The Australian at Play 185 



and shop girls set aside a small portion of their 

 earnings each week, forming speculative com- 

 panies to send regularly for tickets and divide 

 any winnings accruing to them. Apart from 

 these ' 'consultations," as they are called, there 

 is a great deal of betting upon the result of the 

 race, which usually attracts a field of about thirty 

 of the finest horses in Australia. 



When this field of horses faces the barrier of 

 the starting-gate, there is a sudden hush over all 

 the course. The promenade on the lawn stops 

 for the time, and every one seeks some point from 

 which the race can be viewed. The roar on the 

 hill ceases, the swing-boats and merry-go-rounds 

 are still, while all prepare to watch the struggle. 

 In five minutes, the result will be telegraphed to 

 every town through a continent of three million 

 miles, huge sums of money will have changed 

 hands, a few fortunate ones will have become 

 suddenly rich, and many thousands disappointed. 

 Three minutes of breathless suspense, a mighty 

 roar as the struggling horses flash past the 

 winning-post, and then the great crowd settles 

 down to its promenading and picnicking again. 

 The race is the great event of the day, certainly, 

 but there are old friends to be met, reminiscences 

 to be exchanged, and luncheons and afternoon 

 teas to be consumed. East meets West on Cup 

 Day, and North meets South. It is much more 

 than a mere race meeting to a sparsely popu- 

 lated country such as Australia. 



