Author: Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton)

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You see, the thing was this way, there was me,
That rode Panopply, the Splendor mare,
And Ikey Chambers on the Iron Dook,
And Smith, the half-caste rider on Regret,
And that long bloke from Wagga, him that rode
Veronikew, the Smowy River horse.
Well, none of them had chances, not a chance
Among the lot, unless the rest fell dead
Or wasn't trying, for a blind man's dog
Could see Enchantress was a certain cop,
And all the books was layin' six to four.

They brought her out to show our lot the road,
Or so they said: but, then Gord's truth! you know,
You can believe 'em, though they took an oath
On forty Bibles that they's tell the truth.
But anyhow, an amateur was up
On this Enchantress; and so Ike and me,
We thought that we might frighten him a bit
By asking if he minded riding rough,
"Oh, not at all," says he, "oh, not at all!
I heard at Robbo Park, and if it comes
To bumping I'm your Moses! Strike me blue!"

Says he, "I'll bump you over either rail,
The inside rail or outside, which you choose
Is good enough for me", which settled Ike.
For he was shaky since he near got killed
From being sent a buster on the rail,
When some chap bumped his horse and fetched him down
At Stony Bridge; so Ikey thought it best
To leave this bloke alone, and I agreed.

So all the books was layin' six to four
Against the favourite, and the amateur
Was walking this Enchantress up and down,
And me and Smithy backed him; for we thought
We might as well get something for ourselves,
Because we knew our horses couldn't win.
But Ikey wouldn't back him for a bob;
Because he said he reckoned he was stiff,
And all the books was layin' six to four.

Well, anyhow, before the start the news
Got around that this here amateur was stiff,
And our good stuff was blued, and all the books
Was in it, and the prices lengthened out,
And every book was bustin' of his throat,
And layin' five to one the favourite.
So there was we that couldn't win ourselves,
And this here amateur that wouldn't try,
And all the books was layin' five to one.

So Smithy says to me, "You take a hold
Of that there moke of yours, and round the turn
Come up behind Enchantress with the whip
And let her have it; that long bloke and me
Will wait ahead, and when she comes to us
We'll pass her on and belt her down the straight,
And Ikey'll flog her home, because his boss
Is judge and steward and the Lord knows what,
And so he won't be touched; and, as for us,
We'll swear we only hit her by mistake!"
And all the books was layin' five to one.

Well, off we went, and comin' to the turn
I saw the amateur was holdinig back
And poking into every hole he could
To get her blocked; and so I pulled behind
And drew the whip and dropped it on the mare.
I let her have it twice, and then she shot
Ahead of me, and Smithy opened out
And let her up beside him on the rails,
And kept her there a-beltin' her like smoke
Until she struggled past him, pullin' hard,
And came to Ike; but Ikey drew his whip
And hit her on the nose, and sent her back
And won the race himself, for, after all,
It seems he had a fiver on The Dook
And never told us, so our stuff was lost.
And then they had us up for ridin' foul,
And warned us off the tracks for twelve months each
To get our livin' any way we could;
But Ikey wasn't touched, because his boss
Was judge and steward and the Lord knows what.

But Mister, if you'll lend us half-a-crown,
I know three certain winners at the Park,
Three certain cops as no one knows but me;
And, thank you, Mister, come an' have a beer
(I always like a beer about this time) . . .
Well, so long, Mister, till we meet again.

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Type of Poem: Narrative Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This lengthy narrative poem employs a colloquial, conversational tone to construct a vivid portrayal of a horse race and its surrounding circumstances. The poet skilfully uses dialect, humor, and a sense of local color to create an engaging tale that's rich in character and plot.

The poem's key theme is the gritty reality of horse racing, underscored by elements of deception, manipulation, and the harsh consequences of decision-making. As the story unfolds, the speaker and his friends are seen attempting to manipulate the outcomes of the race, which eventually leads to their downfall. The poem’s structure is linear, following the natural progression of the story from the initial planning stage to the execution and aftermath of their scheme.

In terms of literary devices, the poet effectively uses imagery and idiomatic language to capture the spirit of the characters and their environment. The repetition of the line 'And all the books was layin' six to four' acts as a refrain, providing rhythm and reinforcing the central action of betting on the race. Irony is also present, particularly in the unexpected turn of events where Ikey wins the race by betraying his friends. This serves to highlight the unpredictability and inherent risk involved in their gambit.

Overall, this poem provides an insightful depiction of a particular subculture, revealing its dynamics and moral complexities through an engaging narrative. The use of vernacular language, humor, and vivid imagery makes it a compelling read, while its exploration of themes related to deception, risk, and consequence adds depth and resonance.