THE AUCKLAND STEEPLECHASE OF 1885.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 228, 24 January 1885, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND STEEPLECHASE OF 1885.

By " Native." The old year's out, the now yeai-'s in — A talc L slush unfokl Of Ellerslie, where racers spin, And knowing ones gets sold ; Where dupes drive out and run about, And Ecroes take their gold. In thousands round on stand and ground — Just view the place alive, Kovv, hcai- the larum, list the sound, The railway brings its hive, Confusion round, and miitli is found, In eighteen eighty-live. See, that's the " total," jam and crush, The saddle bell goes ding ! The books with gush around (hey rush, While grooms their racers bring ; Tom Uro'vn in scarlet aels the brush, A.ncl, " Clear the course !" does ring, It thrills delight this sportive sight : A picture rich to see, All colours like I he rainbow bright — Fair ladies in high glee, Tried coursers moving llight and might, On bonnic Eilerslie.. I fain would tell in muse full well, How jockeys got their bruise ; The Steeple— well, it was a sell, Come, follow, if you choose ; Who won the bell no judge can tell, Where no horse did refuse. No "port, we know, can send a glow Like Hurdles, Cups, and 'Chaise ; Here maidens ilow to meet each bean — All mingle in this place. Where the great old school talks Liverpool, And the foreigner shrugs his lace. The scene at, hand was really grand . Most charming was the day. Now tal;e take a our places w here's your stand, Twelve horses for the fray, Tom Stevens does the llag command, He falls it— they're away. Like arrow sped Alaric lied, Cos Heat-oil sails the hill. There's Williams bold on King behold, Ted rides him with good will, All clear the rail and no bewail, They're running like a mill. Then down the slope some pull and rope, Stone wall and sod they ilv, The water roach— then hear the screech, " Alaric clears it dry !" Come Clarence all and Linwood tall. From where two horses lie. Stone wall, old Chief, in bold relicf — Where's Agent and Perfume r Barbara's dead no! lift his head. Keep bark, here's more, make room, The oJd brook near I see them clear, This charming afternoon. O'er stream and rail, some lead and tail. The crowds burst out their joy. Then through the trees, " Hats off, now please," Some mother lifts her boy — Still the heavy weight, and King going straight, Brings Clarence no alloy. Around again, o'er hill and plain, Aluric leads the van, Close up Exchange, King, Clarence, strange, Cos Heaton's down, brave man ! The masses roar as on they soar, And shout for Julia Ami. The double clear — Lord, how they cheer ! 'Twus Brown that cleared the way. Hold signals out, mistaken rout, All wrong but old Sunrsvy ! We see no flag but a shrunken rag — " 'Tis Parker's fault," they say. House Linwood game, Nev- r Year is fame, The favourite — where's The Lad ? They're closing borne, we surge and foam — Grave people think we're mad ; " 'Tis Clarence, King," the field does ring : King smiles at Julia sad. Excitement dwells in fits and spells, " Great Clarence !" rends the air; Says Old Sunray, '" I've won the day, I've run and won it fair." The stewards pale, come tell the tell — No judge was in the chair. Here unmenaced the privileged chaste, Count six at racing ran, Their rule is might, and scorning right, These recognise no law ; Says Bill, " Take heed, our will's decreed, Or A'euueanee you may draw." 'Twas Parker kind spoke out his mind, And told them 'twas his will To run again. Said Clarence, " vain." " To-morrow," says Blind Bill. Where L.nwood bold old Sunray sold, And Clarence gets the pill. Now here's a stew — what shall they do ? We all know Clarence won ; Your flags at fault, pay three the malt, Then give Blind Bill the run. 'Tis him we blame, don't mask his shame, If shame is in your gun.