THESE YOUNG ABORIGINES WERE INTENSELY INTERESTED IN THE RACE MEETING. TROOPS HELD A PICNIC RACE ...

THESE YOUNG ABORIGINES WERE INTENSELY INTERESTED IN THE RACE MEETING. TROOPS HELD A PICNIC RACE MEETING AT WHICH THE BUSH DERBY WAS DECIDED. THE DAY BEFORE THE RACE MEETING WAS HELD, HORSES WERE BROUGHT IN FROM ONE OF THE STATIONS, AND WERE AUCTIONED TO THE TROOPS. BUYER OF THE HORSE BECAME THE OWNER-TRAINER, AND HAD THE RIGHT TO SELECT HIS OWN JOCKEY. PROCEEDS OF THE HORSE SALES WERE USED AS PRIZE MONEY FOR THE RACE MEETING. WHILE BOOKMAKERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE, A 5/- TOTE WAS PROVIDED, 10 PERCENT OF INVESTMENTS GOING TO THE PRISONERS OF WAR FUND. WINNER OF THE BUSH DERBY WAS PIPE DREAM, LISTED IN THE RACE BOOK AS 'BY HEADING SOUTH OUT OF WISHFUL THINKING.' THE FIELD GOES DOWN TO THE POST FOR THE BUSH DERBY.