b f Rachel and D. C. Simson's b f Maid of the Mist; the former by Romeo, and the other by Paul Jones. T h e others divided the spoil. T h e L A D I E S ' P U R S E , 3 miles and a distance, was run in 6 min. 20 sec—considered the fastest time for the length yet obtained. It was won by Merino over three others. T h e S T E E P L E C H A S E was taken by Mr. Chitty's Big Milk over one Sober Robin, and a very milky and sober affair it was. T h e winner was a clumsy, ugly brute, but his competitor had a drunken instead of a "sober" Robin on his back, w h o went very near landing brute and beast in the Saltwater River. O n the first day two m e n were killed—one run over by a gig, and the other ridden over. O n the evening of the third day John Beech, a painter was drowned whilst returning to Melbourne in a steamer. Being drunk, he tumbled overboard—the first fatal accident of the kind. M u c h of the success of several annual gatherings about the time was justly attributed to the business tact and activity of Mr. James Henderson, the Club Secretary. 1851.
The 4th March was the first day, and there was a vast improvement in the attendance and quality of the sport as compared with the preceding year. Three steamers plied between Melbourne and the course, and one (the " Maitland ") carried a thousand passengers. T H E T O W N P L A T E was for 60 sovs., with 6 sovs. entrance. Four miles. Weights from 7 st. 6 lb. for 2 yrs. to 9 st. 10 lb. for 6 yrs. and aged. M'Laughlin's ch g Dauntless, 5 yrs. 1 Walker's bk g Blue Ruin 3 ... ... ... 2 I Austin's b g Bunyip, aged ...
Four others started. The race was a capital one, and the time 8 min. 16 sec. Dauntless won by two lengths, the riders whipping severely. T h e winner is chronicled as " being in good condition, as wiry as a rat-trap, and with the wind of a blacksmith's bellows." Bunyip's owner was much surprised at, for him, a most unexpected result. T H E S T . L E G E R was for ioo sovs., with 10 sovs. entry, for three-year-old colts and fillies. Weight, 8 st. io lb., ]/2 miles. Six started, and the winner was Mr. Geo. Maine's b f Maid of the Mist. Time, 2 min. 52 sec, the fastest on the Melbourne course. W o n "without turning a hair," and it was stated that at top speed it could be done in 3 sec. less. T H E R O M E O A N D F I G A R O P U R S E , 5 sovs. entry added to 100 sovs., the gift of Messrs. D. C. and H . N . Simson, for two-year-old colts andfillies,the produce of Borneo and Figaro; the second horse to receive 25 sovs. out of the purse. Weight, 8 st. 7 lb. O n e mile and a distance. H. N. Simson's b c Flying Pieman 1 H. N. Simson's ch f Enchantress o Jas. Austin's br f Enigma ... ... ... ... 2
A neck-and-neck race between the two placed. When 200 yards from the start the saddle of Enchantress shifted, and the rider was rolled over. T H E P U B L I C A N S ' P U R S E was won by Petrel. O n the Second Day the course was soaked with rain, and very heavy. T h e race of the day was the S T E W A R D S ' P U R S E (heats) which fell to Petrel, beating Maid of the Mist, Dauntless, and others. O n the Third Day the S T E E P L E C H A S E was won by Henderson's b h Nimrod, beating half-a-dozen others, all of them aged, and each weighted at n st. 11 lb. There were 14 jumps, and several falls, but no one was much hurt. The then Mayor of Melbourne (Mr. W . Nicholson) presented a 20 sovereign cup for beaten two and three-year-old colts andfillies,which was won by Rachel. T h e meeting closed with an incident of a regretful character. Mr. Robert McNamara, a farmer, residing at the Moonee Ponds, was there throughout the meeting, and on the last evening, whilst returning from the course, was thrown from his horse, and so fatally injured that he died in a few days, His funeral was the largest attended known in Melbourne to that time.
