merits are well considered in another part of this number; while, of those already backed for it, Mendicant, Antler, The Lamb, Golden Bee, and Mickey Free have received a support somewhat in accordance with that which was once wont to be so liberally bestowed on anything thought worth backing at all. Further than this it is scarcely necessary to proceed; still, we may again single out the Duke of Richmond, the Princess Alice, and its former chief, Intrepid, from a table which reads and sounds far too fine for what it would become on closer dissection. The Chester Cup, hitherto, hardly demands more space or comment than that with which we dismiss the other two early handicaps. For the Derby-not, as too often about this time, shut out in the grand rush of its just-disposed-of opponent, there has been some considerable reaction. Van Tromp has come again manfully; and Epirote, after having been a little "off" for a week or so, recovered that confidence which has so far attended him. The Goodwood party, instead of suffering from this, have perhaps even made greater advance, the trio-Planet, Glentilt, and Red Hart-being individually backed with amazing spirit and perseverance, the first of the three occasionally at evens against Mr. Bowes's horse. The safe arrival of The Horn of Chase in Sussex has told as well here as it has with his companion, Mickey Free, for "the coop." He, too, follows on with Conyngham and Wanota to the credit side of our account. Amongst the less happy, we may select Projectile and Christopher, both peppered with a determination that, at any rate, looks bad; and then clap in the remainder with all justice as continuing but "indifferent well." The Oaks, with yet more the appearance of a betting race it will be observed, has another first favourite. 2883889 22 to 1 30 1 25 22 to 1 20 30 .. 25 30 1 30 33 40 40 1 4s. 11lb. 50 .. 1 40 1 50 1 50 1 50 1 66 Mendicant, 4 yrs. 8st.. Chertsey, 5 yrs. 6st. 12lb.. Newcourt (aged), 7st. 10lb.. Lord Saltoun, 6 yrs. 7st. 5lb. Golden Bee, 4 yrs. 5st. 7lb.. 686 68 66 NEWMARKET HANDICAP.-15 to 1 against Footstool, four years, 7st. 13lb.; 15 to 1 against Lynceus, four years, 6st. 11lb.; 20 to 1 against Sir Martin, three years, 4st. 13lb.; 20 to 1 against Kesheny, five years, 7st. 11lb.; 25 to 1 against Devil-me-Care, three years, 5st. 8lb.; 30 to 1 against Dulcet, five years, 8st. 11lb.; 30 to 1 against Humdrum, four years, 7st. 1lb.; 30 to 1 against Meanee, three years, 5st. 1lb.; 20 to 1 against Discontent, three years, 4st. 8lb.; 20 to 1 against Queen of Tyne, aged, 7st. 131b.; 20 to 1 against Lady Wildair, five years, 8st. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.-15 to 1 against Sheraton, four years, 7st. 5lb.; 15 to 1 against Jenny Wren, five years, 7st. 5lb.; 17 to 1 against Lady Sarah, six years, 7st. 3lb.; 20 to 1 against Meanee, three years, 5st. 1lb.; 20 to 1 againt Pink Bonnet, three years, 5st. 1 lb.; 30 to 1 against Agnes, three years, 5st. 5lb.; 40 to 1 against Hannah Raine, four years, 6st. 91b. 2000 GS. STAKES.-3 to 1 against Planet; 5 to 1 against Glentilt; 6 to 1 against Conyngham; 15 to 1 against Sister to Cobweb Colt; 6 to 4 against Kent's lot. EMBELLISHMENTS. - 3 S Ashborne F. Game Certif. expirer 5 3418 9 33 3 34 3 48 Easter Sunday. 4 s 6 35 19 10 35 4 4 4 19 4 36 4 50 595 28 5 47 69 Morning. 5 M NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING r 5 292011 34 11 12M Low Sunday. PARIS ST.-CH. 13 T ABINGTON CSNG. MTNG. 1 19 6 34 6 59 7 30 8 5 s 6 4525 2 40 8 47 9 30 r 5 1626 3 13 10 11 10 50 [RACESS 6 4827 3 4511 28 BATH r 5 1228 4 15 0 1 0 30 s 6 5229 4 45 0 55 1 19 r 5 7 N s 6 55 r 5 3 18 S Second Sunday after Easter. s 6 58 SETS. afternoon 1 42 2 5 1 8 42 2 27 2 50 29 54 3 14 3 36 s 7 25 s 7 11 11 r 4 4212 [Fairs 7 15 13 29 T THE DEE STKS. D. Mkt. Harb.r 4 38 14 30 F THE CHESHIRE STAKES DAY s 7 18 15 3 26 0 5 0 27 3 48 0 48 17 4 13 1 26 1 43 4 41 2 0 2 15 THE GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE-CHASE. BY CRAVEN, "Difficile est proprie communia dicere." HORAT. ""Tis hard to venture where our betters fail, BYRON'S TRANSLATION. Some seven or eight years ago the sporting party of Liverpool got up a steeple-chase on a grand scale, and gave it the title prefixed to this paper. The idea was a good one, and it was well carried out. First of all, the site was particularly convenient, being, in fact, that of the race-course on extended limits. Such as it then was, in locality, it was on the late anniversary; and there seems no necessity of attempting to make it better. True, it has been the arena of sad casualties, its fences, natural and artificial, costing the life of many a gallant steed; but the character of the country was less to be blamed for it than the nature of the pace, which is generally more severe at Aintree than elsewhere I have ever seen it over a steeple-chase course. Then, Liverpool itself is admirably situated as a tryst for this peculiar sport, which had its origin-or, at least, its new birthin the Emerald Isle. Now, steeple-chasing is, in fact, but racing upon a lately-introduced principle. At first it was a contest between horses kept for the purpose of hunting; now it is a contest between animals bred and trained especially for it, and for it alone. Indeed, its most popular form is that of the handicap, which at once gives an idea of its present character. Whether this stimulant will serve the general health of the amusement will be revealed by experience. Some of the great masters of the chase, such as Meynell, used to handicap their hounds, weighting them now with a pair of couples, and anon with shot; but it's not a legitimate sporting contrivanceit is a growth of the gambling school, whose neophytes are legion at these presents. But is the steeple-chase in any form or fashion a pastime such as a sportsman, in the conventional meaning of the term, should countenance, or is likely to delight in? The field, as the nursery for sportsmen, does not offer the practice common to our grandsires' days. The chase is less scientific--or, shall we say, pedantic-than it was wont to be, in the matter of its treatment by those aspiring to profess woodcraft. To kill his fox is not the first and only object of the modern fox-hunter. There is now such a thing as the first |