Upset in the Cup

Aussie railbirds, 100,000 strong, whooped a mare named Hi Jinx home to victory in last week's characteristically unpredictable and enthusiastic running of the Melbourne Cup. Favorites do not often finish first in this race, so tradition was served when the 50-to-1 shot became the 77th dark horse to win in 100 runnings of the Cup. The favorite, Tulloch, betrayed backers by finishing the two-mile race a soggy seventh.

As at ascot, gray top hats adorn the nattier punters at Melbourne's track, where formal dress for great racing occasions is still pretty much de rigueur.

Out in front, Hi Jinx high-tails it down the stretch, leading Howsie (center) and Ilumquh on the inside. Trapped in a slow-starting field, she was back in 18th place at 9 furlongs, when Jockey W. A. Smith saw a hole and took her through.

Winner by a head, Hi Jinx, the eighth mare to take the Melbourne Cup, returns for the postrace weigh-in, escorted by an outrider wearing traditional dress. One turf fan who was not at the race was K.R. Sly, Hi Jinx's co-owner (with Trevor Knowles). A New Zealand dairy farmer, he was too busy caring for his cows to watch his horse.

THREE PHOTOS

TOM HUTCHINS