THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Evening Star, Issue 3357, 22 November 1873, Page 2

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

(From the AuMrutaMna.) The sight presented by the five-and-twenty horses as they came tearing past the stand was one of the grandest that has ever been witnessed at Eleinmgton, and when Protos shot out and took up the running along the back of the couise there was tremendous excitement, which increased as this rankest of outsiders slightly increased his lead, hut lie began to shoot his nolt as they approached the bridge, and King Tom took liis place. At the abattoirs, Horatio, on the outside, ran up to the leaders with great ease, but the doubtful foot here gave way, and he suddenly dropped back but Thompson persevered with him, and passing the sheds he was lying about fourth, King Tom looking very dangerous at this point, being at the head of affairs, with Dag worth close by. Before reaching the end of the rails, however, young Wilson gave Don .Juan a couple of reminders, and answering immediately, he shot to the fiont like an arrow from a bow, and from tins point the Melbourne (hip of 1873 was over, for he had the race in hand, and despite n desperate effort on the part of Mr De MostiC s two, iie won with the greatest ease by three lengths. The victory of Don Juan was received with cheers, hut there was nothing like the enthusiasm there would have been had any of the public favorites gained the judge’s verdict, for though Don Juan started a better favorite than anything else, the bulk of the money was won by a select few who got on early. Mr James Wilson received the hearty congratulations of his friends at having at hist broken the spell and gained the first place in the great race of the.year, the St. Albans trainer having run second for this event no less than three times. Mr Wilson has height an up-hill "a me for some years, and now that he has achieved the object of his ambition, nobody will begrudge him the victory; for with Don Juan everything has been conducted fair ami above board, so far as he was concerned," though there arc some who still regard the sale of the horse as a 4 mock auction,” and many look upon his nomination by 44 a party by the name of Johnstone” as a mere blind, though we are informed to the contrary. With reference to this circumstance, we may state that the horse was placed in Mr Yuille’s hands for sale some months ago, and finding a purchaser, he disposed of him for a sum stipulated by the owner, but by this time Mr Wilson had found out that he possessed a real clinker, and prevailed mam Mr Ingles, who purchased him, to let him have him until after the V. U.C. Spring Meeting, Mr Ingles then to have the horse, win or lose, for nothing. As we havje before stated, the lion’s share of the money has been won by the friends of the stable, ami wo are glad to say that Mr E. Drayton, of Ballarat, has thrown in for a good stake, L4,00l) or L 5.000, we believe. _ Among the bookmakers Mr Joseph Thompson is said to lie the largest winner, though his_ share is nothing like the sum reported in various quarters ; and one or two others have won a very respectable stun. Don Juan was a cheap purchase for Mr Wilson, as lie obtained him for the small sum of 50 sovs. from Mr A. Lincolne, who was acting on behalf of the Hon. John Dakar, who bred the winner in South Australia, where he ran once as a two year old, but failed to distinguish himself. Since lie came into Mr Wilson’s hands, he has figured three times in public, and proved triumphant upon each occasion, his first essay being at Caulfield, Avhcrc he won a handicap easily enough, and his next attempt was in the Essendon Stakes, which he also won. He is not possessed of any great amount of quality, but his grand propelling and weight-carrying jtower have always been the theme of admiration. No better bred horse stands in Australia. The profoundest of sensations was created in racing circles on Tuesday, when it became known that Mr Samuel Dowlcr had lodged a protest against Don Juan receiving the stakes for the Melbourne (hip, on the ground that he was a year older than he was represented to bo. It was proved to the satisfaction of the Committee that the horse was foaled on August 22, ISli'.l, and without calling on Mr Wilson, they dismissed the protect. Mr De Mestrc was earnestly solicited to lodge a protest against the Don, but he refused to do so, on the ground that he believed there was no reason for doing so. It was a glorious spectacle to see 70,00J people congregated at Eleinington to witness the great betting race of the year. Such a scene hud never before been witnessed in the southern hemisphere. There was the closelypacked, well-dressed multitude on the hill, the richer and more expensively attired assemblage in the grand stand, and the poorer, but just as orderly;'crowd on the Hat, all intent on the doings of the day. Never before has such an array of beauty and fashion been seen in Australia as that in the grand stand enclosure. The toilettes surpassed all previous years in their magnificence, and when the grand pro-, menade took place, the sight was one worthy of the chief Colony of this vast continent. The stand, although nearly 500 ft. in length, was found to be totally inadequate to the necessities of the visitors, and had it been twice the size, every seat would have found an occupant.