Mr. Trehern's Forester, Mr. Trehern's Chanticleer, Mr. Plumridge's Pilot, Mr. Waterton's White Stockings, and Mr. Gordon's Harlequin. It was an admirable contest between the two leading horses, and won only by a length; Jubilee third, much distressed, and Miller fourth.White Stockings and Harlequin luxuriated in a ditch; the others nowhere; Pilot, who ought to have shewn the way, "lag last."—A second of 25 sovs., given by the Ladies, was won by Mr. Wood on his Atalanta beating Mr. Tollitt's Wonder. Mr. Gardiner's Peggy was in the race, and also in the ditch previously occupied by Harlequin and Co.

Carden Park, April 3.-After a race for a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs., won by Mr. J. F. Knaresbro's Leander (Owner) beating Mr. Price's Kitty Fisher and Mr. Court's Music; and another of 5 sovs., by the same jock and horse beating Music by a neck, and Whig a good third, and five others not placed (including Kitty Fisher)-a Steeplechase followed, for a Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, the starting place being in front of the Stand on Tilston race-course; for which eight competitors appeared-Mr. J. H. S. Barry's Sir Arthur (Court, jun.), Mr. Dawson's Derrynane (Owner), Mr. Vernon's Tushingham, Mr. S. Stanyer's Elfie Bay, Capt. Francis's Lincoln, Mr. Ford's Abbeyfield, Mr. Marshall's Jim Crow, and Capt. Adair's Emma.-The two latter refused their first fence, and were put out of the race. The others came in as named, although Lincoln was the decided favorite.

Cheltenham, April 4.-The annual Steeple-chases here are second to none, and generally excite a greater interest than the majority of these events, from the patronage of Lord Segrave, who acted as umpire, and the numerous Sportsmen of rank and influence who follow in his wake. The grand rendezvous was at the Plough, which was thronged with Distinguished Personages, whilst all the other hotels were filled to an overflow. The first race was a Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each, 5 ft., with 25 added by Lord Segrave, 10 by P. Thompson, Esq., and 25 by the Town, for which twenty-two horses were entered, including those of first-rate quality which had exhibited at Liverpool, Leamington, &c. Of these, however, only four appeared at the starting-flag-Mr. Elmore's Lottery (Mason), Mr. J. Probyn na. Mr. Vevers's Charity (Oliver), Mr. J. R. Newcombe's Cannon-ball (Powell), and Mr. P. Thompson na. b. m. by Harry (Patrick).-The following paid forfeit :Yellow Dwarf, Railroad, Vivian, Barkston, Decider, Don Sebastian, Foreigner, The Miller, Paddy Carey, Dr. Slop, The Nun, Seventy-four, b. g. by Spectre, Goshawk, Rust, Daxon, Sir William, Kangaroo, and Sportsman. Although it would have been a splendid sight to see such a Field, yet the known good qualities of the four to set sail under the steerage of such accomplished pilots ensured a spirited contest, nor were the patrons and spectators deceived: it was a splendid race, particularly with Cannon-ball, Lottery, and Charity, who came to within one hundred yards of the last fence (a wall) close together. Here, however, Mason, who had evidently waited his opportunity, let Lottery out, and the gallant horse soon shewed his tail to Cannon-ball, cleared the wall in his usual brilliant style, and went in a winner by several lengths. Oliver, finding all hope of victory fail, pushed hard for second, and Powell being equally determined, a splendid burst ensued, which ended, however, in favor of Charity by four lengths

The pace was too much for the Harry mare, and though Patrick brought her into the winning field, she might be considered out of the race.The second, a Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, with 10 added (no qualification to riders required, and over the last two miles of the same course), for which seven started, Grey Cock, Soldering Solomon, and Forward, being drawn. These were also well known to fame, being Mr. J. Ballinger na. Goshawk (Oliver), Mr. Griffiths's Giraffe (Martin), Mr. H. Guy's Inez (Powell), Mr. G. Giles's Moonraker (Barker), Mr. H. Thompson's The Earl (Hargus), Mr. W. Lait's Tramp (W. Hardy), and Mr. Mills's Exchange (J. Mason).—Various mishaps occurred, Goshawk having knocked Inez down when she swerved at a fence, The Earl was planted in a fence, Exchange even astonished Mason by his vagaries, and Tramp preferred a cold bath in a brook to the "soft green sward." Oliver, who had won this race two previous seasons with Railroad and Perrystone, brought his horse in first, beating Giraffe only by half a neck, Inez third, and Moonraker fourth.-Excellent ordinaries were provided in the Town, and at the Plough thirteen Subscribers, headed by Lord Segrave, entered their names for next year. The Noble Lord added, that if the Town would guaranty a subscription of 100 sovs., he would give in addition a 100-guinea Čup, to be manufactured by any silversmith in Cheltenham the majority of subscribers should name.

Abergavenny, April 5.-Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, with 25 added-won by Mr. Humfrey's Lara (Carlin) beating Mr. Capel's Kangaroo (Patrick) by a head, Mr. Stretton na. Rambler (Barker), and Mr. E. Jones na. The Moor (Parker).—At the third fence Mr. Bailey na. Cholstrey (Davis) made a blunder, throwing his rider heavily in the next field, and kicking him severely in the face and chest. The Moor went on the wrong side of a flag, which lessened his chance considerably, or he would have been there or thereabouts. Mr. P. Jones na. Bobadil (C. Hardy) had a fall, and though he lost his bridle, he contrived to save his distance.

Daventry, April 8.-The first event was a Hurdle-race of 3 sovs. each, with 15 added, heats, for which six started, Mr. Crown's Fanny having been drawn. Mr. E. Bromwich's Crazy Jane won the first heat, and Mr. J. Cowley on his b. m. Eva the second and third, Crazy Jane being second in the final heat. Mr. W. Daniell's Streamlet was a good second in the first, sixth in the second, and drawn in the third. Mr. J. Bliss's Leicester was third in the first and second heats, and not placed in the third; Mr. G. Russell's Laurel was fifth. Mr. C. P. Bliss's Antelope, from a fall, was distanced in the first heat.-This was followed by some good pony racing: and then came the great event, the Steeple-Chase, a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, with 60 added, for which four "good 'uns" appeared at the scratch-Mr. Elmore's Jerry (Mason), Mr. Goodman's Lunatic (Powell), Mr. Westley's The Queen (Owner), and Mr. Barrington's Dusty Bob. The two latter had bad falls, Her Majesty escaping from her rider, who did not recover his saddle in time to have much chance. Oliver was not hurt, but time lost was not regained; and the race lay between Jerry and Lunatic. They took the last fence together, when Mason let out his horse, and won cleverly.

Hurworth Hunt, April 9.The Steeple-chase for a Purse and Sweepstakes took place near Darlington, and was won by Mr. Smith's Dart (Beaupark) beating Mr. Applegarth's Neck-or-Nothing (Cookson) and Mr. Sowerby's Marmion (Maynard). The Stakes, however, were given to Neck-or-Nothing, and Dart declared distanced, his rider being short of weight. This was succeeded by two Hurdle-races the first, a mile and a half, six leaps, all jock'd by their Owners, won by Mr. J. Cookson's Roderick beating Mr. Maynard's Jim Crow, Mr. B. Cochrane's Glaucus, Mr. Copley's Harkaway, and Mr. Scarfield's Surprise: the second, by Mr. Gowland's Breakfast (Marquis) beating Mr. Cookson's b. g. (Owner), Mr. Masterman's Jackdaw (Maynard), Mr. Wilkinson's b. c. (S. Gray), and Mr. Copley's b. m. (Owner).

Warwick, April 9.-For a Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each, with 200 added by the Town, nineteen horses entered, though only eight came to the post-Lord Macdonald's The Nun (J. Mason), Sir E. Mostyn's Seventy-four (Oliver), Mr. Marshall's Railroad (Powell), Mr. G. Willes's Tom (Carlin), Mr. Ball's Needwood (Owner), Mr. Lambden na. Weathercock (Barker), Lord Chesterfield's h. by Waverley (Goddard), and Mr. Newcombe's Cannon-ball (Owner). The Nun, Railroad, Needwood, and Cannon-ball carried 7fb. extra. Mr. Elmore's Lottery was disqualified, from an informal entry, and Daxon, Sarah (late Emily), Sportsman, Transport, Foreigner, Magic, Valentine, The Miller, Paddy Carey, Turban, and Vivian, did not start.-It was a prime race, The Nun, Seventy-four, and Weathercock taking their last fence close together, and so earnestly contending for victory, that it was difficult of the two leading horses to name the winner. The Judge, however, gave it in favor of The Nun by half a neck, and Weathercock was only half a length behind Seventy-four. Needwood and Waverley were fourth and fifth. Mr. Powell had been unhorsed in a rush between the two leading horses, owing to his leg coming in contact with one of them, and could not recover his horse till all chance was gone. Cannon-ball repeatedly refused his fences, and was pulled up within a mile from home.-A Hurdle-race of 5 sovs. each, with 25 added, over the race-course, brought seven to the post, six leaps-Mr. Stevenson's True Blue (Barker), Mr. Theobald's Paulina (Mason), Mr. Wesley's Neptune (Powell), Mr. Beardshaw na. Primrose (Hardy) Mr. Smith na. Meteor (Owner), Mr. Thornhill na. Helen (Carlin), and Mr. Oliver na. Little Comberton (Oliver).-The four first were placed in the order named, but the race, which was particularly severe towards the close, entirely lay with True Blue and Paulina, the former finally carrying his colors in first. We regret to add, that in taking the first hurdle, Little Comberton fell, and rolled over Oliver, who remained for some time apparently lifeless. On being carried to the weighing-house, it was ascertained that no bones were broken, and on recovering from his insensibility, he was removed to Leamington, where he remains, and, though believed to be out of danger, it will be some time before he will recover the shock his whole frame received from the accident.

REMARKS ON PAVING OR BOTTOMING OF STABLES.

Hyde Park Barracks, April 1839.

As experiments have lately been made, and are now under observation, in regard to five standings bottomed with Asphalte in these barracks, I take the opportunity of offering a few practical observations, since it is a subject of importance to every owner of horses.

The compelling a horse to stand constantly on an inclined plane is no doubt productive of permanent injury; but this is often of such slow growth that the cause is overlooked or passes unheeded: still it is so much a deviation from a natural state, that very little reflection is necessary to produce conviction that many evils must result from it.

Independently, however, of the degree of slope given to a stall, the state of the horse undergoes various modifications according with the nature and arrangement of its surface.

With almost every kind of paving some degree of deviation from a plane unyielding surface exists: this enables a horse to take that position which is the most easy, and with litter in the stall the facility to do so is increased.

A horse's legs may aptly be compared to props supporting a cylinder, represented by the animal's body: when this is horizontal, the legs have merely to support the weight without muscular exertion being required, or an undue strain of ligaments being occasioned; but when one end of this cylinder is raised, as is the case with a horse standing in an ordinary stall, it acquires a tendency to slide or fall backwards, which with the horse is only counteracted by muscular exertion, or, by the body being thrown forward, bringing the fore-legs to an acute, and the hind-legs to an obtuse angle with it. With feet resting on a plane unyielding sloping surface, it must be evident that this position can only be attained by subjecting the posterior or flexing parts of the limbs to an undue degree of stretching and exertion, thereby producing stiffness, and ultimately lameness. That horses rest themselves and even sleep without lying down, is a well known fact; but to enable them to do so, their position in standing must be suitable.

In stalls paved with ordinary stones in the common way, the bottom s very irregular: at first the lateral faces of the stones are not placed in correct apposition; the edges of the stones soon get worn away, and the interstices are deepened by the broom in sweeping. The elevations and depressions become in this way extremely varied, and the horse may stand with the ground surface of the foot level, or with the toe depressed to a degree to which nature points as being the most conducive to ease in standing.

Experience shews that horses almost invariably avail themselves of this facility for standing with the toe depressed, more especially so as regards the hind-legs. When this way of standing is carried to excess, which it frequently is where the stones are rounded on the surface and the interstices large, a contracted state of the posterior ligaments is induced. This change, though it hardly can be doubted, is, however, so slow that in short periods it cannot be detected. It is very common

to see old horses step mainly on the toe of the hind feet. That horses become contracted and stiff in their joints by work, is perfectly true, still it is but reasonable to believe that the unnatural mode of standing here pointed out contributes towards increasing this infirmity.

From the fact that horses retained in a stall merely by a rail across it will most commonly be found with their heads from the manger, and consequently lowest before, it has been supposed that to reverse the usual inclination of standings might be advantageous. But I think it very probable that light and cheerfulness may have as much to do with this disposition in the horse as that of a desire to stand down-hill.

Stalls paved nearly level, but having a slight depression in every direction towards a point near the centre, with a grating over a cesspool, or communicating with an under-ground drain, closed by a stinktrap, I believe to be the most conducive to the well-doing of horses; they certainly are the least outrageous against nature, and admit of variety in the mode of standing by change of position. With a sufficient length of halter-rein the horse may stand back and have his fore feet the lowest; by standing forward, this position may be reversed; both varying in degree as instinct may point out: or the horse may stand level or nearly so.

A surface drain for the escape of urine appears to be in most instances useless. A part of the urine soaks into the ground and becomes innoxious, a part is swabbed up by the litter, and the rest escapes by evaporation. Under-ground drains require to be closed by an air-trap to prevent a current of air setting into the stable, and which must necessarily be foul from the accumulation of acrid matter it has to pass over.

All that I have hitherto said on this subject applies to stalls which have a pervious bottoming; it now remains to offer a few remarks on the bottoming with Asphalte, which is supposed to be impervious.

This composition appears to possess the requisite degree of hardness, and is probably sufficiently durable. It would no doubt answer very well if laid in a dishing form, with a grating near the centre of the stall through which the urine might pass off; but laid as a continued inclined plane from manger to gutter, it is the worst bottoming that can be employed. The urine which is not swabbed up by the litter is diffused over a large surface; none of it soaks into the ground; and the atmosphere of the stable becomes impregnated with peculant matter in an increased degree by its absorption; for before it can reach a drain it is too much diffused to run off. Besides the horse has scarcely any means of alleviating the unnatural degree of strain imposed upon the posterior part of the limb; even standing obliquely in the stall affords but very imperfect relief.

An instance worthy of remark has occurred in one of the stalls bottomed with this composition in the Hyde Park Barracks: it must not, however, excite surprise, as similar cases are by no means uncommon. An accidentally soft place exists in one of the stalls, a few inches distant from the heel-post; the horse in seeking relief has found this out: it admits the toe of the shoe deep enough to prevent slipping, and the horse is continually found standing with the toe of the foot in the depression, and the heel of it propped up against the post.

VOL, XIX,-SECOND SERIES,-No. 109.

H