Deslire, Patronatus, Bobadea, Posture, Indiscreet, St. Wyne, Langloh and Morilla. Kerlie was the first off, and led past the stand, just in front of Mindful, Danaus, Britain, Idyll, Flavian, Apple Pie, Prize Fighter, Comedy King, Olivaster and Alawa., Mindful led' out of the straight from Kerlie, Applie Pie, Danaus, Pendil, Comedy King. Moving up along the back, Mutilator moved into fourth place, with Flavian next, and then Son of a Gun, Comedy King, Olivaster, Post Town and Alawa. Mindful led past the sheds from Danaus and Mutilator, Trafalgar, Apple Pie, Flavian, Post Town, Comedy King and Prize Fighter. Comedy King now moved along fast, and took charge. Alawa also galloped fast, chasing Comedy King, who led at the distance from Apple Pie, Alawa and Mutilator. Alawa faded away, and Trafalgar came strongly. A most exciting race ensued, during which Pendil put in a fast run. Won by half a neck, two lengths separating second and third. Time, 3min 27% sec. Pendil was fourth, then Alawa, Mutilator, Matouree, Olivaster. The last three were Lord Nolan, Kirn, Kerlie. THE MELBOURNE CUP—TWO MILES. I

Cup Steeplechase, of 300 sovs.—Acute Angle, 9.7, 1; Stately, 10.7, 2; Player, 10.7, 3. Also ran: Kia Ora, Alert, Dream, Obelisk, Camroiie, Lycaca, Simple Simon, The Guide, King Druids, Squirm, Gold Brown, Richards, Leah, Kleshna, High Degree. Won easily by three lengths. Time, 4min 13sec. Yan Yean Stakes, of 300 sovs; one mile. Hoax, 8.5, 1; Lager, 7.13, 2; Chauvelin, 6.9, 3. Thirteen others started. Won by a third of a length, Chauvelin three and a half lengths inyay. Time, lmin 4sec.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Apologue's time record of 3min 27sec still stands for the Melbourne Cup. The greatest weight that has ever been carried to victory in the Cup is 10st 51b—by good old Carbine. 'Way back in '(53 a three-year-old Banker, won with ost 41b in the saddle' ft n T y H cks coul<l S et dow a to that trifle these days. The largest field that ever faced the starter was 39, in Carbine's year; and the smallest, seven, when Banker won V Carbine had to be dragged to the pos fc for the Cup of 1890, but Ramage could M 4?* m t0 the Mi *t *t To show how they used to bet in the old days it is worth recording that "Leviathan' Humphrey Oxenbam paid out

J £30,000 over Malvolio in 1891, and yet had such an enormous amount of money on his "book" that he actually came out a winner on the race. Mr. C. L. McDonald, who won with j Revenue in 1901, was one of the luckiest sportsmen who ever ventured into the ring. Two men were discussing his phenomenal luck one day when one enquired: "Wasn't he in 'a bank once?" "•Once." exclaimed the other; "I should tihink there have been very few settling days the last few years that he hasn't been in one—paying in!" Nothing short of a flood would dampen the spirits of a Cup crowd. Writing of disagreeable weather, "Verax" once instanced the Cup of 1892 as the most uncomfortable day he ever recollected at Flemington. Torrents of rain came down and deluged everybody, and the course was a quagmire "An earthquake," he wrote, "would not prevent Melbourne people from going to the Cup, and even then, if the course was clear, they would sit on the ruins of the stands and watch the race." More than one gaudily dressed swell measured his length in the mud that day when Glenloth waded home in front of 34 other mud-besmirched, sick and sorry neddies. Donald Wallace, the owner of Carbine, had a Cup story of his own. He was riding down to t'jc cfirse one day in a railway carriage full of young fellows who looked like sulnrhan clerks. There had been much talk of Carbine's lameness, and one ,of the youths was saying:, "He ain't fit. He can't do it. Wallace himself ain't got a cent on him." Others doubted. They thought "Old Jack" might come out all right. "Look here," said the first, "I'll lay anyone 10 to 1 lie don't do it to-day/ There you are—lo to 1." Wallace, who joked rarely and with difficulty, said, "I'll take that in pounds." "No fear,"'said the plunger, "in shillings." The bet was booked with great formality, Wallffce posing as "Mr. Smith,", and when the race was run and Carbine had won, Donald found himself confronted by the youth of the railway carriage, who slipped a half-sovereign into his hand, saying, "Here's your half jim, Mr. Wallace. I put my last shirt button on Carbine when I saw you had confidence in him." Donald grinned meekly, but fobbed the half-sov.—"Bulletin."

Year Winner. Time. 1890--Carbine, 10.5 ... 3.2814 1801 Malvolio, 8.4 ... 3.20% 1892 Glenloth, 7.13 ... 3.3fiy, 1893 Tarcoola, 8.4 ... 3,30% 1894 Patron, 9.3 ... 3.31 1895 Auraria, 7.4 ... 3.25) 1896 Newhaven, 7.13 ... 3.28% 1897 Gaulus, 7.8 ... 3.31 1898 The Grafter, 9.2 ... 3.29% 1899 Mermvee, 7.G ... 3.3mA 1900 Clean Sweep, 7.0 ... 3.29 1901 Revenue, 7.10 .. 3.30V, 1902 The Victoiy, 8.12 ... 3.29 1903 Lord Cardigan, (i.8 ... 3.29% 1904 Acrasia, 7.0 .. 3.28% 1905 Blue Spec, 8.0 ... 3.27% 1900 Poseidon, 7.6 ...! .. 3.31% 1907 Apologue, 7.9 .. 3.27 1908 Lord Nolan, G.9 .. 3.28% 1909 Prince Foote, 7.8 .. 3.37% 1910 Corned v King, 7.11. .. 3.27%