A GLANCE BACK AT PAST CUP CONTESTS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 314, 7 November 1888, Page 5

A GLANCE BACK AT PAST CUP CONTESTS.

It is now 28 years ago since Mr E. J)e JVJesbve led back to scale in the first Melbourne Cup his famous horse Archer, who carried 9st 71b, and repeated the dose in 1862, when he carried lOafc 21b, and fairly romped home in the front of 19 other starters. Archer and Cutts, who rode him, have both passed away. Mr Joseph Harper's colt Banker was victorious in the third Melbourne Cup, and Mr Hurclo Fisher's Lantern gob home in the following; year. Toryboy, the hero of 1865, received no less than 3sb from Panic, who was second. There was not much to boast about in such a triumph as tnte. In 1866 Victorians were introduced to a horse which was perhaps the greatest that ever Australia possessed, The Barb. To this day Mr John Tuit declares that he never knew of whafchewas capable when he was thoroughly n't. His first appearance in a handicap was made in the Sydney Cup, wherein be carried lOst 81b, and, without even being thoioughly extended, he was always in a forward position, and won with ease. Tim Whiftler, anothei great horse, carried the all black of Terraia to victory in the succeeding year ; and, in 1868, Mr John Tait upheld the honour of the sister colony with Ulencoe, the Tasmanian Strop being second, and Mr John Cleeland's fractious Shenandoah third. Warrior triumphed in 1869. Nimblefoot, whose owner, gallant old Walter Craig, died previous to the race, won in 1870, and his victory was a fulfilment of a dream which Mr Craig had previous to his death. It was a close thing between Nimblofoot and Lapdog, the judge's decision being a short head in favour oi the son of Panic, Lapdog being the resolute opponent that ran him home. In 1871 and 1872, Mr John Taits yellow jacket flashed first past the post. The Pearl being the bearer in the former year, and The Quack, in the latter, Don Juau created a sensation in 1873, and Haricot led his field a nice dance in 1874. Wollomai won in 1875 for Mr John Cleeland, whose horse ran in the name of H. Sharp ; and Briseis, who had previously won the Derby, was the heroineof 1876. the only year in which the Melbourne Cup has been won by a member of the weaker sex. There was great excitement in 1877, when Chester got home only half a head in f i ont of the St. Albans representative Savanaka. Calamia gained a very easy victory in 1878, Mr Do Mestre being the lucky owner. One of the most interesting races that ever took place was that of 1879, when Darriwell, Sweetmeat, and Suwarrow joined issue inside the distance. Darriwell won cleverly by half a length in the splendid time of 3m. 30ys., or over 16 seconds quicker than the fastest time made by Aucher. Grand Flaneur repeated the Briseis double when he won for Mr Long in 1880, and Zulu upset all calculations when he won in 1881. The Assyrian's victory, too, was a windfall for the ring, but Martini-Henry gave them a na&ty knock. The contest of. 1884 saw Malua, who started favourite, triumph with 9st 91b in the saddle, and the year following the neglected Sheet Anchor defeated Grace Darling and Trenton. In 1886, Arsenal just succeeded in beating Trenton, who had 9sb 51b to carry, the unfortunate Silvermine being third. Last year, Dunlop started at the forlorn price of 100 to 5, and defeated two warm favourites in Silvermine and The Ausbralian Peer, the time being the fastest on record, viz., 3.28 J. The biggost fields that have started for the Cup are 35 in 1885, when Sheet Anchor won, and 33 in 1876, 1877 and 1881, whon bhe respective winners were Briseis, Chester, and Zulu. The horses that have been placed more than once for tho Cup are : Archer, first in 1861 and 1862 ; Mormon, second in 1861 and 1862 ; Exile, socond in 1866 and third in 1867 ; Dagworth, third in 1872 and second in 1873 ; Sweetmeat, second in 1879 and third in 1881 ; Commotion, third in 1883 and second in 1884 ; Trenton, third in 1885 and second in 1886; and Silyermine third in 1886 and second in 1887. T)e Mestre has won bhe most Melbourne Cups, four in number, comprising: Archer twice, Tim VVhiffler, and Calamia ; Tait won fchree with the Barb, Pearl, and Quack ; Wilson has Avon two with Don Juan, and

Briseis, and the Hon. James White two with Chester and Martini-Henry. No other owner has won twice, nor any horse but Archer more than once. Yet Tim Whiffler, Glencoe, Warrior, Haricot, and Chester started for several cups. No winner of the Melbourne Cup has yet been fortunate enough to become himself the sire of another Cup winnei\ This is the more strange when we run over a list of horses like Archer, The Barb, Sydney Tim Whiffler, and others that have won. Perhaps tho progeny of Grand Flaneur, JDarriwell, or Chester may break the spell this year.