THE "CUP" DAY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2149, 23 November 1875, Page 2

THE "CUP" DAY.

There was only one drawback to the mostconiplete success of the Cup day sat Flemington, and that was one over which no mortal lias control—?the weather. 'Despite a strong north wind with clouds of dust; in the morning, succeeded by a drenching rain late in the afternoon, the attendance, on all parts of the course was never more numerous than on Tuesday last.. Never did the ladies appear ; in, greater "force or in more elegant and resplendent costumes. The grand stand would not contain the fair sex^ alone, without reckoning their attendant civa« Hers. The hill was densely packed witih human beings, * and the flat was a repe-' tition of the hill. On the journey to the course and on the return the road to Melbourne was one continuous double line of' vehicles. Racegoers of'-Wpifi* ence from England who were present averred that nothing like the attendance on the Fiemingtoh course oh a Cup day could, be witnessed in the old. country, such, assemblage of all classes Hbe^ tokening an assured prosperity .without parallel elsewhere. Probably J*ab6ut eighty thousand people were on the cou?se,.and the provision for! the comfort and convenience of this crowd wasj3uch as could be seen on no other racecourse in the world we believe, and ja>flects the highest credit on. Mr BagotTVipfrom we especially congratulate on the great success of the Cup day, and to whom.the public is highly indebted. ' :-:' We must not conclude without a word of praise for the handicapper, Mr E. T. Barnard. No previousOup has exceeded the last in the amount of public interest it has created, and the speculation it has given rise to. Notwithstanding the strong support afforded to one horse, the race has by most judges been all along con-# sidered a very open one, and :the result - has borne out their convictions. Every horse; that started had numerous backers up to the last moment, the record of which fact is the best compliment we can pay to the skill of the handicapper. And we may add that the condition in which the win-, ner of the Cup, Wollomai, was brought to the post was most creditable to the trainer, whom, as well as the owner of the horse, Mr Cleland; of the Albion, we must-congratulate on their success. And this horse we may remark, was trained at Flemington, on the very ground which has been so much condemned, which shows that even under difficulties skill and: care combined can achieve success.-— Australasian^