图书图片
PDF
ePub

horses about so early (as they want their legs to cross country with), would thus have a chance of throwing in for a fair stake. It would be something quite out of the common way to see a lot of fresh four-yearolds at the post. Now there is hardly such a thing as a four-year-oldl race, and if there is (except perhaps in the Alexandra Plate) the combatants are all bandaged up, and they are dragged away after the race like the unhappy Don John, or Cotherstone on three legs, unless their owners have chosen a wiser part, and divide like those of Chatham and Attila, when the betting was which would break down first. Custance will have a terrible "pinching" time of it like Wells this season, but he has managed 8st. 10lbs. even in the raw east wind, which pierced the very joints of the harness during the Northampton meeting. Amid all this letter writing, many really tangible improvements are lost sight of, such as raising the jockey weights from 8st. 10lbs. to 8st. 12lbs.; that every race except those in which two-years-old are solely engaged shall not be run under a mile; and that handicaps shall be made between 6st. 4lbs. and 9st. 10lbs., or some such limits. The Admiral's cardinal doctrine seems to be tenderness for the interest of "the weeds."

It has been rather a fatal month for sportsmen. Two of the oldest masters of hounds, Mr. Farquharson perhaps excepted, have died. Sciatica had sadly crippled Mr. Meynell Ingram, and for years he had not even mounted a horse, but still he inherited a great love of the sport from his uncle the great Hugo of Quorn, and he never tired of the hounds. His was a quiet, unpretentious family pack, but well appointed, and it often showed some great runs, especially in its Derbyshire country. Lord Leconfield's are rather a rough-looking lot, and if we remember rightly they are all black and white, with a certain tan shadings about the head. His Lordship never cared to have them or their doings written about; but John Squires did well with them in a difficult country of interminable, bosky dingles and nutwoods. Charles Sheppard succeeded him, and has done credit to Mr. Scratton's teaching; and there are no better fox preservers in the country than the Bishop of Oxford. Lord Leconfield was quite one of the old school, and the Hon. Mr. Fitzroy Stanhope was one of his great friends, and often stayed at Petworth. He was singular in his habits, and they said that if he went to Mr. Gratwicke's for instance to dine and stay the night, he would take his own potatoes and Portugal onions in a small hamper with him. Lord Glasgow was also the oldest master of hounds in Scotland, but it is many years since he wore a scarlet coat. His horse, The Drake, was the sire of Mr. Booth's Bird of Passage, which was almost invaluable at the agricultural shows as a twoyear-old hunter. The Glasgow blood was just beginning, so to speak, to come out when he died, and it gratified him not a little that one of his Knowsley yearlings should have beaten all the Blair Athols at poor Jackson's August sale. The purchase of Maid of Masham never did him much good, and he had better have left such a doubtful as Toxopholite alone, but his greatest error of judgment of late years was breeding from such a brute as Barbatus, a horse with the sweetest forehand and the worst ribs in the world. Still it took a great deal to wean him off his Bay Middleton love. "Argus's" two accusers are now both out of the Jockey Club, one by resignation and the other by

death. To the last, he seems to have retained his notion that gold was a healer for everything, so we judge from one of his legacies. He and Earl Wemyss were made members of the Caledonian Hunt Club in 1822, and their only senior on the list was the Marquis of Tweedale. Why the Earl latterly did not run horses in Scotland we never heard explained. When we consider what his lordship went through in the way of bodily suffering, we can wonder at none of bis wayward moods, but rather regard him as a miracle of heroic endurance.

It is very remarkable that the four greatest "plungers" of the day The Earl, the Marquis of Hastings, Jackson (who is said to have died worth £82,000 in real and personal property), and Stephenson should all have died in one race recess. Lord Glasgow was never really settled after his first trainer Croft died, and his most brilliant time was with him to train and Harry Edwards to ride. He never forgot "auld lang syne" in connection with the latter. His Lordship's first love was Jerry, and he never cared much for the beautiful Acteon, as do what jockey might, it was impossible to coax him into winning by more than a head. Harry Edwards got a neck in the great race with Memnon, but the chesnut "retracted," and it was all that fine rider could do to keep his head in front at all. Edwards is, with the exception of his brother William, our eldest living jockey. He was blind during his riding life of the left eye, in consequence of an accident; and when he was seventy, his right eye went as well. Critchett, the celebrated oculist then went to work on the eye which had been useless for years, and with marvellous skill admitted a speck of light on one side of it, so that he can see his way and make out a few lines of a newspaper.

if

Mr. Heathcote's death has been one of the saddest the Turf has known. He raced like his father in a good old-fashioned sort of way, and enjoyed and understood both it and hunting perfectly. He was jovial and cheery over both and always "on the spot" with his retort, any one tried to chaff him. There was a world of acuteness under that half-girlish face, hat on the back of his head, and lovelock on the brow. As we looked at him we always thought that if he only lived to eighty, we should have another "character." No one else that we can note, promises to arrive at that eminence in the racing world. Amato, with Chapple up, on the ale-house sign, and the dreary looking Durdans are now the only Epsom relics of the pleasant times of the "crimson and grey cap."

[ocr errors]

Mr. Chaplin's long talked-of sale took place on March 22nd, when twenty-four lots realized 8,135 gs., a very fair total, when it is considered that Hermit was reserved, and that Chanoinesse, Religieuse, Countryman, and a few others were not sent up. "Uncle" Broomielaw, who has stood with Volunteer at Blankney, was purchased by Mr. Bland, for 1,500 gs., and it seems that Lincolnshire, which likes his foals, will retain him. Mr. G. Herring gave 1,400 guineas for the Kettledrum-Nelly Hill colt, which seems a very long price, as though he is a good-looking youngster, and has won a couple of races easily, yet he beat nothing in either of them. The Orphan, who looked light and unfurnished, seemed dear at 1,250 gs.; but St. Ronan and Ventnor ought to be bargains at 200 gs. and 420 gs. respectively. Sir

Charles Legard ought to know all about this stud, so we must believe that Islam has hidden merits, which make him worth 950 gs.; but the most unaccountable thing was that Mr. Mannington should have been allowed to take Blinkhoolie for 430 gs., as from his fashionable breeding and excellent performances, he ought to make a valuable sire, even if he cannot be trained again. As Mr. Chaplin has retained a few horses, it is to be hoped that he does not intend to relinquish the turf altogether. His heavy purchases of yearlings in '67, numbering, if we mistake not, about thirty, were on the whole very unfortunate, but to the end of time yearling buying will be a series of wild guesses, and nothing more.

No doubt Mr. Chaplin wishes to keep Hermit as "a family horse," or else he would not have put such a rattling reserve as 5,000 gs. on him at his sale. We cannot fancy that he will ever be a very popular sire, as he is a delicate-looking horse, with rather a mare's head and neck. It is noteworthy that Broomielaw made 1,500 gs., the same as Breadalbane, who was purchased along with him through the £11,000 cheque in '65, which made such a noise, we may say, in Europe. Blair Athol is nearly full, but so far his stock have made no good mark this seaThe Macaronis are scoring, and certainly a prettier yearling than Miss Agnes filly never faced Mr. Tattersall and Mr. Clark. The Agnes family have served Sir Tatton well, as he has bred four winners from the two mares of that tribe already. Miss Agnes has gone to Macaroni again, and Marigold (with a chesnut colt by Rataplan at her foot) to Stockwell, who has had to hand over his premiership among stud

son.

sultanas to Beadsman.

The new volume of the "Stud Book" accounts for no less than 3,074 mares in 1868, whereas the "Book Calendar" only took note of 2,883. In 1865, the corresponding number of mares was 2,441, and the foals in these two years respectively number 1,921 against 1,585. The colts are in a majority of 23 for last year, but the fillies lead in 186567 by 88. Excluding the mares not covered and those sent abroad in 1868, the 719 barren mares form nearly a fourth of the rest. The slips of such 2,914 amount to 127. In the sire index, we find that the mares by Bustard, Buzzard, Cain, Camel, Glaucus, Ishmael, Jerry, Physician, Tomboy, and Whisker have all died out. Bran, The Colonel, Defence, The Doctor, Emilius, Euclid, Heron, Hornsea, Jereed, Liverpool, Mango, Maroon, Mulatto, Muley Moloch, Phlegon, Plenipo, The Saddler, Anchor, Velocipede, and Voltaire are only represented by four at most, but more generally by a unit. Subtracting those mares to which "dead" is affixed, the list runs thus: Alarm (34), Bay Middleton (25), Birdcatcher (81), Chanticleer (30), Flying Dutchman (46), Gladiator (7), with the ancient Queen Mary, who was barren in 1867-68, among them; Harkaway (24), Kingston (40), King Tom (31), Lanercost (18), Melbourne (49), Newminster (71), Orlando (89), Pantaloon (16), Sir Hercules (13), Slane (25), Stockwell (88), Sweetmeat (45), Teddington (34), Touchstone (81), Venison (15), Voltigeur (68), Weatherbit (45), and Wild Dayrell (55).

may

Coursing seems to have assumed quite a new phase, and the sport last as many more years as it has done since "Warwickshire Will" hied forth with his fallow greyhound to "find him a hare on Cotsale,' before a second Master M'Grath wins a Waterloo Cup and a Bab at

the Bowster carries off an 128 dog Scarisbrick Cup, two years in succession. The puppies of this year have been absolutely nowhere, and Hard Times and Borealis, the best of them, had no pace at all by comparison with their seniors. In fact, the old saying that "youth will be served" has been knocked over altogether; and the old dogs have had the season to themselves. Brigade it is true has trained off, and Jane Ann has broken her leg, but we never had such a remarkable quartet going at one time as the three-season Lobelia, and the twoseason Master M'Grath, Charming May, and Bab at the Bowster. It is worth remembering that the three bitches are all granddaughters of old Canaradzo. Mr. Campbell still has Coodareena, and she ran remarkably well at Kyle Meeting this year, when she was in her seventh season. Old Mr. Campbell never gave her a proper chance, as she was "trial horse" for everything he had, and he would use her for that purpose three times a day. Charming May has quite fulfilled all that Mr. Nightingale, the great ex-judge, expected of her, and she well deserved her Ashdown victory; while Cock Robin's heavy shoulders have quite brought him to grief. There was no sweeter style than that of "The May's" in the Waterloo Cup; she never seems so "busy" as Bab with her hare, but she does it with less effort, and has quite as much command over herself. We should not be surprised if she and "Bab" both meet Master M'Grath at Altcar next year, if he goes, which we believe is very doubtful. At present, it is said that Lord Lurgan does not care to run a risk of tarnishing his laurels. These things were done in Cerito's day, but two seasons now seem to be the outside of a greyhound's public life.

The Field thus epitomizes "Bab's" performances: "She commenced her career by dividing the St. Leger for puppies at the Scottish National Meeting, September 26, 1867 (52 runners); Altcar Club, divided Croxteth Stakes with Brigade (58 runners); Waterloo Cup, won two courses, and then was beaten by Lobelia after an undecided; South Lancashire Champion Meeting, won Great Scarisbrick Champion Cup (128 runners), beating Crown Imperial in the deciding course. A fortnight afterwards Bab at the Bowster made her appearance at the Scottish National Meeting, and won the Douglas Cup (64 runners) beating Lobelia for the deciding course. Being amiss at the commencement of the present season from natural causes, she did not make her appearance in public until the Altcar Club November Meeting, when she won the Altcar Club Cup (20 runners), beating Sea Rocket in the deciding course. A month later saw her at Brigg, and, after being dreadfully hard run, she divided the Elsham Cup (32 runners) with Sporting Eagle. In the Waterloo Cup (64 runners) she ran up to Master M'Grath, and then won the Great Scarisbrick Champion Cup (128 runners), beating Animus for the deciding course." Mr. Blanshard might well refuse £500 for her last September. She has only been beaten twice, and each time by a Waterloo Cup winner. Her dam Mischief by Priam, once divided a 24-dog stake, and won three courses altogether in two other stakes. Priam never ran in public. Trovatore, who had such neck and neck work of it with Lobelia two seasons since seems to be in form again, and such a determined blood-like pair as Ghillie Callum and Lady Lyons are very rarely met with. Animus, the runner up for the Scarisbrick Cup, was one of those

Theatre Royal whelps by Bonus, which Willie Scott held up on the platform at Aldridge's, when Mr. Thompson's sale took place there. We remember asking Mr. Warwick as he stood by, how many of the infants he expected to judge over. The Rather Improved saplings from this kennel are very clever, and made good prices. Mrs. Thompson keeps their dam, old Tirzah, as a memento of her dead husband.

The saying of the collier, who was immured for four days and nights in the coal-pit, and remarked as soon as he had been got to the top, that he hoped "Mantle's dog will win its match," will become very memorable. Strange as it may seem, colliers take immense interest in these things, although they are in the bowels of the earth all their time. We have known them quite in a state of excitement during the Waterloo Cup week. After all, except when taken in connection with the time and place, the saying is natural enough, as except when they go to newsrooms and grind away at papers and magazines, the poorer classes love best a seat in the ale-house ingle at night, and when they are there, pot in hand, they seldom discuss anything but matches. The theme of their discourse is somebody having "something on with" somebody, either at quoits, knurr and spell, birdwhistling, wrestling, fighting, dog-fighting, rabbit-coursing, coursing, and the like. In Leeds, they ring the changes on pig-showing, and all its dodges, and racing is a theme which never palls. Good men wail and weep over the tendency, but it is no use, and now "Mantle's dog" makes the case quite hopeless.

The Liverpool Spring Meeting was a great success, each of the three days affording excellent sport. Guy of Warwick, a prominent favourite for the Grand National, put in an appearance in the Annual Hurdle Handicap; but 11st. 9lbs. proved too much for him, and he was only third to Orne (11st 2lbs.), who seems almost invincible over hurdles. Strange enough, "The Guy" was a still better favourite for the big race after his defeat, and the ridiculous ease with which £ s. D. (10st 71bs.) cantered off with the Molyneux Steeplechase made his stable companion Despatch "hotter" than ever. The Tyro Stakes fell to the Lambton-Little Lady filly, and it is worthy of note, that four of the Brocklesby field that was cut down so easily by Sister to Veda, have since won races. Veda's dam has been nine seasons in succession to Lambton, and has only missed once; and Bay Celia has had ten foals to one sire or another, without a break. Still the Veda blood did not count for much at Mr. Chaplin's sale.

The positions of the leading favourites for the Grand National Steeplechase changed incessantly on the morning of the race; but eventually Fortunatus (11 st. 4lbs.), with whom Mr. Brayley declared to win), secured the first place at 100 to 30: Despatch (10st. 8lbs.) and Fan (10st. 6lbs.) came next at 5 to 1 and 11 to 2 respectively; while 13 to 1 could be had about The Colonel (10st. 71bs.), whose Nottingham performance was voted "slovenly," because he won by three-parts of a length instead of a distance. Alcibiade's (11st. 2lbs.) position was curious, as, while 20 to 1 could be had against him to win, a tenth of those odds was eagerly taken for a place. The casualties were unusually numerous. Fan looked wonderfully well, and was said to "jump like a buck;" but she repeated her performance of last year, and refused

« 上一页继续 »