1941-02-24 — Page 4

CHINA MAIL RACING EXTRA, FEBRUARY 24, 1941.

Race-Week In Old Hong Kong

MELODY STAR'S RECORD

In the last race on the Second

the Day of

present Meeting. Melody Star, ridden by Mr. D.H.8. Craven, fol!

and brought down Fair Chance

(Mr. P.Y.T. up), and it was later found neces-

Wel

Colourful Picture Of Colony's Only Social Function

LONG before dawn, in Bridge, now named

Canal.

*

✡

a

the various stables throughout the tiny city! The Dawn of sary to destroy Melody Star. of Victoria, grooms were

as

that time for want of better jobs,

in sweated profusely

the heat beneath dingy helmets,

they moved through the crowd with eyes peeled for belligerent drunks and stealthy pickpockets. On the whole the throngs were very or- derly, and the services of the con- stables were not required, at least on the race-course itself.

scene

But

EARLIER MEETING

POSTPONED

when the races were over, and As for os can be ascertained, the only everybody went back todown, Annual Race Meeting has Bowrington Queen's Road was the

of once before been interrupted by 25 to 30 which rain. That was some many a drunken brawl, generally ended with those con-years ago, but all efforts to trace cerned being picked up to spend the date have proved futile.

of the One of the Stewards the night in Victoria Gaol.

Jockey Club said that it was some- time between 1910 and 1914 that the opening day had to be post- poned because of wet weather.

A 1940 Australian subscription rubbing down their horses, A New Era griffin, Melody Star, which was by inspecting hoofs for loose N the fashionable Spring Garden of 14.3 hands. It had seven starts shoes and feeding them during 1940 and up to December

Double Court, was

a by mare

31, 1940 had won stakes totalling $1400.

kah boy with a sharp admonition

now.

*

In 1918, of course, the Meeting was called off after the disastrous Race Course Fire which broke.

Chinese Take To

Lane elegant ladies stirred The Bookmaker uneasily when the first rays of the sparingly. Gentlemen joc-sun pierced wide-flung windows THE races began in the afternoon, but in the afternoon of February keys, civilian, naval and and startled awake the small pun- and the same interest in the 26, 1918, the Second Day of the sport was manifested then as Meeting. About 600 lives were

Eager spectators watched lost in the fire. Owned by S.M.K., Melody Star Military, keenly looked to get on with his job, for the air | with Mr H. A. Proulx up, was over their harness for any was still oppressive and humid the weighing-in of the jockeys and beneath the mosquito curtains, harness on the cumbersome beam second to Australian Diamond flow which might result in but when they suddenly remem- scales, and as the starting bell (B. L. Tao) in the First Section

event, rushed

fell off at the start; the hilarity of the Sydney Maidens at the 1940 broken girths or stirrup bered that to-day was race day clanged for each

excitedly to and fro, seeking to of the spectators baffled all des- Annual Meeting, winning $460 10 leathers and thus broken they sat up with pleasurable ex-

find a place of special vantage for cription. But in view of the fact paying

Already various booths had

The whip viewing the race.

the dismounted that

cavaliers on the bones through a tumble,

been erected around the race the starter's flag found them key-showed great pluck and got up for they were to race that course. Coolies under the sharp-ed-up with expectancy, and when grinning as if nothing had hap-

eyed supervision of tavern day.

prothe horses leapt forward from the pened, this merriment was by no prietors were struggling with

starting-line, they cheered madly

means unmixed with admiration. them heavy peer casks, hoisting

thudded as the pounding hoofs on stands while others fashioned along the track amid clouds rough benches and tables for cus- tomers to sit ut.

stakes in this race and $11.80 for a place bet parimutuel.

when

At the same Meeting, again ridden by Mr. Proulx, it was Bist in the Albury Stakes, from

the 1 Mile Post, returning a time

of 100.3 for the distance securing $1000 in stakes for its owner. It paid backers $7.60 for a place bet

citement.

From both sides of Happy Val- ley the horses padded softly along and behind their grooms. Those from Jardine's Stables--where the Po

The matshed Grand Stand. Læung Kuk is to-day--were lucky, for it was but a step from Caroline booths and other properties of the Hill to the track, while those that turf began to bloom with gally- S. M K. owns only one other entered from Victoria and Wel-coloured flags that hung limply in pony, Harmony Star, and this hashgton Barracks had to plod the the dull morning air.

length of Queen's Road from over the winding path that led between tangled, undergrowth clad slopes of Mount Parish and Mor-

yet to place,

Another pony that had to be destroyed, on the First Day of the present meeting was Mr S. W. Chan's Jungle Princess (Mr. D. G Woo). Making its Arst appear- unce in a race, it fell near the pad. dock when taking part ir the Coral Handicap.

Mr. Char has only

one other puby, Red Rabbit, which has yet

to place.

ALBURY STAKES WINNERS

Following is a list of winners of the Albury Stakes since it was in- troduced in 1936: ---

1936 Electron (Frost) in 1.08.3. 1937 Katinka (Frost) in 1.03.1. 1938- A Better Time (Pote-Hunt)

in 1.05.2.

the

rison Hill.

dust.

of

of

Through the crowds passed and re-passed the bookmakers, calling the odds. There was much bet- ting, the Chinese being as excit- ed as the foreigners, and laying wagers with equal ardour,

The lucky fellow who came in first was applauded in grand style, but most of the others were now- where, many of the ponies gallop- ing in without riders, seemingly enjoying the fun as much as any- body else.

✡

✡

The greatest good humour pre- vailed, and as the throngs milled about the course between events, Excitement they discussed the prospects

uf

the races in a babel of tongues, Inconceivable

and liberally patronised the many booths and stands.

As the sun rose higher in the SO did the numbers heavens, around the race-course increase as swarms of people streamed over the Gap. The mile and a half of dusty earthen road between Happy Dismal and deserled, the hills Valley and the city of Victoria

race-week in old at night were infested with Chin-was crowded with a moving mass,

of humanity, in vehicles, sedan- Men from the Seven Seas clus-SUCH was ese footpads, and it need be a

Hong Kong. It was more than during man to negotiate that path chairs, on horseback and on foot, tered around the improvised bars,

Soldiers, resplendeni in the quaming mugs of beer, and ban- just an assembly of the local pub- - through the hills after sunset, For

of easy,virtuc lic at Happy Valley to watch the tering the ladies dazzling

greens trials of horseflesh: it was the this reason the grooms were hea- Queen's uniform,

belts of pipe-clayed buff and shiny who paraded down the vily armed, and as their steeds

in the ward, sunning themselves in the one social occasion of the year,

Javish plodaed along in the dark, they brass buttons twinkling

hospitality, kept a wary eye for furtive shad-Sun, strode along perspiring hea- frank, appraising glances of un-marked by ows along the road, their right vily under their thick garments. attached bachelors, and shrugging abundant conviviality, and the

delicate shoulders at furious stares most extraordinary camaraderie. hands clasping the butts of heavy-

in from outraged modesty

As a writer of the period, relat- bare percussion pistols, cocked

Grand Stand.

ing what he saw in Hong Kong in and primed, ready to fire at the

the fifties, said: least suspicious movement in the underbrush.

At Happy Valley rough mat- sheds had been erected to shelter the horses from the glaring heat of the day, and here they champ- ed their teeth contentedly, snort-

from

By

with

*

**

Chinese Riders

Paul Gregory Also Take Part

the

THE races lasted three days, and on the last the Chinese them-

"The Londoner cannot conceive the excitement caused in this little island by the races. One may smile at this truly English mania struggling against strong discour- agement, but when we first saw the race-course at Happy Valley, ing at the cool spring water off-Jolly sailors with wide-brimmed and on the last the Chinese them- we were tempted to declare that 1939-Sydney Lad (Proulx) in ered in buckets from the stream straw hats rolled along beside selves took part. Their race was it is the most picturesque spot in

1.03.

that meandered leisurely down them, the pleasant prospects of a aptly named the 'Native Scram the whole world. Nowhere were 1940- Flying Dutchman (Needa) the mountainside

Wong foaming tankard of beer helping bles, and it was a rough and tum- races so well attended in com- and Sparrow (Chao) dead-nel-chong Gap, past picturesque to dispel any misgivings of able event that was really laugh- parison with the number of the heated in 1.01.

squatter holdings under rustic drought.

provoking.

population, for the English exile This year's event is for 1941 bridges to broaden out finally Kilted Scots, turbaned Lascars, The Chinese jockeys appeared | seeks to cheat himself with some

when it reached Goose

Neck bearded Sikhs, swarthy Munila- in a variety of costume; some semblance of his homeland." And men from the Isles of Luzon, donned silk, with buckskins and so might we of the present day Americans, Germans, Frenchmen tops, while others wore

were it not for the fact that those --all that medley of nationality ual coolies' dress, some even minus earlier struggles have now result- that has always added to the cos- their shoes. The entries were ed in making horse-racing a well- mopolitan aspect of Hong Kong generally a dozen or so Manila | established part of the social and trudged along, unmindful of their ponies, and as many of the riders sporting life of the Colony. sweat-sodden clothing and the clouds of dust that stifled them.

Australian subs.

EASY TO SAY....

HARD

TO BEAT.

PETER

DAWSON

SCOTOR W

DAWSON

SPECIAL SCOTCH WHISKY

Obtainable Everywhere

*Sole Agents

H. RUTTONJEE & SON LTD.

But the Chinese swarmed sup- reme, Shaven-pated, with long queues, they jubilantly poured on- to the track in their thousands to view the foreigners on horseback. They thronged the ridge behind the Black Rock, lined the railings of the course, and watched ex- pectantly from the vicinity of the Monument. Elaborately coiffured Chinese ladies in bright silk jac- kets and stiffly starched trousers moved among them, presenting a distracting picture to Chinese mas- culinity as they hobbled along on their bound feet.

*

Languid Ladies With Parasols

IN the covered matshed Grand Stand bespurred officers, stiff as ramrods in their brilliant uni- forms, danced attendance. upon languid English ladies in crinoline who shielded their pale faces from the harsh glare of the sun-with dainty parasols. They were com- paratively few, for death on this lonely isle claimed many of their number. But to the humble members of this tiny community of exiles surging around the booths and rails, their pallid features and European dress symbolised the western civilisation that had come to spread its influence in far off Cathay.

Discharged soldiers, shipwreck- ed seamen, and others who had joined the infant police force at

their us-

FOSTERS

AGUNES

AUSTRALIAN

EXPORT LAGER

BEER

There's an EXTRA glass to each bottle

Rondon&Co Ltd

Marina House

Tel. 32923