Duke of Richmond's Hornpipe, 3 years old, 6st. 2lb..... Captain Cookson's Camphine, 3 years old, 5st. 12lb.. Mr. C. Fornby's sister to Ridiculus Mus, 5 years old, 5st. Mr. Griffith's Hagley, 4 years old, 5st. Mr. Humphrey's Escape, 4 years old, 4st. 12lb. Dockeray o Rodney O . J. Arnold o Charlton 0 4lb...R. Miller 0 ɛlb.).. ... Dean 0 C. Planner O J. Mann O Thick 0 ... Cree 0 Mr. Pettefor's ch. f. by Martin Chuzzlewit, dam by Bolero (h.-b.), 3 years old. 4st. 4lb. E. White O 25 to 1 agst. Ulysses ...... Ellerdale any other There you have it as it was before and after the start. I proceed to state how the latter came about. They said it was a good get off; but as this happened out of sight, of course we did not see it. However that may be, as soon as they came in view through the Ditch gap, there was Dacia leading some fifty yards clear of every thing, and the field running after her, as was the fashion of Red Deer's exhibition for the Chester Cup. The look of the thing, as they swept over the Flat, was like a flight of wild geese-such tailing! my conscience! At the fall from the bushes, the "form and pressure' somewhat altered. The Cur had considerably shortened his distance from the filly, and both Ellerdale and Palma were coming.. .. They have entered the cords, and The Cur has reached Dacia. They struggle-but the distance has beaten the child on the mare-and they are fighting the battle up hill. Rogers, with his horse in difficulty, could now help him. He rode with great nerve and power, and finally landed The Cur first by a length; Dacia swerving at the finish from sheer distress. There were several casualties at the starting-post; but looking at the field and the weights, the only wonder is, how the lot was ever got near enough together for a beginning upon any decent terms. The great creature made a signal failure of it. He never showed well, even among the second ruck, and where he was at the finish is more than I can say. Thus Surplice, after winning the Derby and St. Leger, comes out for this handicap, carrying less weight than for either of those mighty contests, and is nowhere...... From these premises what deduction is to be drawn as to the principle of handicapping in the character of a criterion of legitimate racing properties?...... The Royal Stakes followed, for which Surplice was disqualified by the death of Lord George Bentinck, by whom he was named for them. Of the ten nominations, but three showedbetting, 5 to 1 on Glendower. It was a race however, the favourite only winning by a neck on the post-Sesostris second. A Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, for all ages, mustered a field of eight-the Criterion Course: Elimea won with all ease; and the two matches on the cords having paid, the business of the course terminated. . . . . . And now another novelty in Newmarket practice might be witnessed in the discussion of a table d'hôte dinner on a monster scale, at the White Hart; while refreshments, multiplied a thousand-fold beyond all former feeding, loaded the boards of the other houses of entertainment. As soon as a mouth could be spared from the operations of its more material office, then began Babylonian debates upon the issue of the Cesarewitch. Hundreds assured other hundreds they never had a doubt about The Cur winning, and that they knew all along the distance was farther than Surplice could get. Those who had "dropped" upon. Lanesborough, "without the ghost of a chance to get out," applied to the party between whom and his horse they came to the ground, "nauseous words past mentioning"-and having reached the station, and ascended their chariots, they returned to the place from whence they came. Peace be with them! WEDNESDAY.- -"After a storm comes a calm," says the proverb; and so it was this morning, with the accompaniment of a brilliant sunshine, and an atmosphere that it was a cure for the heart-ache to inhale. It was believed the settling was a good average-only one being hit very hard by the yesterday's catastrophe ; and his case was not absolutely hopeless. The list was a large one, though of a minor quality: let it speak for itself. . . . .The racing commenced with a Post Sweepstakes of 200 sovs. each, four subscribers-Tadmor to walk over. Then there was another Two-year-old Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, also four subscribers, and all to the post. This Lord Lonsdale's Epirus colt, dam by D'Egville, won by a neck, and was claimed for Lord Albemarle for £100. The Oatlands-another quartet named-brought out three, and 6 to 5 was laid on Collingwood. They were right, for he beat Watchdog-second-by a length. The Town Plate had seven nominations, all runners. Tarella won by a head. It is Mr. Shelley's luck to pick up these "crumbs" at Newmarket, but it can hardly be said to be his fortune. Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, three named, and all went, with the Jereed gelding, at 6 to 4 against him, the winner— cleverley. The Match for 200 sovs. between Saddle, 8st. 7lbs., and Foreclosure, 7st. 12lbs., T.Y.C., the former with 3 to 1 on him won, after a waiting race, in a canter. The Bedford Stakes, fourteen subscribers, new both in conditions and course; the former "too numerous to insert," the latter starting at the Ancaster Post and finishing at the Duke's Stand. St. Rosolia was almost at evens with the field in the odds, and was an easy winner. A Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, for two year-olds, Criterion Course, five nominations, and a trio to go, 7 to 4 on Goodwood, Raillery won, after a close finish. Three matches, whereof two paid and one was off by consent, brought the catalogue to an end. may THURSDAY.-Another pleasant noon, and a list almost lavish of sport. But, albeit that the sport per se was excellent, its character was not such as to claim posterity: we will, therefore, allude to it as briefly as be......Match for 200 sovs. each, 8st. 71b. each, Cesarewitch Course, Remembrance beat Vexation, easily. Alas! how seldom this is the case in the more serious business of life! They laid 3 to 1 against Remembrance, and no doubt their premises were good. A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for two-year-olds, three nominations and all starters, Cashier, with 6 to 4 on him, won in a canter. A cashier must be a useful adjunct to the stud. A Post Sweepstakes of 200 sovs. each, for two-year-olds, three subscribers, was run a match between Legerdemain and the filly out of Elegance: the former, with 2 to 1 on her, won by a neck, after a sporting tussle for it. Now came out a Derby field for a Handicap Plate of 100 sovs., for three-year-olds and upwards, A.F.: twenty-six went, and no end to the lot backed; but Geraldine was the favourite alternately at 5 to 2. I am not going to attempt a description of a race like this, because-but we wont ever mind the reason. It was of course a mortal scurry-motto, occupet extremum scabies" the devil take the hindmost." The result was, the favourite justified the opinion of her backers-as indeed a "goodish" five-year-old, with 6st. 5lbs. up, and a lad that can ride the weight, ought to have done. A Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft., 8st. 4lbs., first half of Abingdon Mile, three subs., run a match, Clarissa won, beating Caique by half a length; 5 to 4 on the winner. I have given the articles as they appear in the Calendar, at full length, because I cannot understand why the ages in at least one-half of similar races are omitted, and why this was not stated to be for fillies only. A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for two-year-olds, the same course, twelve subscribers, induced eleven to the post; and, after a fine race, Piccolo won, beating Routh by a head. A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for all ages, the same course again, was run for by nine of the eleven subscribers. They laid 2 to 1 on the The Traverser, but they were wrong; for Lord Chesterfield's Rhodanthe filly won, in her own fashion, by a length. A Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, all the money, for three-yearolds, 8st. 7lb., the Yearling Course, three subscribers, brought the trio to the "scratch." Woodcraft was the conqueror--Clerk of the Council next, beaten by a neck. The Bretby Stakes, with ten subscribers—— the crack two-year-old filly race-had but three starters; Glauca being the rage at 7 to 4 on her. She made running as far as she could; but at the cords Sister to Arkwright gave her the "go-by," and making the speed better, won by a length very cleverly. This was a very needful "pull" for the fielders. Two Matches on the list "paid," and so the sports were wound up. . . . . . I might here tell of the gossip about Lanesborough, and how it was said that there was an error in the register of his birth; but enough has already been said about him-requiescat. FRIDAY.-They finish artistically at Newmarket, generally, with " a good bit for the end :" thus it was with to-day. The first race was "A Sweepstakes of 100 sovs., h. ft., T.Y.C., three subscribers," run a match between the filly out of Adelgard and St. Rosolia; the latter backed at 6 to 1 on her, the former the winner by a length. Match, 100 sovs. aside, last half of Ab. M., Czarina, with 2 to 1 on her, beat Lady Mary by three parts of a length; weights, 7st. 71b. each. Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each, for three-year-olds and upwards; ten subscribers and six runners. The favourite was Elimea, 7st. 12lbs. -the winner, Philosopher, with 8st. 7lbs. It was won easily, although the field was a very long one at the finish for the T.Y.C. Course. Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sovs. each, for two and three-year-olds ; same course; twelve subscribers. For this nine went: Francisca was the pick of the ring, with a shade the call of three others, at 4 to 1 against each. The favourite made the play to the cords, when Grief went up, and finally had the best of it by a length. And now came the race of the day-The Prendergast, 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for two-yearolds, with its long et cetera of conditions. There were thirty-three nominations, and four at the post. The odds were 5 to 4 on Honey comb, on whom the stable was very sweet, and pour cause. He took the lead, and he kept it, and he won in a canter by two lengths with Jim Robinson on him, which is as good as a mile" under other circumstances. A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for two-year-olds, first half of Ab. M., brought out five of the half-dozen entered. Routh was the favourite, at 2 to 1 agst. him; and having made his own running, he won very cleverly by a length: Piccola second. Match for 200 each, A.F.; Minto, 8st. 4lbs., beat Cervus, 8st. 4lbs.--the winner with 2 to 1 on him. There were five other matches, but these having paid or compromised, the meeting was at an end....... It has run so far into the space allotted to it, that all remarks upon its results and probabilities must be reserved for next month. Short work must also be made of the provincial racing which occurred about this time. Northallerton was worthy the sporting county it hails from it had its two days of right good racing, with a spice of amateur riding to give them a flavour. Bonnie Scotland, too, had its Perth Tryst, of a like character; but with the business of the turf they have not much to do- and that only is our present affair. THE NEWMARKET HOUGHTON MEETING. Cases may occur in which Joe Miller will furnish precedents that cannot be gainsaid on the score of their logic. The present is one of them. It happened that a person in want of money applied to a friend for a loan. "My dear sir," was the reply, "I am very sorry to say there are fifty reasons which prevent my doing as you request. In the first place, I haven't got any; in the "That will do," interrupted the borrower; "that's enough. You needn't mind the other forty-nine." ......So with the present instance: fifty excellent reasons could be assigned for this notice of the closing week at Newmarket appearing in the form of an apology. In the first place there wasn't room for any other......... The times are out of joint-the very weather is now as capricious as a monarch's fortunes. To-day it is midsummer; to-morrow you are clad in complete Macintosh, and have occasion to wish it had been oilskin. Thus it was during the Houghton races at Newmarket, as it most probably was everywhere else. At that high place of Olympics, whatever may be urged against its turf policy, the mise en scene at all events is perfect. So also are the business details, as regards engagements. This being premised, it will be seen that the objects of the last meeting of the year are best served by running off the important events first, so that horses may be at liberty to pick up a chicken sweepstakes, or go for a match or two, just to pay an instalment upon their winters' bills. In this spirit, the Criterion-the leading two-year-old stake is appointed for the first day, the Cambridgeshire Handicap for the second. The former of these was won by Nina, in a field that leaves little more than that fact to be stated; the latter Colonel Peel ran first and second for, with Dacia-winner-and Taffrail. Next month, in our retrospect of the season, justice will be done to the closing meeting; for the present, we plead necessity for this "beggarly account." WOODCOCK-SHOOTING IN IRELAND: AS IT WAS, AND AS IT IS. BY THE AUTHOR OF "STORIES OF WATERLOO," ETC., ETC. No. II. I mentioned passim, the Pontoon covers as affording, in my earlier sporting career, an admirable winter beat for the cock shooter. In autumn it might have then been visited, and with advantage, by gentle men who detested a gun more than "a hurt wild duck;" for a sweeter combination of woodland, heath, and water, than this beautiful lake occasionally presented, has rarely gratified an artist's eye. Both in a sporting and pictorial character a change for the worse has taken place the axe has been extensively at work, and copse and timber year after year have disappeared. These lakes-for there are what are called the upper and the lower one-take their name from the strait which connects them. For a dozen miles the grand route which unites the northern and southern divisions of Mayo, traverses the Pontoon shores on either side; and so narrow is the channel through which the waters of the superior lough are debouched into the lower one, that a single arch bridges the deep but narrow communication. In "auld lang syne" the traveller and his horse were ferried over in a punt, and hence the lakes obtained a title they still bear. The Pontoon bridge stands nearly midway between the principal county towns, Castlebar and Ballina. Always extensively frequented -for the mountain road is not practicable for carriages-a wayfarer could be readily convinced that in the good old times Irish hospitality might have been praiseworthy, as Irish travelling was detestable. A cabin stands, still, besides the bridge; which the shortest man in a battalion company must stoop low indeed to enter. That hovel is a century old; and no matter what other changes may have occurred, it continues true to its primitive vocation; and the tourist, for a consideration, will be accommodated with poteeine and a turf to light his pipe. Fifty years ago many a traveller, perforce, expiated a large portion of his sins in this agreeable caravansery. Either the "baste" could go no farther, the ferry-boat wanted a bottom plank, or the ferry-man was "hearty" -which, in English, meaneth that the ferryman was blind-drunk. In short, any or all were considered good and sufficient causes for the wayfarer being incarcerated for the night; and in a hovel consisting of one long room the ill-fated man underwent his purgatorial probation. Could he not sleep? Yes, he had the choice of a stool beside the fire, a colliough where he might repose, could he but set fleas and suffo 备 * A colliough is a recess in the cabin wall, covered over by an external projection from the roof, and ventilated on the same plan, I should fancy, as the Black-Hole in Calcutta. |