have been permitted. This matter is of the more consequence at a course like Goodwood, where people have no one settled rendezvous where to learn particulars, but make their point from every part of the country round, usually only a very short time before the day's racing commences. Every minutia which can in any way tend to promote the sport is paid so much attention to at Goodwood, that I have no doubt my homily will have the desired effect; and that next year we may rely on the accuracy of the Goodwood card with the same confidence which we do the Newmarket list. The Drawing-room Stake, though usually graced with the names of most of the crack Derby and Oaks nags, has generally fallen short of a field; as if horses, after Epsom, are kept for the Leger, they cannot go to Goodwood, at least with a fair prospect of getting in good time to the North: for instance, the winner of the Drawing-room this year went to Winchester and Warwick, and then to Doncaster, and at the latter place cut a pretty figure. No, no; this true Brummagem hammering did once come off," but it will, I suspect, take a long while to repeat the dose. The Drawing-room terms for mares, receiving 5lb. at such an advanced period of the year, and so strong a course, are very favorable; and Delight was a winner all the way, to the delight of every one who has the pleasure of being acquainted with one of the most liberal and best fellows in existence, Isaac Sadler; and I only hope that he may be as greatly delighted with good fortune as he has this season been for many years to come. Such good fellows as himself ought to have a perennial share of good luck; and I cannot do better to intimate my good wishes towards him, than by taking the Irishman for my model, who, when his health was drunk, accompanied with the figurative sentiment "that he might live for a thousand years," exclaimed, by Jasus now, why limit me!" 66 The Goodwood Stake was won easily at the last, after a murderous race between the two favorites, Emily and Agreeable (with Variation close up); but the destructive running was every way in favour of the young one, the light weight having kept her alive all through; and Arthur Pavis had nothing to do but sit still on little Conciliation, and wait for his opportunity. At so late a period of the year, when three-year-olds are as good as they ever will be, the stronger the run race, at the favorable weights, the better chance for the young ones. This was again exemplified in the race for the King's Plate, where both the three-year-olds were in front. It would be conducive to greater sport if all the King's Plates were altered so as to admit three-year-olds, and which I think must be the case shortly. We cannot but here regret that Moses was so prematurely sent out of the country, for there has not been scarcely one of his get trained which have not proved good and particularly game runners. The first of his get which shewed, Fancy, ran a dead heat with Green Mantle for the July: then we had Glenfinlas, who beat the winner of the Oaks; Pauline; Lazarus, who ought to have won the Derby in any other hands than he was in; then one of the best horses ever foaled, Aaron; Erymus, the winner of the Drawing-room" in 1830; and, to crown all, the little game Conciliation; besides other small fry, which have all been winners. The only drawback to the excellence of all Moses' stock which have been trained is, that by far too many of them have failed in their legs very early; and it is to be remembered too that Moses himself was an infirm horse. Although I have stated that favorites for the Leger would not be likely to go to Goodwood, yet this year there was another exception besides Delight; and that was little Zany. It appears, that had he remained well, it was not considered he would have run for the Drawingroom, although his principal and most dangerous antagonist, Oxygen, had been placed hors de combat by severe illness. Whether the length was too great for him to run the risk of defeat, standing so high as he did as a favorite for the Leger, I will not pretend to say; but it was believed the Mile-race was booked as a certainty; and as that would have been his first public performance as a threeyear-old, such an appearance would have gone a long way towards confirming the good opinion entertained of his previous year's qualities: for there were not wanting plenty of people who did not hesitate to express their doubts of his having trained on ; and the accident which put a stop to his career, for a time at least, has left the sceptics to enjoy their own opinions. My own ideas, however, lead me to still think highly of him; and I hope, for the sake of his liberal and worthy owner, yet to see him make zanies of those who consider otherwise, as the violent bruise and strain which he met with at Goodwood might have totally finished his career, had it not been promptly and effectually attended to. Mr. Stonehewer was fortunate in meeting with the skilful and friendly assistance of Mr. Watts, the veterinary surgeon of the Scots Greys, and who effected so excellent a cure, that I was extremely glad to see my little Zany in the Houghton Meeting taking his accustomed exercise. There is a question connected with this matter which would lead me to ask why a regular and educated Veterinary Professor has never hitherto been encouraged at Newmarket; for I do not hesitate to assert, as my humble opinion, that had this case of Zany's occurred at Newmarket, although then at home, nothing like the same expeditious and skilful cure could or would have been made. At Newmarket, with the exception of the mere mechanical part of the shoeing, every trainer acts, or rather attempts to act, as his own veterinarian: ..and why? from a jealousy towards admitting any person beyond the precincts of their own immediate stable and connections to the knowledge, however trivial, of what is passing or required among their own horses. Any one who knows anything of the mysteries under which the system of racing is carried on at Newmarket, must be well aware that there are times and periods when it may become necessary to conceal any mishap that may have occurred in the stable: but in the present advanced state of the veterinary art, when men of education vie with each other in the attainment of knowledge of disease, and do not, as of yore, write "cow-leech and bellhanger" over their doors as their qualification to rather kill than cure, Noblemen and Gentlemen may en trust themselves and their horses in the hands of a Gentleman, without fear that either the one will be betrayed or the other abused: and if this could have been done years ago, how many valuable race horses would have been saved to their owners and the public! The subject admits of a wider field than I can at present afford to give it but I may take an opportunity of returning to it, as it will bear discussion. The principal interest, after all, this year at Goodwood centered in the race for the Cup. I never could understand why Priam, after his spring performances, particularly after giving his year away to Lucetta when considered in her prime, should have so long remained a doubtful favorite. It could have been only through the remembrance of the old mare's performances for this Cup the two preceding years, and her not having previously been in public all the season. But, alas! race horses, like other sublunary matters, will not last for ever; and ancient must give place to younger and more buoyant spirits. William Chifney, too, must have influenced the sharper part of the betting public, in consequence of his having backed the mare, never, as it would seem, having anything like got to the bottom of Priam while the horse was in his possession. It was also at the time considered the weight was against him, not in proportion to his antagonists (although Variation was the most favored), but that 9st. 5lb. was over racing weight for a four-year-old. When Demosthenes was asked which were the chief requisites of oratory, he answered, action, action, action." The answer might be applied to the qualifications of a race-horse; and certainly never with greater force than to Priam, his truc stealthy stride getting over the ground without the least exertion to himself or reference to the weight he carried. There is one thing, too, I would notice, recollecting the condition Priam was in at Doncaster; and that is, the horse was heavier by some stone weight, and fuller of muscle, at Goodwood in Prince's hands than he ever was in the Chifneys'; and I cannot, with all my respect for the "genius genuine," but award the palm of good training, in this instance at least, to the Messrs. Prince. As a wind-up to Goodwood, I may, to shew the liberal feeling and anxiety to produce sport which exist with the Duke of Richmond and his family, just add, that at the entry for the King's Plate, when it was known Priam was put down, and consequently likely to produce but a poor if any race at all, twenty-five sovs. were added as a bonus to the second horse, to make even the second place worth contending for. Mark this, ye Country Gentlemen," and go and do likewise! Egham is an instance of what may be done by a little activity and perseverance in the management of a race fund, the Clerk of the Course having by sheer assiduity rescued Runnymede from being blotted out of the list of race courses; and the more credit is due to the individual, as he has really contrived to get up three tolerable days' racing with a most wretched fund: indeed, if the locality did not so greatly assist it, I fear the paltry addition to the stakes, with all the endeavours used other wise in its favour, would soon sink Egham to the lowest class of provincials.--By the bye, why is not the Master of the Horse petitioned to transfer the King's Plate for Surrey, at present run for at Guildford (the most villanous course in England to break down norses, and where no one takes any interest in the matter save a few old women), to the Runnymede? This matter might, one would think, have easily been accomplished last summer, as then worthy Guildford was to have been shorn of its beams, and King's and Members' Plates might have gone to the devil together. How the case may be now that the Borough is saved from Schedule A, I will not pretend to say. The experiment is, however, to the Egham people worth a trial, as it would be a great gain to them, and no loss to the good folk of Guildford. Egham was chiefly remarkable this year for the unblushing effrontery with which a four-year-old was attempted to be palmed upon the public as a three. A "still small voice" has always accompanied the Pilgrim in his various wanderings; and Isaac Day is too much a man of business to lose the advantage of a hint, and soon got to the bottom of the business. After all, this Pilgrim, as a four-yearold, must be a wretched animal as a race-horse. He actually received thirty-one pounds from Whip, almost the worst four-year-old out at the Hoo, and could not win. It has, however, been added that the Pilgrim was not then fit to run! It is quite evident, from what has since taken place, that more than one party must have been aware of the deception used; and it is to be regretted that some much stronger punishment than merely depriving the owner (who in fact may be the sufferer) of his stake, cannot be, or is not, put in force against the offending party, for the public are the greatest losers, and are never safe. The Jockey Club should pass a resolution to prevent any one implicated in such nefarious practices from ever after naming or starting a horse at any place where their influence reaches. By the bye, a sort of penny-a-line paragraph went at the time the round of the Sporting Journals, stating, "that it was extremely curious that Arthur Pavis rode the second horse in all the races in which Pilgrim was a winner." He did at St. Alban's and in his two races at Egham, but not at Northampton, so that the curiosity (if there was any) is unfortunately spoiled. At Warwick, the race for the Guy Stakes produced a good deal of interest between Delight and Incubusthe latter's performance here being the test of his proceeding to Doncaster or not. The race was sévere, and won with diffi culty by the mare: in fact, the closeness of the ending struggle set all the privileged grumblers (the losers) at work; and because they could not make their quadruped a flyer, they must needs give vent to their chagrin on the biped, and so set to to abuse poor Charles Wakefield. The " unkindest cut of all" was, that they should by their clamour have so far prevailed on his master as to take poor Waky off for the next day's race; and so, when the great pulling bruté came staring in with John Day on his back some three or four lengths before Mr. Tomes's animal; "ah! (cry they) this ought to have been the case yesterday!" A winner, we know, is always ridden well; and the losers of a race by a head will always find some reason why their animal ought to have won; when, perhaps, it was good riding only brought them so near as it was. Without, however, putting the matter in that shape here, I may ask what weight, think the grumblers, would have brought Delight and the thing called Lady Gray of Mr. Tomes together? and then let them ask themselves the reason why Incubus cut a better figure one day than he did on the other. The truth was, the ground was very deep, and the great horse's stride held him in it; and, I have no doubt, had John Day been appealed to by Mr. Cookes, John's straight-forward John-Bull answer would have been, that Wakefield rode the horse as well as himself or any one he could put up could have done. The The country racing this season, as far as quantum of sport, certainly kept pace with former years; and had not political matters prevented the country gentlemen's attendance, we should have had nothing to complain of. I cannot help pointing out Rochester and Chatham races as a model for all provincial places of sport. course itself is the prettiest and most delightfully situate of any I know: the view over the fortifications down the whole course of the Medway to Sheerness, with the rich and diversified country on each side, is quite splendid: added to this the liberality of the Managing Committee of the Race Fund, the Stakes being far more valuable than any Meeting within the same distance from London, render it deserving of support in every way. Doncaster, in common with all its compeers, shared in the lack of attendance, at least as compared with preceding seasons, although no falling off in the sport took place. A South-country nag, as usual, was all the crack in the betting, and, as usual, cut but a moderate figure. I should not, however, say as usual" with the recollection of Priam still fresh ; but really this Marcus made such a ridiculous show that I cannot find it in my heart to speak scarcely respectful of our Newmarket friends. Fortunately for the Marquis of Cleveland, he possessed two strings to his bow; but equally unfortunate for his Lordship's Northern trainer, that Marcus ever came to Doncaster, as he would have doubtlesss stood all the money he had backed him for, and not, as was the case, have got it off at a sacrifice. John Day's helping hand deserves all the credit which he received; but still I cannot agree that The Saddler was beat, and that Chorister won, by riding only. The race was run to the very end to suit such a horse as Chorister. Of his lasting qualities we had sufficient proof with the field of old ones in the York August Meeting; and the Leger race, where he could lie where he liked, while the running was made for him, exactly suited his temper. It was the want of a field only that beat him on the Thursday: had there been anything to have made the running for him the first heat, he would have won cleverly. The performances of The Saddler were always good enough to have made him a great favorite for the Leger; but the knowledge that he was not "fit" at York August made the public shy; and it was not till he was seen up to the mark at Doncaster that he was placed in his proper rank. His winning the Cup against Emancipation was a great performance; and I regret that it was reserved for Newmarket to see so good a horse cut down without a chance. The Two-year-old Stakes brought out good fields of aspirants for the honours of next year's Leger. The Champagne was too close a race among so many to give me a good opinion of Mr. Walker's filly, the winner and Lord Sligo fixed his Fang so decidedly, both here and previously at Pontefract, as to quite secure the first place in favour. The party who have so spiritedly purchased The Saddler and Fang have two capital nags in their stable; and, if they are taken care of, will, I have no doubt, amply repay them but they must be better done than The Saddler was at Newmarket, or I fear they will never lay their fangs on the Leger. There was a very foolish outcry raised against the proposed alteration in the Leger from twenty-five, all the money, to fifty half-forfeit, as if it was necessary to cling to vicious regulations merely because they were old. How futile all the senseless noise has been is proved by the excellent subscription at the Fifty Sovs., not only enhancing the value of the Stake, but tending to keep away worse than useless rubbish from the post, which not only had no chance themselves, but have frequently put out those which had. The Heaton Park Meeting, under the spirited exertions of its noble owner, Lord Wilton, increases in interest every year, and the liberality with which everything is done ensures a good attendance; and fields are the life of Gentlemen Jocks. The Newmarket Meetings, though as usual at the first dully attended, made ample amends towards the close, and the Houghton was, as last year, almost a scramble. To shew the chance a bad horse may sometimes have, here is Lord Orford-who in course keeps horses for amusement only, as his Lordship never wins-actually breaking the spell, and carrying off the Duke Michael, of some twelve hundred pounds, with an animal which in the spring could not win a selling plate. Sir Mark Wood had the honour, with his stable, of beating the winners of the Derby, Oaks, and Leger; viz. Spaniel and Oxygen, with This Camarine, in the First Meeting; and The Saddler, with Lucetta, for the Audley End, in the Houghton. is a feat which no one person can boast of ever having done before. The great race of the Meetings was that between Priam and Augustus. The worthies of the Old School are constantly lamenting that the era of perfection in the race-horse has passed away, and, " still harping on my daughter," throw Childers and Eclipse in our teeth in proof of their assertion. Without any chance of detracting from the merits of those two-for the ages they lived in-first-rate animals, I may be allowed to say, that I should, if it were possible, like to see either of them matched against our modern flyer; for if ever one horse was better than another, that one is Priam. He is The two-year-olds make a formidable show. What with the two Plates, the Clearwell, Prendergast, and Criterion, the public need never be at a loss for a favorite or two for the next year's Derby and Oaks. Non Compos, having won one Class of the Plate very easily, has been the occasion of his being sold at a good price to Lord Chesterfield: but why the mere act of transfer should exalt him to the height he has enjoyed in the betting, I am at a loss to understand. certainly a racing-like looking colt: but it is to be remembered that he has been beaten no less than three times by Beiram; and though the excuse was made for him at Ascot that he was amiss, the same could not be said at the Newmarket July, when it is to be remembered too that Beiram won easily. Non Compos, like many other speedy horses, turns out his toes, and has altogether a ticklish looking pair of legs, favorite as he is. He will do for the Book, but not to the end; and it may be matter of question yet whether a better in the stable has not been left behind. Archibald, however, is not in the Derby. Of the winner of the Prendergast, Beiram, little need be said; he has been beaten once by Archibald, whom he again beat in his turn. His races |