Section 3:
It has been said that Australians are 'sports crazy' and this section will gather songs, stories, jokes and lore associated with sport and Sydney in particular. Interested readers should refer to the article 'Sports Crazy' in the general site for some folklore observations by Warren Fahey



SECTION 3: HORSE RACES

The TrackThis song is in the first person and the voice of a jockey about to enter a horse race in the bush.

THE ROLLICKING BOY
From History of Gundaroo

HORSE RACING
From The Australian Sportsman newspaper 1883.
On Queens Birthday weekend race day at Randwick.
They've cantered o'er the springy turf, they've mustered at the post Each backer seeks with eager eye the steed he loves the most The Birthday breeze has kissed their manes beloved While the golden sun comes bursting from his ambush up above And never gave the promise that his glory he would fling On a struggle that was starker since the days when Charles was King

From a pre race form guide as above.
Hark! Hark! the bell is ringing to the paddock let's away
Where four and twenty youngsters are saddling for the fray.


SYDNEY RACES
Sydney toast 1819 at old Sydney racecourse (now Hyde Park) 1819. The race was won by Rob Roy.

Pledge from the Cup this first Australian prize
May each revolving year the races bring
That training horses from these sports may rise
Health to the patrons and long live the King.

Silvermine
From Tom Ronan's autobiography 'Deep of the Sky' 1962.

I have collected this song on three occasions. Refer Joe Watson transcripts in Australian Folklore Unit for complete text.

At the turn of the straight
A good horse met his fate
And the best of the jockey boys died
Mark the spot well
Where old Silvermine fell
And poor Alec Robertson had his last ride.

The following horse-racing song has words and music by Joseph John O'Neill and introduced in the vaudeville show 'Two Colliers'.

THE MELBOURNE DERBY
SILVER SONGSTER 1905

I have not been able to ascertain where Blackshaw's famous course was situated in Goulburn however this fragment remains to encourage further research.

GOULBURN RACES
Carbine

THE MELBOURNE CUP
Australian Melodist No 20
Mitchell library 784.8/A
Written by PAT FINN.

"A NEW AND POPULAR BALLAD sung at the concert halls to the rapturous and drunken applause of the enlightened audiences." Okay, I have to admit that this song, from Colonial Society, has me puzzled. I suspect the Hasses is the name of a regiment or could it be a reference to 'asses' or 'arses' ? I will keep exploring this one.

THE SYDNEY RACES
COLONIAL SOCIETY MAGAZINE 1868/9
*86/1 DIXSON
Air—"Limerick Races"






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