“AUSTERITY” CUP
FLEMINGTON TOTE RECORD SCRAMBLE IN BETTING Reed. 7.30 p.m. Melbourne, Nov. 15. More money than has ever, before been seen on an Australian racecourse went to Flemington for Dark Felt’s “austerity” Melbourne Cup. It is estimated that more than £1,000,000 was placed in bets. The totalisator returns reached the ecord figure of £177,733. The previous totalisator record was £161,'222 last Caulfield Cup day. There were only six events at Flemington on Saturday. against seven at Caulfield. On the standard of the formula accepted by the Commonwealth Income Tax Department abput five times the totalisator amount went through the bookmakers. The crowd of 90.000 was 30,000 short of the Flemington record of 1926. Experienced racing men said they had never seen such a mad scramble in the betting ring. A woman collapsed and men were knocked from their feet as the crowds fought to place their bets. This unprecedented betting rush is reported to have angered members of the Federal Cabinet. Ministers purposely boycotted the Cup. The course appeal for the Commonwealth’s Fourth Libety Loan of £125,000,000, which had been oversubscribed, added only £BOO. Cup Winner’s Rise to Fame.
The Melbourne Cup winner Dark Felt’s rise to fame-Jrom a stable hack for Ajax to the best handicapper of Australia is one of the romances of racing. Bought by the 86-year-old trainer Frank Musgrave as a yearling for 200 guineas, Dark Felt made Ajax gallop on the tracks, but could not win a race, and after two years’ fruitless endeavour he was sold for L\) guineas. The Sydney trainer, J. A. Cain, secured a .lease of Dark Felt, with whom he won two small races in Sydney and Newcastle. Dark Felt then hitch-hiked to Melbourne to win the Moonee Valley Cup, the Hotham Handicap and finish fourth in the 1942 Melbourne Cup. Now he has won ten races, the last four in succession, and £11,395 in stakes.
F. Musgrave, who has been trying for a lifetime io win the Melbourne Cup, was induced to sell Dark Felt because of a shortage of stable labour. Musgrave said he was too old now to expect to train a Melbourne Cup winner after having let Dark Felt slip through his fingers. Dominate was trained by Musgrave for this year’s Cup.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 271, 16 November 1943, Page 6
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377“AUSTERITY” CUP Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 271, 16 November 1943, Page 6
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