Cup Fever In Australia Was At High Pitch

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 November 1950, Page 5

Cup Fever In Australia Was At High Pitch

8y... C. R. MENTIPLAY N.Z.P.A. Correspondent, Sydney

SYDNEY, Nov. 7 (Reed. 7.5 pm). Though lowering skies and a crippling transport strike combined to cast a gloom over Flemington as Melbourne Cup time approached, the fever which accompanies the great event reached its accustomed height throughout Australia and her mandated territories. At the airports of all the capital cities and of many privileged country towns sharing in the bounty of wool cheques, planes look off in a steady stream lor Essendon. Among their passengers were immaculate gentlemen in morning coats and grey toppers, and ladies whose main concern was to keep their treasured dresses crease free, but as these special planes were available Io anyone who had lhe fare there was also a leavening of tradespeople, shea v urs r.r-d average citizens who wouh’ take I heir chance in in the Leger or paddock. Those who could not. make the trip could do nothing buj look over their sweep tickets and make a last minute effort to back their fancy and plan their afternoon movements to bring them j n c.i the radio al. 3 o’clock. Some consternation was felt in Can-

berra due to the fact that both Houses! were scheduled to sit at that hour, i Hurried consultations took place this! morning among political leaders, and] no hostile voice was raised when it was announced that neither House would resume from the week-end re-■ cess until 3.15 p m. Licensed bookmakers report that the public appeals more than usually racing crazy, and that Ihe total amount of money laid must exceed all records. HARD-HIT BOOKMAKERS MISSING The keenness in New South Wales was unmarred by the defection of a large number of starling price bookmakers a fortnight ago after a dis-j astrous day at Rosehill on October 21.| when six favourites and two second!

favourites won. Detectives say several hundred illegal bookmakers have welshed since that day, which is known as “Black Saturday.” As offcourse bettnig is illegal, punters have no redress. As usual, all business came to a standstill managers to junior office boys, clustered about radio sets and trams and buses piled up near strategic loudspeakers in the streets outside. The craziest eve-of-Cup story concerns a passenger on the Forbes mail train who dreamed that lie was Darby Munro riding Playboy in the great event. He became so excited at the finish that he jumped up in his sleep and pulled the communication cord and stopped the train. As it ground io a halt irate passengers tumbled from heir sleeping berths and confronted him. Only then did he awake to explain to the conductor that he was lighting a desperate finish with Dark Marne and King Comedy when he tugged the communication cord, thinking it was Playboy’s rein. There was general fury when it was realised that The Conductor had arrived about three lengths too soon.—Special NZPA Correspondent.