Melbourne Cup Magic : Sports Poetry

Its a horse race called the Melbourne Cup.
The first Tuesday in November is the date that has been set .
It's the horse race that stops Australia .
It's that very same race when millions are laid out for a bet .
Flemington racecourse is where its at .
You'll find the punters jumping for joy as good odds come their way.
The bookmakers put up their prices .
You can't hear a thing but the crowd roaring its Melbourne Cup day.
There are the dead runners and long shots.
Some may loose their shirt a four legged fancy of their own.
Melbourne Cup has a special magic.
The fashions come out to see how it wears as the punters roam .
All the flowers are softly blooming .
Its a colourful show for the cup.
Somewhere in the throng of it all horses go a giddy-up .
Jockeys are on their mounts and its on .
Lips quiver , all eyes are fixed for the race is about to start .
The barriers open, off they go.
Around the turn they come theres a flutter in every heart .
The front few race for the winning post .
The excitment has been, the winners are seen to be leaping.
There are always the hard luck stories .
The magic about is all is there are no losers weeping.

By Paul Mc Cann