mence on Tuesday; however, we were not without arrivals, amongst the most distinguished being "Ephraim Bond, Esq.," to whose acquaintance I introduced you upon the occasion of a certain affair at Doncaster, which can scarcely have escaped your recollection. His equipage was too conspicuous to escape observation and ridicule-a travelling chariot (with two servants in the rumble), of which it was reported the builder found all the materials except the brass, with which the owner is so well found, in more senses than one, that he provided the requisite quantity without any apparent diminution of his stock. But nothing will abash this person-galloping about the course on a great awkward grey, he was no bad image of "Death on the Pale Horse." The best of the joke is, that he purchased one of the Duke of Grafton's yearlings, and christened him " Ludlow, Junr.," and means to keep race horses, with the delicate and benevolent intention no doubt, of returning to Lords a few of the thousands lost by them at "the Athenæum." "Fore-warned is fore-armed" says an old adagetherefore I advise Mr. B. to beware of the handicaps. and and Mr. To take up a more congenial subject, the sport this afternoon was indifferent enough; it commenced with a match for 100 sovs., h. ft., T.Y.C., between Lord hesterfield's Fergus and Lord Lichfield's Gipsy, the former giving 2st. and winning by a head, after an admirable display of jockeyship on the part of his rider, James Robinson. 11 to 8 on Fergus. Mr. Gardnor's Ethilda, 7st.-Pavis... Handicap of 10 sovs, each. T.Y.C. Mr. Batson's Luminary, 8st. 8lb. Duke of Cleveland's Newton, 7st 10lb. 2 3 Mr. Cooke's Miss Camarine, 3 yrs. 8st.; Mr. Greville's Stradbally, 4 yrs. 7st 10lb.; Sir M. Wood's The Glama, 3 yrs. old, 7st. 10lb.; and Mr. Chifney's f. Wild Duck, by Whisker-Shoveller, 3 yrs. 7st. 10lb. ;-also started but were not placed. Betting 5 to 2 agst. Newton, 3 to 1 agst. Ethilda, 4 to 1 agst. Glama, 6 to 1 agst. any other. Ethilda very favourably weighted, made all the play, and won by a length without an effort. The handicapping not particularly good-what has Luminary done to justify his giving 22lb. to a mare that has always shown some running, and has won several races? If this weight was correct how would they have handicapped her with Ascot who has twice beaten Luminary in a canter? Match 100 sovs., h. ft. A.F. Lord Chesterfield's Eva 8st. 3lb. (Robinson), beat the Duke of Richmond's Leopoldine colt, 8st. 5lb. in a canter. The odds 5 to 4 on the horse who was last but one for the Derby, while Eva, who had previously won two or three races was sixth for the Oaks; the odds, in fact, ought to have been reversed, as the mares this year are confessedly better than the horses. Up to this time Robinson, who is engaged to Lord Chesterfield, had ridden for his Lordship in three races and won them all; not a very bad beginning. a full Tuesday.-A most excellent day's sport, a good ring, brisk betting, company, and fine weather; (" Craven" would have taken three or four pages to tell you this;) the racing deserves a more lengthened notice. Match, 25 sovs. T.Y.C. Lord Chesterfield's Juliana, 3 yrs. old, 8st. 8lb. beat Mr. Greville's Lieutenant, 2 yrs. old, 6st. 8lb. by three lengths; 5 to 4 on the young one. Robinson again in luck for his lordship, and all the other races booked to go the same way; but it was a day of mistakes, and the noble Earl did not "skin the lamb" this time. First Class of £50 plate for 2 yr. olds, T.Y.C. Mr. Greville's ch. f. Marmalade.-Nat...... Colonel Peel's b. c. by Bedlamite, out of Cacchia Piatti's dam.............. 2 Mr. Ridsdale's b. f. Annaline, by Brutandorf, out of Marchesa; Lord Exeter's Ceta; Lord Lichfield's Ethiopian; Lord Berners' ch. c. by Merchant, out of Black Daphne; Lord Chesterfield's Wish; and Mr. Sowerby's Shamrock; also started, but were not placed. 6 and 7 to 4 on Wish, and 3 to 1 agst. Marmalade. An interesting and very closely contested race between the two placed, and won by a neck only. The favourite got off badly, never reached the front rank, and helped to compose a tail as long as the comet's. The starting was so badly managed as to call for the notice of the Jockey Club. 5 6 7 Mr. W. Edwards' Sherry, by Reveller, dam by Whalebone.. Lord Egremont's b. f. by Chateau Margaux, out of Elfrid Mr. Williams' ch. f. by Varro, out of Sister to Crusader.. 13 to 8 on Ginnums, (t.) and 3 to 1 agst. Posthaste; nothing else backed. This was quite as severe a race as the last, and won by not more than a head, nothing near the first two; the whole lot bad. Match 100 h. ft.-T.Y.C. Lord Orford's Bodice, 8st. 7lb. (Nat.) beat the Duke of Rutland's Darioletta colt, 8st. 2lb. by a head after a race distinguished by admirable jockeyship on both sides. A good deal of money was pending on it at even betting. The Clearwell Stakes of 30 sovs. each, 20 ft. &c.-Thirty-five subs. ...... 2 Mr. Cooke's b. c. Saltator, by Stumps; Lord Lichfield's Arbaces; Lord Chesterfield na. b. c. Alfred, by Partisan, out of St. Julian's dam; Lord Exeter's Sister to Green Mantle; Colonel Peel's b. c. Slane, by Royal Oak, out of Minster's dam; Mr. Thornhill's b. c. Ermine; Mr. Sowerby's ch. c. St. Luke, by Bedlamite, out of Eliza Leeds (the dam of Erymus); Mr. Bird's b. c. by Sandbeck, out of Johanna, by Selim; and Lord Chesterfield's ch. c. by Langar, dam by Whisker, out of Tramp's dam; also started, but were not placed. Betting 5 and 6 to 4 agst. Slane, 5 to 2 agst. Bird's colt, 3 to 1 agst. Elis, and 12 to 1 agst. Marmalade. Marmalade, none the better for her first race, cut out the work till within a distance of home, where Elis challenged, and won by a length without being touched; Slane and Alfred both claim third place, an honour scarcely worth contending for, as the first and second were singled out from them several strides from home. Mr. Bird's colt is a great showy animal; he was backed to a considerable amount by men generally correct, and turned out a regular "flat catcher." Wednesday.-The same unaccountable apathy which I have so often observed on the Wednesday at Newmarket and elsewhere, characterised the sport this afternoon; the list contained one race! rather low diet after the excellent fare provided on Tuesday. Luckily the jockies contrived to turn this one race into two, and two better I never wish to see. It came off thus: Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, the winner to be sold for 80 sovs. &c.— T.Y.C. Lord Chesterfield's Juliana, 3 yrs.-Nat 1 Sir M. Wood's The Glama, 3 yrs.-Robinson 0 2 Mr. Sowerby's Shamrock, 2 yrs; Colonel Peel's Swallow, 2 yrs; Mr. Gardner's Madcap, 2 yrs; Lord Jersey's Brother to Musquito, 3 yrs; and Mr. Stephenson's f. by Camel, out of Agnes, 2 yrs.; also started but were not placed. Betting 5 to 2 agst. The Glama (t.) 2 to 1 agst. Swallow and 9 to 2 agst. Juliana (t.) Swallow cut out the work to the cords, where Juliana and The Glama shot by him, made a good fight of it to the end, and agreeably surprised the spectators with a dead beat. The second was equally close, the mare winning by a head only! 11 to 10 on the horse. In the morning the Duke of Grafton's yearlings were put up for sale, and were sold at fair prices; of the ten lots, only the Prudence colt and one of the fillies were bought in; the Duke's racing establishment is therefore considerably reduced. The Bequest filly backed for the Oaks at 8 to 1, and offers to take 10 to 1 about Marmalade; 10 to 1 offered on the field for the Derby, and 22 to 1 taken about The Athenian. Thursday.A tolerably busy day, commenced with the sale of Lord Orford's horses, of which one or two realised good prices, after some very animated biddings; Ascot fetched 1050 guineas, Lord Lichfield being the purchaser. The noble Earl is an excellent sportsman and deserves success, but I very much question whether Ascot will realise the expectations implied by so large a sum; it is true he ran second for the Derby, but the Newmarket horses are notoriously bad this season, and any trials between them and younger ones are not unlikely to occasion mistakes; still less can he be expected to bring back the money in cups, for he will be overpowered by such cattle as Glencoe, Preserve, Rockingham, Hornsea, and two or three others; £700, in my opinion, would have been much nearer the mark. Bodice was knocked down to Mr. Sowerby for 310 guineas, and will earn it either by racing or breeding. Stargazer was sold for 175 guineas, to go to Germany, 1 believe; he had far better be sent to the Cape, to assist Sir William Herschel in his astronomical observations. A pretty yearling filly, by Jerry, out of Stays, was bought by Col. Peel, for 100 guineas, and the others were bought in. Derby betting 11 to 1 agst. Brother to Riddlesworth, 15 to 1 agst. Brother to Nell Gwynne, 16 to 1 agst. The Mummy, 25 to 1 agst. Neva (t.) 20 to 1 agst. Slane, 22 to 1 agst. The Athenian (t.) 25 to 1 agst. Vandenhoff, and 100 to 1 agst. Whaley. Oaks: 15 to 2 offered agst. Bequest, and 8 to 1 agst. Marmalade. There was a good deal of gossip about a well-known trainer, who appears to have got out of his depth in an attempt to cross a Ford; some curious letters it is said are in existence. The results of the afternoon were as follows. Handicap Plate of £100, for four, five, six year olds, and aged horses; A.F. Mr. Batson's Revelry, 5 yrs. 8st. 101b.-Robinson Duke of Cleveland's Shillelah, 4 yrs, 8st. 10lb...... 2 Mr. Forth's Famine, 4 yrs. 7st. 10lb.; Mr. W. Day's Pussy, 4 yrs. 7st. 8lb. ; Colonel Peel's Bubastes, 4 yrs. 7st. 5lb.; Mr. Crommelan's Zitella, 4 yrs. 7st. 2lb.; also started, but were not placed. Betting 3 to 1 agst. Famine, 3 to 1 agst. Revelry; 7 to 2 agst. Rioter (t.,) and 7 to 1 agst. Bubastes. Shillelah took the lead at a good pace, followed by Rioter and Bubastes, Revelry waiting in the rear. At the Ab. M. bottom Shillelah, Famine, Pussy and Zitella were defeated, nor did Bubastes last beyond the cords; the struggle between Revelry and Rioter was of short duration, the mare winning easy by half a length. The handicapping not very good. Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for two year olds; first half of Ab. M. the winner to be sold for 40 sovs. if demanded. Mr. Edwards' ch. f. by Bedlamite, out of Gavotte.-E. Edwards.... 1 3 5 Lord Egremont's b. f. by Gaberlunzie, out of Robin Hood's dam.... 4 Mr. Stonehewer's f. by Sultan, out of Emma... 10 to 6 agst. Gavotte, and 2 to 1 agst. Lord Chesterfield's. Gavotte was never headed and won in a canter. The Town Plate of £50 T.M.M.; the winner to be sold for 200, &c. Sir S. Graham's Zulima, 4 yrs. Mr. Gardnor's Nimble, 4 yrs.. 2 to 1 agst. Bubastes; 5 to 2 agst. Nimble; 3 to 1 agst. Zulima, and 4 to 1 against Ulick (t.) The running and the result precisely similar to the last race; Nimble beaten half a distance, and Zulima, who never could get beyond the T.Y.C. length, ten or a dozen lengths. Friday.-Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each. for three year olds and upwards; T.Y.C.--Eight Subs. Duke of Rutland's c. by Catton, out of Darioletta, 3 yrs. 7st. 11lb. Betting very animated at 9 to 4 agst Amesbury (t), 5 to 2 agst. Darioletta, 4 to 1 agst. Castaway, and 6 to 1 agst. Ethilda, (t.) The Duke's colt took the lead, was never caught, and won by a length; Castaway beat Ethilda about a neck. The Prendergast Stakes of 50 sovs each, h. ft. for two year olds; T.Y.C.-Thirty-three Subs. Duke of Grafton's c. Alumnus, by Saracen-Zeal.-J. Day.. Mr. Greville's f. Marmalade, sister to Preserve... 1 1234 5 11 to 8 on Elis, 9 to 2 agst. Alumnus (t.) 9 to 2 agst. Marmalade, and 8 to 1 agst. Mr. Day's filly; the betting lively and the fielders, encouraged by a run of luck, on the qui vive; Elis backed heavily, his party forgetting that Alumnus ought to have won the July stakes. Marmalade cut out the work, with Elis and the Velocipede filly in close attendance, till about the third of a distance from home, where the latter and Marmalade fell off; Alumnus immediately challenged Elis, and beat him a length, having shewn a jady temper from the beginning to the finish. The great novelty in this race was that the Duke of Grafton did not make the running. The Newmarket gentlemen, if they have any mettle about them, will accept Lord Westminster's challenge to run the Cup Course at Doncaster next year for 500 each, h. ft. 8st. 10lb. each. I could name two or three that might be fairly pitted against his lordship's nominationTouchstone. Newmarket, October 19. Your's, &c. W. G. |