TRAINING AND RIDING. 113 



aPxd Flemington on the training track, when the dew- 

 is on the grass and the sun's rays give quite enough 

 warmth to be pleasant. 



The scene is Randwiok_, the time about five a.m., 

 or perhaps before. 



A rapid walk along the Randwick Road brings us 

 in sight of the famous course, and strings of thorough- 

 breds with their clothing on may be seen coming 

 towards the entrance gates to do their morning gallop. 

 How much depends upon those gallops only racing 

 men know. The various boxes are all occupied by 

 half-past five, some at the Lower Randwick side of 

 the course and others near the main entrance. 



A few owners rattle up in their cabs, and the 

 trainers come along either in buggies or on horseback. 



There is a fair sprinkHng of spectators, who have 

 permission to be present, and also the representatives 

 of the sporting press, whose business it is to give an 

 account of the gallops in their various journals. 



Reporting the work of horses is not looked upon 

 as a degrading profession in Australia, and the men 

 who chronicle the gallops are well up in their work, 

 and treat all with fairness. 



Timins: horses in their work is the rule, and when 

 the papers come out with the training notes in, the 

 times registered for a mile, or whatever the distance 

 of the gallop, are inserted. 



I am not a great believer in the '^ watch '' on the 



