ROYAL RACES

Southland Times, Issue 18823, 17 May 1920, Page 5

ROYAL RACES

GREAT DAY AT RICCARTON ENTHUSIASTIC CROWDS (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. Following upon a day of drabness that marred the real impressiveness of Friday’s ceremonial parades, “Prince’s . weather” prevailed yesterday for the Royal race meeting promoted by the Canterbury Jockey Club in honour of the Prince of Wales’ visit. The grounds and course at Riccarton looked, well, and the large crowd present gave His Royal Highness a warmly enthusiastic reception. The Prince arrived after the first race had been run, and exhibited a close interest in the appointments and manner of conducting the events. He witnessed the next race from a special enclosure in the stand. Luncheon with Mr A Boyle, chairman of the stewards, and Mrs Boyle followed. PRINCE AS STARTER. Then the Prince mounted a smart hack (Mr Hugh McCarthy’s Gaiety, a well-known prize-winner at agricultural shows) and rode round the course with Mr Boyle and Sir Lionel Halsey. The Prince’s appearance on horseback roused the spectators to a great pitch of enthusiasm. Round at the back of the course the horses were preparing to start in (he Marlborough Stakes, and the Prince dismounted and was shown how the barrier worked. He was invited to despatch the field of four, and after a false breakaway he got the horses going, though one, Right and Left, had a bulge on the rest but could not maintain the pace. It was a good race between the other three. After this race the Prince and his companions went on to make the circuit of the course. ■ AN UNEXPECTED DISMOUNTING.

Opposite the carriage paddock His Royal Highness put his mount at a steeplechase fence and got over in great style. At Cutts’, however, Gaiety did not seem to fancy the brush obstacle and baulked, and his Royal rider slid to the ground suddenly without ceremony. He was soon ahorse again, and completed the circuit of the course. His reappearance on the course in front of the stands was the signal for continued cheering. He congratulated the owner and trainer of Amythas, the winner of the race, and was snapshotted by Admiral Halsey as he stood patting Amythas. The Prince displayed renewed interest in the totalisator, and tried his luck as a punter on the machine, but his luck was out. During the afternoon His Royal Highness mingled several times with the animated throng before the totalisator house, his movements being immediately noticeable by reason of the surging mass of people pressing forward to see the Prince enjoying himself ns one of themselves, without fuss or the show of pomp usually associated with royaky. THE CITIZENS’ BALL. In the evening the Prince attended a ball tendered to the men of the Renown by the citizens and the Returned Soldiers’ Association in the Drill Hall. This, though less formal than Friday’s bail, was very largely attended and proved most enjoyable. His Royal Highness again went through the ordeal of shaking hands with a great many of those present. YESTERDAY’S ENGAGEMENTS. To-day he and his staff attended Divine service at the Anglican Cathedral, which was filled to overflowing. The service was very simple, but impressive. The sermon, which was preached by Dean Carrington, was based on the conception of peace and concord and mankind’s duty to render grateful service to God, as outlined in the second and third Collects for the day. The hymns included, “O God our Help in Ages Past,” and “All People that on Earth do Dwell.” In the afternoon he paid visits to Christ’s College, the soldiers’ sanatorium at Cashmere Hills, and the Orthopaedic Hospital, in which he expressed great admiration of the work being done. The patients at each place gave the visitor a cordial welcome. A TRIFLING FALL. UNPRODUCTIVE MACHINE INVESTMENTS. (Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH. May 16. AVhen the Prince’s horse baulked yesterday afternoon the Prince was unseated, but the fall was a very' simple one. When he returned to the stewards' stand, however, it was noticed that he was limping slightly. The Prince had practically no luck with his investments on the “tote” yesterday. Following his Auckland form he backed Arrowsmith, and he had an investment on Sunart, which ran second in the Royal Handicap. He had a fiver on Mustard Pot in the last race, and for some time after the conclusion of the race he was engrossed in keen discussion with a member of his staff as to how his fancy only ran third. A SLEEPING CAR. THE CATHEDRAL SERVICE. (Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. A sleeping car containing twenty beds has now been added to the Royal train. This car will be used on the final train journey of the New Zealand tour, when the Prince and the members of his party will spend the whole night travelling from Invercargill to Lyttelton prior to his departure for Australia. The Prince of Wales, accompanied by members of his suite, attended divine service at the Cathedral this morning at 11 o’clock. Apart from the Welsh Red Dragon flap that hung over the north-east door no additional decorations were made in the building. Special chairs were allotted to the Royal party immediately in front of the reading desk. The chairs had little that is ornate about them, being leather-covered armchairs such as can be found in many homes. A small carpet was provided, but otherwise there was no distinction between the facilities for the Prince and those for the humblest of the worshippers. According to the officials the city is really crowded to overflowing. Since Thursday afternoon thousands have been arriving every few hours, until at the present time there is not a spare yard of accommodation room in any portion of the city. Even hotels and boarding houses in the outer suburbs had to turn people away on Friday.

NEW ZEALAND’S .WELCOME. KING AND QUEEN GRATIFIED. LONDON, May 14. (Received May 16, 6.5 p.m.) The King and Queen at the luncheon they tendered Mr and Mrs Watt, displayed a warm interest in Australasian affairs. Both are eagerly watching the Prince’s tour, and are gratified by the spontaneous welcome he is being accorded everywhere. Mr Watt states that at luncheon at Buckingham Palace the King expressed pleasure at the Prince of Wales’s reception in New Zealand. EXPENDITURE ON RECEPTIONS. LABOUR’S DISAPPROVAL. HOBART, May 16. (Received May 18, 5.5 p.m.) The Labour Conference passel a motion disapproving of extravagant expenditure of public money in connection with the Prince of Wales’s visit, in view of the high cost of living and hardship amongst the workers.