RACECOURSES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 173 



the horses. I once saw a well-known backer and 

 owner lay a hundred pounds to one on a colt half 

 way down the straight with a lead of several lengths, 

 and then it was beaten and he lost his hundred. 

 The Members' Stand is a fine brick structure in 

 which is the weighing room, the Press room, the 

 telegraph offices, and at the far end the jocke;v's 

 room. The Press are invariably well provided for 

 on Colonial courses, and, as a rule, every facility is 

 afforded them for gaining information. 



Space will not permit of an elaborate description 

 of these famous racecourses. A very readable book 

 could be written about them and the many exciting 

 scenes that hav^e taken place there. 



I ought to mention that at Flemington there is 

 a straight six furlongs over which the Newmarket 

 Handicap, the Maribrynong Plate, the great two-year- 

 old race of the year, and other sprint races are run. 

 The Melbourne Cup horses start down this course 

 where they get a straight run, and then round the 

 bend, and cut into the straight course again in the 

 shape of a figure nine with a short tail. At Randwick 

 there is no straight course, but it is a mile and three 

 furlongs round. 



Every race finishes in the same place, in front 

 of the standsj and this is the universal custom in 

 Australia. It is far preferable and much more 

 convenient than to be dodging about looking for the 



