AUCKLAND RACING CLUB SUMMER MEETING. ELLERSLIE ON CUP DAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 135, 2 January 1886, Page 6

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB SUMMER MEETING. ELLERSLIE ON CUP DAY.

(By Akthropos.) This Auckland Cap, ran on each recurring Boxing Day at EUerslie, may not be an occasionjof such colonial importance as the Melbourne Gup j but it id, in increasing degree, an event of no little moment in the sporting world, while to the large and populous province of Auckland, it is a holiday entitled to the premier place The causes of this are not far to seek. From the sporting standpoint) the importance of Gup Day lies chiefly in the fact that here are tested very frequently the young blood stock trained by the Auckland Stud Company, and sporting men from all the Australasian colonies keenly watch the performance of the youngsters to guide them in purchasing a "winning horse" for the great races of the Southern Hemisphere. For the public, Boxing Day at Elierslie means the witnessing of a series of contests not excelled in any part of the world; it means, too, an occasion for hilarious holidaying and exciting "investment;" it means to some the annual reunion of families and friends at an alfresco picnic and entertainment; to others it means an opportunity for the study of human nature in its most rabidly gregarious phase; ladiss fair go there to see and be seen ; " sharp 3 " go there to swindle, and " flats " to be swindled; and even the philanthropist and religionist go there—to do good, of course, by tract distribution ! Boxing Day is a general holiday, and from all parts of the surrounding country people flock into town to Bee the sights. The races on this day are better patronised, too, because the simple bushman and hardy miner have not, as a rule, yet succeeded in "melting" the substantial cheques which they have brought from their out-of-the-way locations to spend in the dissipations of the great city, and are here in full fig of "loud"pants, wideawake hat and coloured necktie, spending their money liberally and ostentatiously. Gup Day at EUerslie, in short, is the great event of the Christmas holidays in Auckland district, and from the celebrity of our blood-stock and the increasing importance attaching in consequence to our race meetings, it is plainly destined at no remote date to become the chief sporting event of New Zealand—as momentous an occasion and one as largely attended as the Melbourne Gup Day is at present. Such a holiday gathering must be worthy of consideration from the standpoint of the sociologist and anthroposophist, for it is on such occasions that human nature is likely te display itself in its true colours, while the bearing of great festivals on national and individual character and happiness is too well known to require mention. The season is all that can be desired for an open-air fete : it is when the fresh juvenility of spring is giving place to the riper charms of our glorious northern summer ; when not only are the bodily powers exuberant and seeking for some outlet, but when the town is just sufficiently hot and stuffy to make peeple long for a breath of purer, freer air. As old Gay put it, two centuries ago — "'Tis not that rural sport* alone invite, But that the grateful country breathes delight." It is this twofold attraction that draws thousands to the sylvan slopes of Elierslie on Boxing Day. Many go there, like the writer, who have no pleasure in " the speed of horses, or in the legs of a man;" in fact, the " races " might be considered as a mere adjunct or " accidental " —the chief thing being what the darkey called the great " human race i"

On tb« Way to the Races. Suppose us on our way this morning, actuated by these motives, gravitating along with the great mass of humanity to the scene of these Olympic games. Disdaining the cheap and nasty trip, by rail, behold us seated in one of those composite vehicles which a copious colonial vocabulary calls a •* buggy," spinning along Kyber Pass Road, amid a grand collocation of mounted humanity. Various indeed are the forms of locomotion adopted. Here is a grand open barouche drawn by spanking greys, with some Colonial Croesus and his lady resting on the luxurious cushions; there comes the commodious " sociable," with a well-to-do settler and his wife and family drawn by a brawny horse that seems to smell of the plough; before us is a hansom cab, containing two sporting gents resplendent in bright new suits and shiny belltoppers ; behind come rattling a lot of miscellaneous two and four wheelers, ranging from the respectable cab to the tumbledown "shandrydan" of some struggling "cockatoo." Pedestrians there are, too, in considerable number, who toil and swelter along the dusty road, and in striking contrast is yonder bicyclist, or that lady and gentleman mounted on high-step-ping chestnut steeds. But diverse though be the station and seeming of the hundreds of well dressed people, they are all animated by a common aim, and all wear an expression of joyous expectancy. In fact I looked along the road; It was lined with shinine: faces. All driving up, ding dong— All going to see the Races! Merrily we rattle through the new borough of Newmarket; more merrily still past that abolished toll-bar, which once was an obstacle to the progress; very few of the train pause for a " refresher " at the Junction Hotel; but all are borne along by that seemingly uncontrollable impulse to be early at the scene of the day's sports. What a cloud of dust as the mingled traffic sweeps along the Great South Road ! What a scene of gay confusion as the vehicles, equestrians and pedestrians turn into Green Lane, and nearly choking thatthoroughfare, straggle along to the racecourse entrance ! Though the goal is won, there is as yet no resting. The surging mass presses into the expansive racing ground, and each individual seeks out a point of from

vantage which to observe the day's event?. On the Course. Although the races have not yet started there are several thousands on the ground and " the cry is still—They come ! * Omni busses drive in and disgorge their packed occupants, a pedestrian stream is continually percolating past those who sit at the receipt of custom, while the railway trains send in their hundreds at intervals of ten minutes or so. As they arrive, all add to the busy scene, as they rush hither • and thither before fixing upon a suitable y spot. Those who come more for outing than for sport, gravitate towards the clump - of pines on the little eminence near'the Greenlane entrance, and at that point there is the usual collection of oznnibusse?, cabs, carriages, express carts, and other vehicles. Horses are-unyoked and stabled or turned out to browse; hampers are unpacked, and already you can, hear corks go pop, and liquids co "glnggity - gluggity - glug J" Those whose chief end is to work a little

"sweep" or invest a "soy." or two on the legal -gambling machine, gravitate to the neighborhood of the Grand Stand, where there is even now a gorgeous array

of - ladies' r costumes intermingling, wjth the crowd of masculine humanity. As the time for sending'off the .fijrßt;raoe' draws nigh thp scene .becomes ,more animated^ , The saddling paddock is the centre of attraction, and there the Racing Club iffibials, ~the "books," vand the "jockeys Dingle, and.jostle, and gesticulate and shout, The " lawn »! adjoining, with Grand Stand, behind, form a picture^ beauty and life. The band is discoursing lively music, and groups of ladies in their light and manyhued summer attire are engaged in sprightly conversation, which' I fancy must oe more on social and fashionable topics than on the. merits of Blarney, Empress, or Contractor for the Maiden Stakes. The crowd of gentlemen on the steps behind forms a fitting background to the scene, and many of these, I can see, are as busy, admiring the " form" of some bright particular star among the ladies as others are hard at work noting the points, condition and * 'form" of the horses being saddled, The other stands have their full complement of spectators, and the course is lined with carriages, cabs, and a densely-packed human throng. Everywhere, as the horses are led out, we can see "pencillers" at work laying the odds —" two to oue, bar one," and the rest of it; and family parties are making up their " sweeps " of a "bob' or "half-a-bull." While the minor races are being run, let us go

Bound the Booths Mid Stalls, and see how the non-sporting part of the multitude are enjoying themselves. The attractions are indeed various. In addition to the licensed drinking booths, which do a roaring traffic all day, there are refreshment stalls in abundance. The cheering but non-inebiiating tea is being manufactured in large quantities, smoking pies and fro/en ice-creams are set out to tempt the palate, with fruit, confectionary, pastry, and bread and sandwiches in abundance. Here are stands which show much ingenuity of device in the way of catching the nimble sixpence ; shooting saloons, in which the gambling element is judiciously introduced to temper the skill of the practised marksman; games of chance, with tremendous odds, apparently, in favour of the player and against the owner ; and in odd corners private and excited groups engaged at " smut," " undor and over," and other illegal but lucrative methods of amusement. It is the strongest lunged that, generally speaking, succeeds best in drawing crowds to his little arrangement, and by the law of the survival of the fittest, the leather chested individual is the one who makes his pile most rapidly. "Here you are ! ever venture, never win ! Billy Fairplay and Comical Tommy ! Here ! Here! Here! Here!" Such are the shouts given forth by a seedy-look-ing individual who has before him a small table full of little cavities containing numbers, with the rude figure of a man erect at one end of it. This effigy has a spiral cavity extending from his head to hia heels, and down this a marble is sant careering —the result of the betting being determined by the particular cavity in which it rests. Crack ! crack ! go the guns at a dozen shooting saloons, and up roarious is the laughter and plaudits that accompany the explosions.' Many hundieds of people surround these and less legitimate games, taking no interest whatever in the progress of the races ; dozens cf others are "guzzling" at the various booths; and still more are gaping in wonder at the antics of a monkey which one gambler has on hand to draw attention to his business, or admiring the working of a miniature steam engine which another has harnessed to the work of turning a " wheel of fortune "—that ie, fortune to him, but »m-fortune to the investors. As we look on these sharpers of different denominations we cannot help wondering where they have all come from. Do they come over from the London " slums " for the occasion ? Or are they part and parcel ot our colonial commuuity, living it may be for the better part of the year on the profits of a few such days as this ? I fancy 1 can recognise among them one or two faces that I have seen figuring at meetings of the " unemployed," but certainly they are now busily enoug employed. Passing the "to talisators" we see a solid mass of men and youths struggling forward, each grasping the stake of 20s, which they desire to place upon their "fancy." Not much sign of "depression," methinks, in the sight of five hundred pounds being swept into the maw of the betting machine ! It may be that "things are not what they seem," and that these hard-working people, so eagerly parting with their coin, are "betting their bottom dollar " in their desperation—conceiving this to be a sure way of retrieving their fortunes ? Who knows ? There are many things queerer than this done by men; but we have no time to philosophise. Come along here to the westward, and see if we can observe any better condition of things

Among the Family Parties. Here on this rocky eminence overlooking the course, and commanding a view of nearly the whole circuit, are several thousands of people clustered, part standing, sitting, and reclining - many in carts, cabs, carriages, and even on the tops of omnibuses. This place I call " The Cheap Grand Stand," for here a splendid sight is got, not only of the races, but of the human throng. These are chiefly domestic gatherings, and many entire families may here be seen indulging in a lunch which might satisfy an epicure. The hard times do not seem to have pressed badly on the sleek pater, the " substantial" materfamilias, or the well-dressed sons and daughters clustered on the green sward. Mingling with the crowd who are closest to the course, we find most of them engaged in drawing " sweeps," in which, generally, the stake is half-a-crown. In this pastime men, .women, boys, and girls all engaee, and we can learn that children of tender years have frequently tickets taken in their names, because they are supposed to be more "lucky." In the midst of all, corks keep popping, ham sandwiches, biscuits, fowls, and pastry are being discussed ; and see yonder is a party who have brought a little cask of beer, and are draining 1" its contents in copious libations. Occasionally there is a slight ebullition of temper and a threatened fight, but the presence of the wives and daughters has a soothing effect, and the belligerents (like Servia and Bulgaria) are coerced by the Great Powers (Petticoat Government) into the conclusion of peace. There arece.ttainly no signs hereof anything but superabundant plenty ; and the casual visitor to Auckland, who has been hearing and reading of nothing but "depression," "unemployed," and tion " will here have a £ew illusions dispelled. But while we indulge in reflections we hear an excited buzz, a Babel of voices crying —

"The Cup! They're oflfj" True enough the " field" goes thundering past and we must run to the winning post if we wish to see the finish. Here* we are safely in position, and the race of* the day will soon be over. What tremendous excitement there is as the horses come crashing down the hill at the eastern .corner and come on in their headlong career,,seemingly moving in gentle undulatory waves, though 1 in reality the pace is terrible. Fivethbusjmd

people are packed .around ihis spot, andfive ] tbouaandVvoicea ira 4hSuiibgi 'feWait rif" , and other names, whioti are "iridistinguish- 1 able in the confusion. " rAHastihe'supreme ; struggle comes : they are within a hundred '. yards of the , t post; spurs and whips are i plied f hats and handkerchiefs are waved; : a flash all 'ia over ! The crowd '] has swarmed over the dourse, the stands are i being emptied, and there is a great rush for " dividends " from the betting' maphine J Who won the race ? I cannot' tell you, dear reader; and to tell the truth for half-^an-Hour or more the crowd generally seem to hofcl very diyere opinions on the subject • Excited discussions ensue, and .more than one adjournment takes place "round the corner" to settle the dispute by gage of battle. Others who are agreed wipe out their feud in flowing bumpers, and those who backed the winner aud have drawn their dividend "shout" in the fulness of their hearts and reoeive the congratulations # of friends with a wild hilarity, which to the unimpassioned observer seems more fervent than if the lucky man had received the honour of Knfghthood or the plaudits of his fellows for some virtuous aotion. Who won the Cup ? Ask the sporting reporter, but don't ask me, I don't even know whether it is a gold or silver cup, or a «' cup that cheers ;" but I think it must be the latter, to judge by the cheering that accompanied the running for it. All that concerns me* is that it is an event of tremendous moment to ,thousands of my' fellow-citizens — interest in. it eclipsing for the time being such Questions as the doctrines of the Misßioners, the price of wool, or the latest phase of the carpenters' strike ! After the cup ia run I feel Comparatively little interest in the proceedings. I know, as most of my readers must, the usual character of the closing scenes of a day's races — the gradual thinning out of the crowd, then the final errand struggle to get off first by rail, 'bus, or buggy ; the disagreeable journey back to town, with dust, crowding, alcoholic smells, and tobacco vapours abundant. Very early in the day, therefore, I withdraw from the busy scene, and enjoy a quiet ramble in those delicious country lanes— musing as I go in the words of Allan Cunningham :—: — 'There is a lesson ia each flower, A story in eaob. stream and bower ; On every horb o'er which we tread Are written words whioh, rightly read. Will lead you from Earth's fragrant Bod To Hope, and Holiness, and God ! " Cup Day is over once more j and I trust that each reader's recollections of it are as pleasant as mine are, and that none left the course without some lesson drawn from observation and experience there. Even the experience of betting and losing may prove sweeter than that of winning if the lesson is rightly appreciated. But amid the vast crowd who attended this annual gathering there are many hundreds who. like myself, have aims above those of sport, or frivolity, and who, studying the social aspects of the occasion, find much food for moralising in the varied experiences of Cup DayatEUerslie.