RACING.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1924, Page 1

RACING.

[ht telegraph—per press association.]

Y.ILC. AIEETING

THE AIELBOURNE CUP.

AIELBOURNE, November 4

The weather was fine, hut cloudy for the Victorian Racing Club’s Spring .Meeting. Thcro was an enormous attendance for Cup Day, the GovernorGeneral and Stale Governors being present. The going "as g«mi.

The early hours of Cup Day were filled with sensations. During the rush of Cup traffic to Flemingtou, a carriage of a passenger train from North Melbourne hurst into flames. The train was crowded, and the passengers tumbled out in a panic. The flames were quickly subdued, hut all traffic was suspended, and many finished the journey into town afoot.

Others attempted to get there in tlm electric trains, hut struck trouble, ns many of these were out of action. Trouble commenced at nine o’clock at Spencer Street Station, where an empty race train had the pantagraph entangled iu the overhead wires, and brought them down in a tangled mass. The current was then switched ofr throwing the whole northern system out of action. It was half an hour before the service was restored. Meantime an enormous crowd hail assembled outside Spencer Street Station bewailing their inability to reach the races. Motor and other vehicles did u roaring trade, while the block pasted.

A still more sensational incident occurred on the Ejolimont Electric train, in which Spearfclt (the Cup favourite), l.ilypond (the third favourite), and other horses were being transferred 1< Flemingtou. For some unexplained reason, this train tore down the overhead wires. A live wire fell across the train, which was set afire. The current was instantly cut off, and the fire extinguished. The horses were extricated, and were sent forward to their destination. RESULTS.

Clip Hurdles.—Dunurc 1, Reparation 2. Emit Lad 3. Eleven started. AVon by a neck, third three lengths away. Time 3.-I2 1 ,. High Weight Handicap.—Balous 1, Congee Bay 2. Chickling 3. Twentytwo stalled. AVon by a neck; third three quarters of a length away. Time I.OL November Nursery.— Los Gatos 1, Lavente 2, Astorath :i. Thirteen started. Won by a neck; third a length away. Time UR AIELBOURNE CUP: The Judge’s placings were:

Back wood 1 Stand By 2 Spearfolt 3 The numbers were incorrectly hoisted. Backwood (5.2) was ridden by P. Brown; Stand By (8.0) by Lewis; and Spearlelt (7.0) by E. Sullivan. Eighteen started. The course scratchings were Valorem and Sir Dighlock. When the field settled down, Wynctte was in charge and led past the stand from Fcathcrnest. Poleletan, Drongo, San Antonio, Lily Pond and Stare. AVynelte still led at the mile. Then came San Antonio. Drongo. Lily Pond, Feather nest and Spearlelt. San Antonio ran to the front seven furlongs from home, and led at the turn from Brown Rajah, Royal Charter, Feathernc.sl and Bnckwotnl. San Antonin "as first into fln> si might : but Backwood look charge at tin- Gist a nee. and won by a head I rom Stand By. who was fifth mi entering the straight, while Brown Rajah was a neck away third. Lily Pond was fourth. Then came Spearfclt, Prince Gimgool. Rover. Polycletan, Royal Charter, AValJarnk. Sail Antonio, Stare Frances, Tressady. Fenlhernest, Accnkarak, Drongo, and AVynotto was last. 'lhe time was 3.2GJ. Tire fractional times in the Cup were —First four furlongs, o3sccs.; next four .">2! secs; succeeding four iOLsees; last six furlongs, lniin lot fees.

15. Bradfield, trainer of Backwood, has prepared four Cup winners, having won previously with Victory, Patron, and Night Watch.

The Cup stake is worth £IO.OIO to the winner.

The jockey. P. Brown, staled that lie had a lovely run througiiout. This is Backwood’s first- Australian success.

.Stand By injured its fetlock this

morning. Accknrnk cut its leg this morning. Brown Rajali was third in tile Alolhourne Cup. OTHER EVENTS.

Cup Steeplechase.—King High 1. Irish Rufus 2. Skedaddle 3. Eight staiCed. AVon by five lengths; third same distance away, 'lime 4.4',.

Van Yean Stakes. — King of Mirth 1, Tfeventree 2, J’athias 11. Thirteen started. Won by three-quarters of a length; third I*, lengths away. Time 1.-TU. Waniba led for the first mile of the Steeples. King llijsh was fifth at the nine furlongs. but won easily. " Glaxv and Egyptian Flower made the (lace in the early stages of the Van Yean Stakes, hut Kill" of Mirth, who is owned and trained at Adelaide finished fast on the outside. Diinure was always prominent in the Hurdles, but won by a narrow margin from the fast-finishing Reparation, who was ridden by C. Hoyd. who was suspended by the Stewards until the end of the Y.R.C. meeting for crossing the field too sharply after the start. Cliffdal led in the early part of the High Weight Handicap, but Batons, ridden by G. Young, finished fast and won by a narrow margin. He is trained bv Ike Foiilsham, and owned by Mr G. K. S. McKinnon, Chairman of the Y.R.C. He cost 1010 guineas ns a yoar-

l.os Gatos led all the way in the Nursery Handicap. The winner was bred in New Zealand, and was ridden by ,f. Daniels.

Gloaming paraded mid had a wonderful reception. * He ran three furlongs in OS secs with shoes on. A CORRECTION. MELBOURNE, Nov. I.

The railway commissioners state that there is no foundation for the report that Spcarfelt and other horses were in the burning train. What actually happened was that the gear on the top train approaching Flcmington fouled a wire, causing fusing at the powcr-lmuso. The traffic was delayed mi hour, but no damage was done. Spcarfelt ami the other horses were only in the train that was held up by the general dislocation.

AUCKLAND, November 4. Surprise was expressed at the omission of Royal Blood from the acceptances for the Steward’s Handicap. The owner. Mr Scholium states lie instructed the C.J.C., by telegram on October 24 to accept Royal Blood for all engagements. He was of opinion that ti,i s covered the final payment duo last night. •