ROUGH RACING

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3284, 5 July 1943, Page 6

ROUGH RACING

WAR-TIME MEETING FIREARMS PROHIBITED At the first war-time race meeting in the Northern Territory, Australia, “misrules” of the meeting stated that batteries of not more than GO volts could be used, but fireaims were, prohibited because of the danger of injury to the committee! Shillelagh could be used on opposing jockeys, and patrols were told that the ambulance would be in attendance for all those disagreeing with the committee. The meeting was not overburdened by stewardship, but the elastic regulations were not very much abused. To the thousands of officers and men of the north-west who attended it was the biggest event of the year; to the Prisoners-of-War Fund it was a real -benefit, for a percentage of the takings from the 20,000 tote, tickets ahiounted to nearly £450. , The typical country race track had been cut out of virgin bush' by the meh of a ‘cavalry regiment, which staged the races. Hundreds of officers and men from

distant units who could be ipaicd from their service duties travelled long distances with their mess kits and rations, and at the luncheon interval the whole area through the trees was dotted with picnicking parties. Horses for the meeting were supplied by Mr H. Byrne, of Tipperary Station. The stakes, which exceeded £5OO, were raised by auctioning to men the temporary ownership of the

horses for the day. The highlight of the day was thespecial event, to be contested by "sixfamous jockeys procured at great cost and inconvenience I” They proved io be a group of diminutive aboriginal boys; but they had been born to the saddle —and could they ride!