98 COLONIAL RACE-COURSES 



clever at arranging successful race-meetings as 

 they have proved themselves in regard to winning 

 cricket matches on a first-rate pitch. 



The Australians attribute to our insular pre- 

 judices the suspicion with which we regard their 

 pet "starting machine." Of course the real reason 

 we have not been very enthusiastic about it is, 

 or should be, very apparent. English racehorses 

 have been trained to start when a flag drops, and 

 do not yet understand the meaning of a net un- 

 expectedly popping above their heads at the last 

 moment. 



As regards racehorses carrying registered num- 

 bers on their saddle-cloths, and having a similar 

 number on their stalls — and by so doing enabling 

 backers to identify them — why, surely, this is an 

 unquestionable improvement upon our present 

 English system ? 



In 1892, when Sir Hugo won the Derby, I 

 had to depend upon the truthfulness of a lad who 

 led the horse about in the saddling-paddock just 

 before the race. Either that boy had an imagi- 

 nation, or else he deliberately told a barefaced 

 falsehood, for, with great solemnity, he declared 

 his charge to be El Diablo. Consequently I lost 

 a few sovereigns over that classic event, whereas, 

 had Sir Hugo worn a number on his saddle- 

 cloth, his admirer would not have been at the 

 mercy of a stableman, and would, moreover, have 



won ;^2 50. 



The picturesque Flemington race-course has 

 often been compared to a scenic horseshoe ; com- 

 modious private and public stands are erected on 



