RACECOURSE HUMOUR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5104, 23 March 1927, Page 3

RACECOURSE HUMOUR.

SCENES AT THE PAEROA MEETING. i ~~ MUD, SLUSH, AND STYLES. Apropos of the mud that abounded at the Paeroa racecourse on Mondey, some amusing, if pitiable, sights were noticed among the crowd. One sweet young thing, daintily dressed and wearing an absurd little pair of shoes totally unsuitable for the conditions .that obtained, was observed stepping 'Tas lightly as possible through the mud, presumably to reach a friend who was standing some yards away. The sweet young thing was in the act of withdrawing one toot from the mud, and in doing so she took a step forward, only to leave her shoe stuck fast in the sticky substance. To see her leg like a stork jjF'w4Ht(S’'§Tie rescued her shoe and put it on was amusing. Followers of Dame Fashion must have 'found plenty to interest them in the grandstand enclosure on MondayRegardless of the deplorable wet and mud that abounded, some of the fair sex were evidently determined to wear their best finery, even at the risk of getting it spoiled er having to hide it under a raincoat. Among many items noticed were the weird and wonderful styes of footwear worn. One young woman created not a little interest in a pair of Russian boots that she wore. The trouble was that they had become thoroughly wet and mud-bespat-tered and were, towards the end of ’ the day, noticed’hanging limply rofind her ankles in a series of wrinkles. To see women in gum-boots was no uncommon sight, and it is safe to assume that those persons reached their homes with dry feet. Any number of women were noticed wearing good raincoats, and while their bodies kept dry tlieir lower extremities must have been decidedly ccid and uncomfortable judging by the ridiculous shoes they were wearing. Several fur coats were seen among the crowd., but whether they were a success or not against tne elements that prevailed is left to the reader to imagine. The women and girls who provided themselves with Japanese sunshades and coloured parasols as a means of protection against the heavy rain that prevailed were surely born optimists. The following conversation between two men was heard in the street on Saturday morning: “Come on, Bill, we are wet outside, we may as well ~go across to the pub and get a bit damp inside.” Bill replied: “Oh, Idon’t know. If I spend my money in the pub I can’t put it on the machine on Monday.” With evident disgust Bill’s mate replied: “Struth, tiie races mightn’t be held for a week; we can’t go dry that long!” A well-known local Chinese who was in the enclosure on Monday was approached just before the first race started and was asked for a tip for the race. Without looking up or halting in his progress towards the machine he replied.: “Gol* Rain, I think, yes.” At the moment rain was descending in torrents, but the humour of the reply was apparently lost on. the inquirer. man of about'3s years of age y' was hurrying down the slippery slope towards the totalisatpr when he slipped and measured his length in the sloppy mud. A remark was. passed: “By jove, that fellow is ‘backing’ well torday!”