Race meeting at the front
On the turps with Cpl Lindsay “for the occasion” Bulford 1916
The follow interesting account of a race meeting held by a Division of the Australians in France is forwarded by Lieut “Clarry” McDougall, of Cooyar:
We all had a splendid day yesterday at our Divisional race meeting. It was almost like a race day in Queensland, only it lacked the ladies and their gorgeous costumes. There was a huge crowd at it. I got over pretty early, in fact in time to buy a programme as they were very scarce.
The ground was nicely fixed up and the mile course was taped off right round. The old Australian flag flew over judge’s box. The crowd soon began to arrive, light railways bringing loads from the forward area and motor lorries, packed wagons, carts and riders of horses and later a good number of Australians and New Zealanders came and landed on the course and lined up their machines and enjoyed the fun for the rest of the day. Generals and all rolled in, in Rolls-Royce cars etc.
The first race was disastrous. Two horses fell and one horse had to be shot. Our horse ran second in that one. We had no less than eighteen bookmakers on the ground dressed in civi togs and they looked like dogs all right.
I made good money on the day. They ran a tote which could not half cope with the crowd there. A few Yanks and French and Tommies attended and looked on open-eyed at the races etc. The French joined in and ran two fast horses. All riders had proper colours and saddle cloths. Canteens were run in the ground and all kinds of games for side betting. Every race had over eight animals running and mule races had good fields of 15 and 20 animals and good racing, too. I came home with about 25/- in on the day after expenses.
The aeroplanes afterwards flew over and did everything it was possible to do in the fling line and really everyone thought one chap who had a little too much would crash but he kept going low over our heads and one had to lay flat or have his head cut off.
We all had a splendid day yesterday at our Divisional race meeting. It was almost like a race day in Queensland, only it lacked the ladies and their gorgeous costumes. There was a huge crowd at it. I got over pretty early, in fact in time to buy a programme as they were very scarce.
The ground was nicely fixed up and the mile course was taped off right round. The old Australian flag flew over judge’s box. The crowd soon began to arrive, light railways bringing loads from the forward area and motor lorries, packed wagons, carts and riders of horses and later a good number of Australians and New Zealanders came and landed on the course and lined up their machines and enjoyed the fun for the rest of the day. Generals and all rolled in, in Rolls-Royce cars etc.
The first race was disastrous. Two horses fell and one horse had to be shot. Our horse ran second in that one. We had no less than eighteen bookmakers on the ground dressed in civi togs and they looked like dogs all right.
I made good money on the day. They ran a tote which could not half cope with the crowd there. A few Yanks and French and Tommies attended and looked on open-eyed at the races etc. The French joined in and ran two fast horses. All riders had proper colours and saddle cloths. Canteens were run in the ground and all kinds of games for side betting. Every race had over eight animals running and mule races had good fields of 15 and 20 animals and good racing, too. I came home with about 25/- in on the day after expenses.
The aeroplanes afterwards flew over and did everything it was possible to do in the fling line and really everyone thought one chap who had a little too much would crash but he kept going low over our heads and one had to lay flat or have his head cut off.
