SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1922, Page 11

SPORTING.

FLEMINGTON. ' r-- g : * SOME IMPRESSIONS AND OBSERVATIONS, (By T.C.L.) A visit to Victoria, without seeing Flemington is as incomplete as Hamlet without the Prince, and so when in Melbourne the other week I gladly availed myself of the opportunity of a run out to the celebrated course. Tn Melbourne there is a good old sport who is happy to constitute himself “guide, philosopher, and friend” to every Taranaki man who happens to visit Melbourne. He is Mr. J. Cunningham, who was born in the New Plymouth district and whose relatives are still honored members of the community. In his younger days “Jack” was noted for his prowess as a footballer and cricketer, as well as for his horsemanship, and so it is little wonder that when he alighted in Melbourne some 35 years ago he became closely associated with sport in its various branches. He joined the Melbourne Cricket Club, of which he is one of the 15 life members, and the V.R.C., of which he has been a steward practically ever since. He was out of his element in regard to football, as, like other New Zealanders, he had played and followed the Rugby game, and in Victoria they play a game of their own. composed, they will tell you, of the best elements of Soccer and Rugby. With others he tried to establish the Rugby game there, taking teams to Sydney and arranging for return matches in Melbourne, but Rugby did not take on in Victoria and so “Jack” had to accept the inevitable and follow the Victorian game. One night my friend mentioned that he would be around at the hotel in the morning, pick me up and take me to Flemington. The morning broke fine but a'trifle hazy. As he met me “Jack” intimate<l that he had brought with him a lady, “one perhaps you have met in New Plymouth,” he hastily added. When the door opened there was, sure enough, a lady, as fine a “sport” as Taranaki possesses, and soon we were bowling along the two-way road to Flemington, the Mecca of the Australasian sporting world. It is not far from the city, and there is no mistaking it.

VIEW FROM “THE HILL.” There are numerous entrances, and we, being privileged persons, chose that reserved for “members onlv.” Leaving the car. we climbed “The Hill.” whence one is able to obtain a splendid’ view of the course and its surroundings. The first impression made upon one is the size cf the course, or courses, for the training tracks are away from the main racing course. The grounds are like a saucer, the grandstands and other buildings and appointments being on the edge and overlooking the tracks. On the right, another edge, is to be seen the shrubbery or park in the making. On the left and directly opposite closely built houses overlook the course. The course is like the sports ground in Pukekura Park multiplied many times without the beautiful background of native bush. Here we met the custodian and overseer (Mr. A. E. Hill), with whom our host had kindly arranged to show us over the buildings, etc. It was an enjoyable experience. One could not help but be struck by the princely way in which everything was done. comfort and convenience of patrons,, as well as of officials and all others, being studied in every particular. As may be imagined. the grandstands are on a large scale, yet not nearly adequate, we are told. Tn the ladies’ room, handsomely furnished and appointed, the V.R.C. thoughtfully provide toilet requisites, which, however, are all chained. “What is the reason?” you ask. “'Well, it is this way,” declared biir hosts, “at times, in a period of abstraction, the ladies take them home with them!” Rather queer it was to see combs, brushes, glasses, etc., chained to fixtures, hut they were beautiful little silver chains, and no doubt are duly admired, if not altogether appreciated, by those who use them.

PLEASING EFFECTS. In these and adjoining men’s handsomely appointed apartments you look into ferneries, with pools in between in which goldfish besport themselves. The whole effect is very pleasing. Then you are taken to the apartments of the Governor-General and the State Governor. They are decorated and furnished with skill and taste. For some of the decorative work Mrs. Rowan, widow of Captain Rowan, who in the stirring days was centred at Pukearuhe. was responsible. She is an artist of considerable ability.

It is worthy of remark that Rowan Road, near Kaponga. is named after the late Captain Rowan, who came out to Taranaki as an Ensign with the 43rd Light Infantry. He fought in the disastrous engagement at Te Ngutu-o-te-manu in 1868, being wounded in the jaw. His company (a Taranaki one) carried him out’ of danger, the other wounded men being tomahawked. He subsequently went to Melbourne, and on returning joined up with the Armed Constabulary. We are shown the stands of the bookmakers, and the particular ones patronised by the Prince of Wales when he was at Flemington; the quarters of the trainers, which could hardly be improved upon; the jockeys’ rooms, with lockers and everything complete; and then the hospital. This is no temporary hospital. It has been built and fitted up for the treatment of cases that cannot be safely shifted from the building. In a way, therefore, it is a permanent hospital. Nearby are the picnicking grounds, where shade and seats are provided, and on race days hot water and what not are available free. BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS. Wl’° has not heard of the beautiful lawns of Flemington, with their festoons of roses and ' beautiful flower beds? In the winter time they are a sight to behold; what they must be in the spring and summer may be conjectured. The lawns are extensive, but when there are 150,000 on the grounds it can be understood that room is at a premium and movement restricted. Everything has been arranged for the convenience of patrons. A plan of the course, with particulars'relating to the competing horses, riders, etc., is established in a prominent part of the grounds, and may be consulted by the efith.usiasj, who has not, therefore, to

inquire of the for any information desired. The members’ apartments are magnt-' ficent, though the stewards have not the best view of the finish of the classical race in that part of the grandstand specially reserved for them. We had the pleasure of meeting the veteran secretary (Mr. Byron Moore). He has held the position now for over 40 years, and is just as energetic and efficient in the discharge of his heavy duties now as ever, declare his friends. He is one of those men who is as old as he feels, and he still feels very young, giving the lie to the belief held by Americans that no man is any good for responsible work after he has reached the age of forty. Mr. Moore is well over seventy; a courteous, fine distinguished gentleman he is, whom it is a pleasure to meet. THE GREAT CARBINE. We were ushered into the stewards’ apartments, and saw on the walls pictures and paintings that immediately commanded our attention. There was Carbine, the New Zealand-bred and Taranaki-owned horse—the greatest horse that ever looked through a, bridle in Australasia, and who scored his greatest triumphs on the course opposite! Who can reflect without a thrill upon Carbine’s gallant victory in the Cup of 1890—when “Old Jack,” as he was fondly known to every man. woman and child in the land—carried his “steadier” of JOst. 51b. to easy victory from 38 others in the (then) record time of 3min. 28Jsec! And here again New Zealand-bred equines, Apologue in 190” and Sasanof in 14)16, beat the flower of the Australasian turf. Unde? the picture is this inscription: “Carbine, presented by the Duke of Portland to the V.R.C.” There are paintings of St. Simons and Flemington in 1862. It must have been a primitive place in those days. THE ORIGIN OF FLEMINGTON. The origin of the name “Flemington” is not generally known, but that authority, Mr. H. C. Coghlan, in his “Melbourne Cup Memoirs.” thus explains it: “Among the scattered settlements along the road from Melbourne to Mount Macedon a hamlet slowly blossomed forth in the Neighborhood of ‘The Racecourse.’ In it settled an early colonist, one ‘Bob’ Fleming,, butcher, who. won his way to the hearts of the people with good meat and a gracious manner—grace before meat. So, as a slight token of esteem and regard, the name of ‘Flemington’ was, in course of time, bestowed upon the hamlet, and the course became known as ‘Flemington racecourse.’ ”

THE MELBOURNE CUP. For many years before there was such a race as the Melbourne Cup, race meetings were held at Flemington. The Victoria Turf Club moved to Flemington in 1840. and in 1857 a stronger body, the Victoria Jockey Club, was granted the use of the same track. Both chibs were in full swing when, in 1861, the V.T.C. decided to include a “Melbourne Cup” in its three-days’ meeting in November, and to celebrate the occasion a grandstand capable of holding 3000 persons was erected on the riverside. The Melbourne Cup became a fixture in 1863, and from that year has grown from a paltry £2OO race to the richest prize, in Australasia, the winner’s share varying from six to ten thousand pounds. Early in the ’sixties the old grandstand was removed to a site immediately fronting the present structure, which began to take shape in 1872. From a mere picnic gathering Flemington races grew to become an irresistible magnet for a hundred thousand (or more) sportsmen from all parts of Australia, as well as from New Zealand. In 1888 (Exhibition year) the attendance on “Cup Day” was estimated at 143,000, and possibly it Is greater to-day. though exact figures are impossible owing to “The Flat” being free to the public. Suffice to say, a sight of the mass of humanity on Flemington stands, on the lawns, on “The Hill.” and on “The Flat” to-day is one never likely to be forgotten.

We drink to the health of Flemington and all the good sports attached to it, shake hands with Mr. Hill, jump into the taxi, and back to the city, sorry indeed to leave such beautiful surroundings, and impressed beyond words with the wonderful Flemington, the convincing ground where scores of Melbourne Cups have been raced for, and hoping that one day we will be able to form part of the 150,000 or so who cratn “The Hill” to blackness, or mingle with the motley throng on “The Flat.”