M. W. D. D. Last Quar., 7 day, at 49 min. past 10 afternoon. OCCURRENCES. 1 S St. Philip. 29 Fourth Sunday after Easter. s 7 21 17 9 29 3 MOLLERTON RACES. 4T NEWMARKET S. S. MEETING. 5 W SHREWSBURY RACES. 233 2 49 3 5 3 34 3 39 3 57 4 12 4 30 6 TEDINBURGH RACES. Lewes Fair. s 7 2821 0 2 7 F Derby Fair. r 4 2422 0 41 8 S Easter Term ends. Dudley Fair.s 7 3123 1 15 10 M r 4 2024 1 45 s 7 3425 2 15 11 T TAVISTOCK R. Ballivourney C.M.r 4 1726 2 43 12 W Shrewsbury Fair. Swaffham Fairs 7 3727 3 13 13 T Old May Day. 14 F Bungay (Suffolk) Fair. 15 S Sunday after Ascension. 5 33 5 55 6 21 6 50 7 19 7 52 8 30 9 12 9 4710 23 11 011 33 Noon, 0 30 0 54 1 20 1 44 16 s 7 43 2 17 M Amesbury Fair. 18 T EPSOM RACES. 26 W NEWTON R. Oxford Term begins. s 7 57 12 2 1611 34 27 T Cambridge Term divides. 28 F HUNGERFORD R. Botley Fair.s 7 5914 3 10 0 44 1 5 29 S Restoration of King Charles II. r 3 THE RACING IN APRIL. BY CRAVEN. 66 Take it for all in all, probably April is the most interesting portion of the turf season, though not the most exciting. During its course there is not a three-year-old stake of any kind but commands less or more account, nor a race of any sort but some concern attaches to it. Stock is then "dark," whether it may have been before the public the previous year or not. The two-year-old that witched the world in the preceding autumn comes forth, peradventure, the following spring to point the finger of scorn; while some weed, that at the Houghton was hardly able to drag its tail from the turn of the lands in," strips for the Column in a form eloquent of coming victories. For this reason these recollections are useful, even if they be not especial agents of entertainment. They are excellent for the purpose of reference-a practice that will be found of good service in more ways than one to all who adopt racing. The system of handicapping, now become so important a part of turf economy, needs better materials for its superstructure than mere matter-of-fact details or issues, however minutely reported. That it may be worked even with the commonest pretensions to justice and fair play, those who undertake the office should be furnished with all possible appliances and means. It is not enough that a horse is beaten-that he is nowhere in a race-that he should be henceforth favoured in his weight. The handicapper ought to know the form in which he was brought out, and how the money went when he was so defeated. He should put the policy of his party into the scale, as well as take his demerit out of it. Of every score of horses brought to the post, how many are started with the simple view of winning? how many with the simple view of losing, or getting the lengths of the others, or with any design save that which they desire the public should understand? Unless your handicapper can solve this problem, he goes to work not only on false but on unfair premises. He does infinitely more injustice than if he had let his interference alone : he punishes the innocent and rewards the guilty. A retrospect dealing with the theory, as well as the thing accomplished, will stand him in some stead in his difficult undertaking. Such-to the best of the artist's poor ability—he will find these recollections of the preceding month's racing, in the numbers of this periodical published during the racing season. There cannot be a more fitting introduction to the racing of the past month than the Craven Meeting at Newmarket. Easter week was, however, below its usual average at head quarters. The Riddlesworths, once events of moment, have " dwindled to the shortest span," and now are thought as little of as a 10 sovs. sweepstakes. In their place has sprung up a handicap-hight, "The Newmarket"--which people bet about as much as they can, and this season it commanded considerable notice. Premising that the only feature on Monday was the rather easy victory of the Traverser over the winner-by grace of circumstance-of last year's Derby, we come to this handicap as aforesaid. The winner was the favourite at starting-a colt of Mr. Gregory's, since named Clermont; next him was Sting, giving four stone (less four pounds) for his year. The fortunate owner won a rattling stake. Verily for the trainer and owner of bad stock there is at length "balm in Gilead." In the course of this day, Mr. O'Brien offered to run his colt, The Liberator, at even weights against Planet, for £1,000; which being declined, he subsequently matched him on similar terms against Van Tromp, for Thursday, in the Houghton Meeting. Wednesday gave the Column, for which but four went won by Epirote-a nag not kept to be looked at. Seeing the list of his engagements previous to the 19th instant, one can scarce expect to meet him with the bloom on at Epsom. They said the pace was bad, but it was quite good enough to cut out work for the quartet. On Thursday he ran a very dashing second to Planet, receiving however 3 lbs., the D.M. 3 to 1 on Planet; 4 to 1 against Epirote: but the race showed no such odds. In the evening the stewards disposed of the disputed start for the Althorp Stakes at Northampton, awarding the race to the Sheriff. It is a curious fact that in the British Code Olympique, as published in the Racing Calendar, there is not one word as to what constitutes a start. "The person appointed to start the horses," according to rule 57, "has authority to order the jockeys to draw up in a line as far behind the starting post as he may think necessary;' "" but upon what authority they may break that line the law saith not. I leave unsaid the gossip which was current, because it would be impertinent now, whatever it might have been at the moment. It had of course reference to the peculiar purpose of the speakers; and, as of course also, most of it related to the diplomacy in operation on the Chester Cup. You heard how had been made safe for Tues and and day's handicap, and what a scheme of “ nobbling" was in process for that which should come off on the Roodee. But in these matters the best policy is to hold one's peace. The racing of Friday was remarkable for the result of the Port-run a match between Sting and Sir Tatton Sykes the former backed at 4 and 5 to 1, or indeed at any price that could be had, and winning as he pleased. There were all sorts of unpleasant things said about it; and William Scott, who rode his own horse, did not improve his Derby popularity on the occasion. But we live in a wicked world: as if there ever was a passage of foul play enacted on Newmarket Heath! The results of the week certainly affected the Epsom speculation but little that is to say, the Derby betting. The handicap of course made Clermont a great fancy for the Metropolitan Stakes, for which he would carry the same weight as that with which he had won so bravely. But the first day of the following week, at the Corner, showed some symptoms of its working--in another quarter. Instead of Planet at the top of the list for the Two Thousand, at 7 to 2, we had Conyngham premier at 5 to 2: 66 • it was uncertain what would go for that race from the Goodwood stable." The extreme tone, indeed, of his proprietor had given a considerable prestige to the Liberator: they took 16 to 1 about him for the Derby and 3 to 1 he won the Two Thousand. It is difficult to avoid observing on these changes and chances as one goes on; but the office of prophet of the past is not popular-though peradventure less mischievous than that of modern seers into futurity. In return for making him so popular, it was said that an assault with intent, &c., &c., had been committed on him previous to his departure from Middleham ; a couple of inches of cold iron having been then and there driven into his foot, but happily drawn without any ill effect. The meetings at Bath and Catterick Bridge fell upon the same day, commencing with the 13th. Lansdown is never the warmest place in the world on the last of its Olympic anniversaries it was the coldest perhaps, or thereabouts. As mud was present in the degree that caloric was absent, it was not pleasant either, by any means; and the sport was a very indifferent average. The result of the Newmarket Handicap was looked upon as a foregone conclusion for the Somersetshire stakes, for which Clermont was set down as a certainty. And, besides this, horses were at a premium; or rather, were not to be had at a hundred per cent.-the Lansdown Trial Stakes, to which £100 would have been added, failing to fill. The Produce Stakes opened the business with the defeat of one of the Danebury lot, hight Tantivy, with 5 to 1 on him-beaten in a canter by Lady Lift, in the Oaks. I am not, however, going to calendar the sport. Enough, in addition to the first day's doings, to add that Miss Burns beat Clermont and seven others very cleverly for the Somersetshire; and the fun was wound up with three heats-save the mark- for a small sweepstakes. Wednesday-cold enough to astonish the North Pole-was replete with racing; but the quality did not agree with the quantity. Allertonian, another of the Danebury division, first favourite for the Dryham Park Stakes, ran bootsand bad boots too-for them. Antler, too, was disposed of this dayat least, if his form was the best it can show-in his maturity. My Mary, backed at even-or nearly-for the Bath Handicap, was beaten off. The handicaps served the fielders well, if they also helped themselves. It is but justice to say that all the arrangements were most efficiently made and carried out: they did not indeed "command success," but they endeavoured to deserve it. Catterick Bridge, from its locality, could not be expected to present more genial weather than our Montpellier-Bath. It was desperately cold, that northern meeting; but in other respects, very cheering. Improvement is on the quick march there, and very soon things will be on quite as good a scale as any provincial course in the country. The Shorts brought out a field of nine: Beverlac the winner-in next year's Derby. This promising son of Hetman Platoff also won the Champagne Stakes on the following day. Catterick Bridge is fruitful in two year old races: thus there was for animals of that tender age also the Junior Stakes, won by The Stinger, another son of Hetman Platoff, in a very fair field of half a score. Poynton, backed at even, won the Gold Cup Stakes, after a good set-to with Comme-il-Faut-and these were the chief points of interest in the two days' racing. To Mr. Jaques this sporting tryst is indebted for its present improving prospects. That gentleman, the modern Mecanus of the Northern turf, is reaping golden opinions for his liberal exertions in promoting a great national sport. . . . . “ He won them well, and may he wear them long." On Friday, the 16th ult., Epsom Spring Meeting-a two year old, which has attained a most precocious maturity-was celebrated with 66 No extraordinary éclât. This occasion owes all its popularity to the efforts of the present lessee of the Grand Stand and clerk of the course, Mr. Henry Dorling, aided by the contributions of the publicans of the metropolis and its vicinity, or Licensed Victuallers." This very influential class is taking a prominent place in the business department of racing, by promoting speculation on sweeps and lotteries, having reference to all the great turf events of the season. An enormous amount of money is now turned in those schemes-with what social effect remains to be proved. At present, thousands of individuals are interested in stakes and handicaps, who half a dozen years ago were hardly more advanced in equestrian subtlety than to know the difference between a horse chesnut and a chesnut horse. These may now he heard laying down the law about the Derby, the Chester Cup, and the like, with an unction perfectly astounding. Mr. Jesse, in his recent delicious book on Rural Studies and Favourite Haunts," says, "In short, Milton's house is now the residence of a tailor." A tailor and his accompaniment of snips may now, peradventure, be seen mounted on the table whereat Paradise Lost" was indited. doubt there is a considerable falling off in the poetry of the thing here; nevertheless, the bathos is not so profound as the idea of the ninth part of a man rushing into Olympics. Still, such is the fashion of the day. Men milliners are prone to Tattersalls; and there is not a tailor with a soul above cold cabbage, but roars you the odds against Van Tromp as glibly as a sucking tout...... Well, it is noon of the 16th as aforesaid, and once more the swift wheel and hoof disturb the slumbering dust of Clapham Common and Ewell Corner. They bore to the scene of action anxious spectators of the Metropolitan Stakes, with the bonus of £500, to which many had contributed their sporting mite. The road looked a memory of its past glories, and, as a pilgrimage to Surrey, it brought back recollections of the good old times, and odious comparisons between the box of the Brighton Times and the second class of the Brighton trains. This was a day of sunshine and brisk cold," frosty but kindly." On reaching the downs you found the course nearly to Tattenham Corner lined with various equipages, and the Stand, or rather the moiety of the lawn in front of it, appropriated to the ring-one moving mass of the masculine gender. It was, in fact, all ring never was there such mingling of business and pleasure, or that which represented the latter for the nonce. If you did not enter into the operations of the hour, and were haply of a meditative mood, you gazed on the scene not without reflection. There lay "the hill" whilom the site of flaunting booth and tent of temptation, without as much cloth to clothe its classic sides as would make breeches for a Highlander. Roulette; Rouge-et-Noir; Rowley-Powley; all-all gone, and left not a wreck behind. But the adventurers, the youths of enterprize, and the sages of spirit, are they all gone too? Look upon that lawn for an answer. Behold French Hazard habited in the demure presentment of a Sweep, and "Une, deux cinque," in the sober guise of a lottery. Gambling is no more-it's quite legitimate, and comme-il-faut to speculate"-the way to the same end to be sure--but by the turnpike-road instead of crossing the country. 66 The great race of the day was run for over a very cleverly ananged course, so far as the spectators were concerned. The horses ran out |