RACING IN NEW SOUTH WALES 177 



the "Sydney Morning Herald," signed by Mr. Mortimer William Lewis, the 

 locality of the original track in 1 860 was selected by the Hon. E. Deas- 

 Thomson, and set out and surveyed by Mr. Lewis under the former's personal 

 direction. The whole of the timber for the fencing and erection of buildings 

 was supplied by Messrs. W. Jolly & Company. Mr. Kelly was the architect. 



The race track was 1 i mile in circumference, with a straight run home 

 of seventeen chains. The made part of the track was fifty feet wide from 

 going out of the straight to the last half-mile, where the width was increased 

 to seventy feet. It was laid down with "doob" (couch) grass, with a 

 mixture of English grasses and Dutch clover, top-dressed with bone dust. 

 Posts, five chains apart, marked the race track. A remarkable feature on the 

 ground was "The Rocks." They were just fifteen chains from the winning 

 post, and nearly opposite the present 9 furlongs post. Further on, at twenty 

 chains from the winning post, stood the starting post for the mile course. 

 The level between the fifteenth and twenty-fifth chain was called the 

 Lachlan Flat, and the bend at the twenty-eighth chain was in honour of the 

 Governor-General, designated the "Denison Corner." At the fortieth chain, 

 or half-mile from the winning post, stood the starting post for the T.Y.C., 

 and for the six furlongs races. There was a gentle rise called "Constitution 

 Hill." The turn at the sixtieth chain post became known as "Champion 

 Corner." Beyond the eighty chains came the starting point for the Derby 

 and Oaks, which was named "Derby Corner." All those old landmarks 

 have passed away, with the formation of the present track. The lessees of 

 the grandstand for the opening meeting were Messrs. J. Poelhman and G. C. 

 Barkhausen, while the race cards were issued by "Bell's Life in Sydney" and 

 printed on the course in a tent. The prices of admission were, if taken for 

 the three days, a guinea for gentlemen, 10/6 for ladies and 5/- for children. 



First Race Meeting at Randwick. 



The first meeting at Randwick commenced on May 29th, I860, with an 

 attendance of 6,000. The first race was the First Year of the Second Triennial 

 Stakes, a sweepstakes of I sovereigns, with 1 00 sovereigns added, 1 mile, 

 won by Mr- I- ^- Cleeve's b f Chatteress, by Chatterbox from Jessie (Hender- 

 son) ; Mr. J. Tait's b c Alfred, by Warwick — Clove, second. Won easily. 

 Time, 2 min. 1 sec. 



The Australian Plate of 1 30 sovereigns (twice round) was won by 

 Veno, ridden by Higgerson, beating Strop by two lengths in 5 mins. 1 I J sees. 

 Planet, ridden by J. Driscott, won the Metropolitan Maiden Plate of 150 

 sovereigns, and the Squatters' Purse of 50 sovereigns went to Mr. T. Ivory's 

 Flying Doe. Tattersall's Free Handicap to Mr. W. Towns' Stranger. 



Second day. May 30th, Second Year of First Triennial Stakes Mr,. 

 J. T. Roberts' Moss Rose, by William Tell; Publicans' Purse, Mr. W. R. 

 Blackman's True Blue; Welter, Mr. T. M'Guire's Egremont; City Plate, Mr. 

 J. J. Roberts' Gratis; Hack Race, Mr. J. Taylor's Pussy Cat. 



Third day. May 3 1 st. Prince of Wales Stakes, Mr. Ivory's Euroka, and 

 Mr. A. Loader won the Randwick Plate with The Don, ridden by Higgerson. 

 Gratis won the A.J.C. Handicap, and Ackbar the Consolation Stakes. Forced 

 Handicap, Planet. The last three races were run in heavy rain. 



