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THE RANDWICK METROPOLITAN
COURSE.
(From the Sydney Herald.)
The Randwick metropolitan course is situated near
the hamlet of that name, at a distance of about one mile
and three-quarters from the boundary of the city of
Sydney, and lies to the south of the Lachlan swamp. It
contains within the boundary fence 202 acres. The run
ning ground or course is of an oval or egg shape, and
measures precisely one mile and a quarter in length. It
has been formed with great care, and presents no greater
undulation in any part than is desirable to test the speed
of horses of the different qualities of strength and fleet
ness. None of the bends are so sharp as to interfere ma
terially with the stride of the horse, even when running
at his best pace; and the "run in," which is perfectly
straight for seventeen chains, and nearly a dead level—
rising only very gradually for a short distance before
reaching the winning-post— offers a splendid arena on
which to test tbe fleetness of the racehorse. The made
part of the course is in no part less than fifty feet
wide, and for the last half-mile it is seventy-five feet.
It has been laid down in doob, or, as it is usually called,
couch grass, with a mixture of English grasses and
Dutch clover. It now presents a beautiful sward
throughout, although only eight months have elapsed
since the work was commenced. It was well top-dressed
with bone dust, and afterwards rolled with a heavy iron
roller. By ordinary care in future years the sward may
be preserved in the most excellent order in which it
now is. The posts are placed at a distance of five
chains or 1-10th of a mile apart, so that the distance in
any portion of the course may by this means be readily
ascertained.
Tho -first romarkable feature which occurs in tho
running ground is that which has been designated
' tlio rocks,' at n' distance of fifteen chains from the
winning post. Further on, at twenty chalnB, or a quar
ter of a milo fromthat post, stands the starting-post for
tlio milo eo«rso. Tho leyol, winch occurs between tlio
1/Hh'nnil 55th chains, has- been c«lled the 'Lachlan
Flat,' from its proximity to tho Lnchlnn-Bwamp. Tho
bend at the' 28th chain has, in honour of tho present
Governor Ganoral, as a liberal patron af tho turf, been
designated tho 'Denlson Corner.' At tbe 40th' chain,
«r half a milo from tlio winning post, 'stands Ilia
starling-post for tlio T. T. O., or Ihrcorjimrtcr milo
courso. It is here also that tho start for tho two
mlloa race will take place. * Wa next come to tho
gentle rise, which occurs between the 45th and 63rd
olialim, which has been called ' Constitution Hill,' ns
nflbrdingnn opportunity during tho race to test strength
and. condition against mere swiftness of foot arid lack of
propor training. The next point of nota is the turn of
sixty chains. This is' to enjoy tho name of tho ' Cham
pion Corner,' for it is here that tho start for that lace
will tako placo in September next ; the distanco bolng
three miles and tlirico past tho winning post. It Is
also the starting point for tho St. I.cgcr, ono mile and
threo, rtuarters, twice past tho winnin? post, l'asslng
on to eighty chains from the winning post, wo reach tho
starting post of tho Derby and Oaks courso, the distanco
bciiig ono mile aud a half, twico past tho winning post,
Thls,polnt has, in consequence, been named tho ' Derby
Corner,' Proceeding further on, wo coino to 'ho com
mencement of tho straight running, is fenced in on both
sides, which, as already statod, is seventeen chains In
length, Tho subsoil being of sand, there is no stale of
tlio weather which can render the course othonviso than
highly fnvourablo for testing tho qualities of tho roco
horse, according to lib condition and .flectucss. It. neither
cnii become hard by drought, nor sloppy by execssivo
fain. Many n good horse hns bcenbrok«n down bj tho for
mer cause, and inanyitnono.of a timid charactor.or ridden
by a timid jockey, has becn provtutcd by tho latter from
coming to tho front— and so it is that the race has not
always been to tto swift. These diEcournging draw
backs, at least, will not lie experienced on (ho IbndreJcIt
?courso.1' On tlio ctntrnry, ttie mnro rain thst, fulls tho
?firmtr'1 the' turf vtll! besiumi, -.mrt'i-i W,i mity. hop'o.^U;
future that the beat llorso ivii! win.. An Uloh txiib ibat.
this will not bo^'fast-coiiist', but mo' K'f.Jma (ft1 preUlcJ'
the contrary'; There is.r,(.-nioro sprinirj or bettor/BUf.^
fnco to run upon ? th:i:i a'-iionrtt A-«i'tl «'-,'v- tliityit&ilin
rMahlhlit'l, and rollml with a ' .heavy. :!ro:i ' toll^sto.,
d-illy upon ft sanity ?milistmUni), -Tiinu Svlii-Tbiw
whcthci thit liiedlctiph in foundtil'-upuit u just concep
tion of tin) capacities cf I-ar.dwfcV. ! It is obWoim that
.Jurini' tliu fimmeMinij there wilflc in .u;.; 'Hll.- -,. tic«
to contend with. Tlu; jo«.-kcy» li»ve,j .:t to k.vi. whtira
they can, with the greatest a-rvarit»ge','riccohlliip; to the
'metal 'of the horses they ride, make a. push for the
lead. It requires much skill and experience also to de
termine how the several bends of ihe course shall be
passed so as to gain or maintain the position dusired,'
The award will in futuro years bo much moro perfectly
consolidated. If, therefore, tho 'time' should not bo
rucli. as to produce a fnvourablo impression of the' suit-
ableness of the courso for testing the fltictncss ol tho
racehorse, theso points of present disadvantage will not
fail to strike tho mind of any experienced and skilful
sportsman. .--..?-. . . :
? It may not bo superfluous, to add that Iho' sarn'o. lo-
cality 'was designed and used as arucecourso so long ago as
1833, having been set apart for this purposo under , the
authority of Governor. Sir Richard Bourke, K.C. 13., on
tho application of the Into Colonel, Snodgrass, Sir' , John
Jamison, Major Hunter,' and other ardent patrons' of tho
tuvf of that day. Tho feats performed by Whisker arid
many-other horses of noted character, aro. still ] fresh In,
tho recollection of some of. tho veteron sportsmen ,of the \
present time. It wns only abandoned from the want of'
funds to render it suitablo for tho purpose. ThbVpro
mlse of a grant oftho site, .to, certain trustees .'on be--!
half oftho Jockey ,Club, has recently, beenrenewod by
tho -presont -Governor-General, Sir William' Dcnison,
1CC.B., under ?, the authbrily : .of., tho Executive- !
Council. ., It is not. without, n largo, outlay ^ofimpnoy,
great responsibility, and no small: degr'ep-,'of personal
labour and superintendence,! that, the co'urse'lias beoi
brought to its present condition. If these. ? laudable
elforts for tho. promotion of this great national sport be
adequately seconded by the public, we may hope that
tbo inauguration of tlio RaRdwick metropolitan . courso,
which ii (o tako place thia day under tlio immediate
auspices of tho patron, of tho Australian Jockey Club,'
hisiExcellenoy tho Governor- General, will, not only' in
duco tho members of that body to renowed exertions for
tbo completion and perfection of tho work which th'ey'
have already so creditably begun, but to a now era i In
,tho'annals of horso racing in. this colony. '?;.', , ,' : ?
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