128 RACEHORSES IN AUSTRALIA 



The Autumn Meeting, held every Easter, offers a splendid programme to 

 horse owners. On the first day is the Autumn Stakes, I ^ miles, weight-for-age, 

 of 2,500 sovereigns; the Doncaster Handicap, i mile, of 3,000 sovereigns; 

 the A.J-C. Sires' Produce Stakes, 7 furlongs, for the two-year-old colts and 

 geldings carrying 8 st. 10 lbs., and fillies 8 st. 7 lbs. The added money is 

 5,000 sovereigns in addition to a subscription of 10 sovereigns each from the 

 sires nominated, the progeny of which are only eligible to compete. The 

 nominator of the sire of the winner receives 250 sovereigns. The A.J.C. St. 

 Leger, 1 1 miles, is also decided on this day, and is a classic race for colts, 

 geldings and fillies, of 2,500 sovereigns added money. The second day of the 

 Autumn Meeting is held on Easter Monday, and in the presence of some 80,000 

 people, which number increases each year, the Sydney Cup is run. This is the 

 most important long-distance handicap decided at Randwick, and is run 

 over two miles. The added money in 1921 was 6,000 sovereigns, and the 

 best horses in Australia are to be generally found among the field. The 

 Champagne Stakes, a six-furlong, set-weight, two-year-old race, is decided 

 before the Cup is run. Colts are asked to carry 8 st. 10 lbs., fillies 8 st. 8 lbs., 

 and geldings 8 st. 7 lbs, the winner receiving 3,000 sovereigns in added money. 

 On the third day are the All Aged Stakes, I mile, weight-for-age, of 2,500 

 sovereigns; the Easter Stakes, 7 furlongs, a special condition race for two-year- 

 olds, of 750 sovereigns; and the Cumberland Stakes, 2 miles, weight-for-age, 

 of 2,000 sovereigns. The concluding day's racing contributes the A.J.C. 

 Plate, 3 miles, weight-for-age; the second Steeplechase, and some interesting 

 handicap races. 



What may be termed the Jumping Meeting is held early in June, and this 

 year the A.J.C, who have recently become alive to the importance and 

 attractiveness of cross-country racing, wisely established the Australian Jockey 

 Club Hurdle Race, 2 miles 3 furlongs, of 2,000 sovereigns added money, and 

 a similarly named Steeplechase carrying the same amount of added money, and 

 run over a course of about 3 miles. 



So much for the races which the Club offers the horse-owner in New 

 South Wales. In addition to the fourteen days' racing held at Randwick by the 

 premier Club, the two principal Betting Clubs have six days between them 

 there, while racing takes place every Saturday in the many proprietary race- 

 courses around Sydney, the Rosehill Club being the principal of these money- 

 making concerns. 



But to return to Randwick. The pictures of the course and buildings w^ill 

 give a good idea of the general outlook. The racing track is of oblong shape, 

 and the horses are asked to race round four easily negotiated turns in traversing 

 the mile and three furlongs of grass sward, which the course proper measures 

 in circumference two feet out from the inner rail. It is practically a level stretch 

 from start to finish, though there is a gradual decline from the winning-post 

 to the mile and a quarter start and a slight rise between the four and the two 

 furlong posts. The average breadth of the racing track from fence to fence 

 is 1 00 feet, so that there is plenty of room on it for a very large-sized field of 

 horses to race with safety. The plan of the course published in this book gives 

 a good idea of the various training tracks; a recent improvement to the latter 

 is the conversion of the sand into a cinder track, which will be of great value 

 to work on during the wet months of the year. 



A distinctive feature of Randwick is its steeplechase course, situated 

 inside the course proper, and three other training tracks. A good field of 

 jumpers streaming up the hill and negotiating the jump on the crown of it 

 before racing down the steep incline to the foot is a splendid sight. Steeple- 

 chasing is gaining favour with the public, and one of the principal reasons for 



