KHAKI AT THE RACES
SOLDIERS'/GOOD BEHAVMIR
AN ENJOYABLE OUTING
Tho attendance of soldiers at the race meetings, at Trentham and Tauherenikau, has become a regular feature of race days on these courses; for the pa.st twolvo months tho men in khaki have been present in thousands, and have added l considerably to tfio usual racing throng. Oft Monday and Tuesday last about 4000 soldiers were given loave to attend tho Spring meeting of tho Wellington Racing Club, and they appeared to thoroughly «njoy their outing. Up till eloveni o'clock on each day there was only tho civilian element of a crowd in evidence; but shortly after that hour a stream of khaki began to pour through the main gates. In, ceaseless waves it carno _on _ and broko and scattered into individual' units that spread over lawn and grandstand and other parts. "These meetings would be slow without tho soldiers, ono regular patron of racing romarked. "We'll miss them after the war:"
"Last time. I was liere I was only a 'civvy,' " a soldier of tho _ Twentysecond told his comrade. Since tho soldiers have been the guests of the Racing Club—they aro admitted _ free everywhere—there Las been no liquor sold oii the course. And it is remarkable that there have been no complaints to speak of on this score. Evidently there is enough interest in the racing to cause such a trifle to be overlooked, or. at least treated lightly. Tho soldiers aro keen supporters of the totalisator, and! there is this about the khaki men—they appear to pass the word round to their comrades when they get good tips. There is usually either a very large number or scarcely any soldiers at the pay-out windows after a race.
Otlier very noticeable features are the orderly behaviour and. civility of the soldiers when in the throngsat the totalisator windows. That this behaviours appreciated by the totalisator clerks is evident from the fact that they will go to considerable trouble to give a soldier change, and will not grumble if he hands them in a pile of small silver and copper in payment for a ticket.
Only one adverse remark concerning soldiers at races was overheard. _It came from one who has followed racing for years. "It's time they stopped this," this person said. "These soldiers crowd in and sit down everywhere, and a fellow cannot get a drink, because they're here." His friends'laughed at his petulance, and one said:
"You seem to forget that this is wartime."
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19161026.2.7
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2912, 26 October 1916, Page 3
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416KHAKI AT THE RACES Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2912, 26 October 1916, Page 3
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