midday
Behind , a rough wire fence enclosed a small space known as the saddling paddock . The crowd picked out its own accommodation -- it was necessary to come early if you wanted a good place on the rise . Already it was dotted with picnic parties , preparing luncheon , and a procession of men and boys , bearing teapots and billies , came and went about a huge copper , steaming over a fire , where the racing club dispensed hot water free of charge , a generosity chiefly intended to prevent the casual lighting of fires by the picnickers . All over the paddock people were hastening through the business of the midday meal ; the men anxious to get it over before the real excitement of the day began with the racing , the women equally keen to feed their hungry belongings and then settle down to a comfortable gossip with friends perhaps only seen once or twice in the twelve months . Children tore about wildly , got in the way of buggies and motors , climbed trees and clustered thickly round any horse suspected of taking part in the racing . More than one candidate for a race appeared on the course drawing a jinker ; and , being released from the shafts , was being vigorously groomed by his shirt-sleeved owner . `` There 's an awful lot to see ! ''