DIARY OF SPORT WITH HER MAJESTY'S HOUNDS. March 27.- Virginia Water, and a Field of sixty, including Lords Sheffield and Seymour, and many of the rig'lars.-Uncarted near the Red Lion, Shrubs Hill, and made away at a fast bat over the Waste to Chobham, headed back by Chobham Walk, recrossing the Heath to Broomhill Hut, and on to the far end of Old Windsor Common; then to the right of the Bogs, and leaving Sunninghill to the left, made to the back of the Wells Inn, and on to Death's training-stables, crossing the New Mile Course, and over the Heath to Crutchley's, through the plantations to the Crispin near Fern Hill; then heading back to Mr. Crutchley's mansion, where the hounds came to a check, and never recovered the scent, though Mr. Davis persevered for nearly an hour and a half. Up to the check the pace was good, and about an hour and a quarter. March 29.-Stoke Common, and a large Field.-Uncarted near Farnham, and made across Aldridge's Farm, over the Great Westernroad, down to Chalvey Spring; then to the right of the village to Chalvey Ditch, in which some ten or a dozen expressed themselves as not approving of the cold-water system: crossed the Slabs to Eton Wick, and away for Clewer, where the deer crossed the Thames, the Field and hounds taking Windsor Bridge. The hounds were laid on again at Clewer; the deer, taking the direction for St. Leonard's, passed the Old Workhouse, on through the Forest to Winkfield, then headed back to Clewer Green, doubled again by St. Leonard's Dale to Forest Hill, and was taken at the Lodge-a fair hunting run of an hour and twenty minutes. March 30.-Mr. Davis, not relishing the loss of the deer on the 27th, took the hounds to Virginia Water, the meet of that day, in the hope of recovering the quarry, and he did so. The deer gave them a good thirty minutes' run, and was taken at the Temple. March 31.-Knaphill, and a small Field.-Uncarted near the Blue Anchor, making for the Bagshot-road, on to Worplesdon Common, then on for Woking Common, but doubled back to the Woking Station, crossed the Canal Bridge, up the side of the Canal to West Chobham End, back by the Green, leaving the village to the left, and was taken at Coxhill Green, after a fair run of two hours and a quarter.-The Noble Master, Lord Sheffield, several Officers from Hounslow Barracks, and above a moiety of the Field shewed at the finish. April 3.-Broomhill Hut, and a short Field.-Uncarted near the Waste, and went away towards Chobham, heading back to Potnells and Wellington Bridge, making for Virginia Water, through the Royal preserves, passed the Clock-case, to the Gravel Pits, Englefield Green, and Bishopsgate, to Beaumont Lodge, the seat of Lord Ashbrook, where the deer was taken, after a good run of a little over two hours. April 7.-Langley Broom.-This being the last publicly announced Meet for the season, a Field of upwards of 200 assembled, including the "choice spirits" of the Windsor Division, and several Officers of the regiments at Hounslow Barracks and Hampton Court. The Noble Master was "otherwise engaged," having paid a visit to Banstead Downs to witness the Epsom Spring Meeting.-Uncarted at George Green, and made away to Wexham Street, on to Stoke, then headed back to Upton Wood, to Fulmer Common and village, stretching thence to Hardiman's Bottom, by Long Coppice to Red Hill, and on to Denham, where the deer took soil, and the hounds got on him, but were whipped off. On being dislodged, made away for Morton's Farm at Denham Marsh, by Harefield Copper Mills, leaving the village to the right, and was taken at Badger Bridge, near Mill End, not far from Rickmersworth, after an excellent run of one hour and a half, with a good sprinkling of the right sort up at the finish. Although the public season had closed, it was intimated that two private meets would take place in the week following the last run, and accordingly the Noble Master and about forty of the neighbouring Gentry and Yeomanry assembled at Sandpit Gate in the Great Park on Tuesday the 11th. A fine deer with branching antlers, on being whipped from out the herd, went away majestically across the Long Walk, near to the Double Gates; then headed to the right for Bear'srails, leaving it to the left for Bishopsgate, by Cumberland Lodge to Sawyer's Gate, then headed back for Sandpit Gate, and thence down Queen Anne's Ride, where he took soil and was secured, after a capital run of two-and-thirty minutes at racing pace throughout, and all within the confines of the Royal domain. The stag was conveyed to the paddock at Swinley, to be reserved for next season. The second day was to have been Thursday the 13th, from Swinley, but in consequence of a heavy fall of snow, which covered the ground in many places to the depth of several inches, the meet was abandoned. The Noble Master of the Buck Hounds having, from the lateness of season, given up the "Easter Hunt" from the fear that injury might be done to the farmers, the hounds were sent on the 15th by the South Western Railway to the Farnborough station, whence they proceeded to Lyndhurst in the New Forest for three days hunting.-The meet on the 18th was at the Manor House, the residence of Mr. Compton, and a very numerous Field assembled. The adjoining inclosures were drawn without success, but a fine stag was afterwards found at Pug's Pits, and, after a good run of two hours and a quarter, was run in to and killed. On the 20th, the meet was Boldre wood, and after drawing the inclosures, a fine deer was unharbored, which went away across country in beautiful style towards Ringwood, heading back to the roes' inclosures, where he was killed, after a run of one hour and a few minutes. The meet on the 21st was on Stony Cross, where a capital run brought the sport to a close. The hounds returned to the kennel at Ascot on the following day, and thus terminates the season 1842-3 with the Royal Buck Hounds. On the 24th, a large draft from the hunting stud of the Noble Master was submitted to the hammer at "the Corner," the announcement of which drew together a numerous assemblage of Noblemen and Gentlemen, including the Earl of Rosslyn, Lord Maidstone, the Hon. H. Pierrepoint, &c. Those sold were considered to fetch low prices, and several of the lots were bought in. The first put up was Hoyden, a hack, and the hammer fell at 100gs.; Blueskin, 115gs.; Liverpool, 90gs.; Tom Bowling, Sweetmeat, and Melton, 79gs. each; Barnaby, 69gs.; Sugar Plum and Bay Surrey, 47gs. each; Twilight, 27gs.; and Pledge, 22gs. THE CHESTER TRADESMEN'S CUP. THIS highly important and interesting race, on which so many thousands were depending, and about which so much mystery has been observed, came off on Tuesday, April the 25th, as follows: The Tradesmen's Cup, or Piece of Plate, of 200 sovs., added to a Handicap Stakes of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft., and only 5 if declared, &c.; the owner of the second horse to receive 25 sovs. out of the Stakes; the owner of the winner to subscribe the following year, and pay 25 sovs. to the expenses of the course; sixty-eight subs., thirty-eight of whom declared in due time, and paid 5 sovs. each : ...... 1 2 Mr. Wormald's ch. h. Millipede, by Velocipede, 5 yrs, 7st. 3lb. (Bumby). Mr. Lovesey's The Corsair, by Sir Hercules, aged, 7st. (Wakefield)... Mr. J. Stanley's Vakeel, by Plenipotentiary, 4 yrs, 6st. 10lb. (Copeland).. Mr. Kitching's Priscilla Tomboy, by Tomboy, 4 yrs, 7st. 91b. (Noble).. Mr. Grayden's Recompense, by Recovery, 4 yrs, 5st. 131b. (Maley). ....... 3 Betting at starting, 5 to 2 agst Millepede, 9 to 2 agst The Corsair, 10 to 1 agst Queen of the Tyne, 12 to 1 agst Haitoe, 12 to 1 agst Vakeel, 16 to 1 agst Jamie Forest, 20 to 1 agst Galanthus (taken), 20 to 1 agst Priscilla Tomboy, 20 to 1 agst Recompense, 20 to 1 agst Portrait, and longer odds against any other.-After one false start, the horses got off in a most scrambling manner, Alice taking the lead for Millepede, who won quite easy by nearly a length. Offers to take 20 to 1 about Winesour for the Derby, but no layers. The Produce Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for three-year-olds; colts, 8st. 4lb.; fillies, 8st.; 3lb. allowed, &c.; two miles-was won very cleverly by Mr. Mostyn's General Pollock beating Sir R. Bulkeley's b. c. by Jereed out of Jemima, and Lord Westminster's ch. f. by Pantaloon out of Sarcasm.-Marlow rode General Pollock, who is in the Derby, and will in all likelihood become a prominent favorite. A FEW REMARKS ON THE DERBY FAVORITES. BY A QUIET AND EASY OBSERVER. IT may be considered somewhat presumptuous in me at this remote period to direct especial attention to the coming Derby, but custom breaks through my diffidence, and I will a plain unvarnished statement make of my opinion respecting the different chances of the favorites for the Great Epsom Race. To judge at the moment I am writing, I should say that the Field will be numerically weak; that the Newmarket horses, with scarcely an exception, are singularly moderate; and that the country-trainers rarely have experienced a better chance of winning "the race of all races." Of course, I do not include the great Northern Stable in the "Country lots:" that, to write geographically, is "a town and county of itself," and is always well represented. Of Scott's lot, three now seem tolerably firm in the market; viz. Cotherstone, Parthian, and the Progress colt. I have often told my Readers to be very cautious about being too sanguine in forming hasty opinions on the running of two-year-olds, and this season shews the necessity of adopting my suggestion; for last year COTHERSTONE could hardly make a race with the most moderate youngsters at Newmarket, whilst now, according to the calculation of a keen Newmarket leg, he is a dozen pounds better than anything at that Grand Emporium of Racing. There is no doubt that the Riddlesworth and Column Stakes were won in the easiest style imaginable, and I cannot see what will prevent Mr. Bowes's crack from carrying off the 2000gs. in a similar easy manner, for the Field is miserably bad, to judge from the horses at all likely to start. Still admitting all this, I must call to mind the vast difference between the short flat Newmarket courses and the dreadfully severe mile and a half at Epsom. Many of my Readers may recollect Patron in 1829, who, after cutting down in the most superior manner all the best three-year-olds at Newmarket over the Mile courses, was beaten into fits by old Forth's two horses for the Derby-in fact, the hill beat him hollow. Then again we have examples in Riddlesworth, Ibrahim, Rat-trap, Ralph, cum multis alus, to prove that the crack mile Newmarket horses are not always safe to be backed for the Derby. Of course, there are exceptions, such as in the cases of Priam, Plenipotentiary, and Bay Middleton; but these proved themselves afterwards to be horses of a very high character. I merely mention these instances to attempt to prove the fallacy of taking 4 to 1 a month before the day about any horse, and the more particularly one from the numerous lot of Scott's.-A very excellent Northern Judge informed me the other day that PARTHIAN was the most Derby-like horse of the Malton Establishment. This horse has been backed in the Manchester market to win a very large Stake; as has also the PROGRESS COLT, one of the neatest goers ever seen. Subsequent events will prove; but for my part I do not think it wise to be too sweet about the 4 to 1 about Cotherstone. A BRITISH YEOMAN is unquestionably a Derby colt all over. His performances at two years proved him to be a good and honest creature, with great speed; but Report (sometimes a liar) says that he is very backward in training: if so, his chance at Epsom will be but a poor one, for condition is perhaps more required to run the Derby course than on any other in the kingdom. A British Yeoman's splendid race with the celebrated Maria Day for the Two-year-old Stakes at Doncaster will not be easily forgotten. All I can say is, if this colt comes to the Post well on the day, that I would as soon stand my money on him as on anything in the great race. There is one advantage; Sim Templeman is pretty certain to ride; and I know of few jocks whom I would rather have up in a race of moment than Sim; he is admirable in a crowd. Notwithstanding what has occurred, I am by no means disposed to admit that Colonel Peel's chance is quite out. The fact is, the Gallant Colonel, clever as he unquestionably is, thinks too much about speed, and consequently "short trials" are all the go in Cooper's Stable. Every one must remember how Sea Horse ran himself into fame last year when he had anything like a distance to go, much to the surprise of his immediate party. I feel pretty certain that the Gallant Colonel will be in better odour on the day with his favorite than he stands at present. Slane was always an uncertain runner, and I fancy his son MURAT takes after him. Depend upon it this horse will see a better day. I think Sir Gilbert Heathcote will not be a very long way in the rear on the great and important day, and if AMORINO be seven pounds better than Sirikol, and if (if again ?) Maccabeus's trials were of the superior order described by the Stockbridge people, then I say, what can beat Amorino for the Derby? People are too apt to try their youngsters favorably. I do not think ARISTIDES' chance to be a good one; his defeat at Doncaster by Napier more than set aside his victory at Goodwood. I am also strongly, and with reason too, prejudiced against his blood. If this horse should win the Derby, there will be the "Devil to pay," and no mistake. They tell me that Dawson is very fond; so he was of Pompey. I have a great inclination to advise my Readers to throw away a few fives and tens about NEWCOURT. He is the property of a Gentleman who runs more for fame than profit, is trained by Mr. Jones, a very skilful professor, and is one of the finest sons of the famed Sir Hercules. Newcourt's running last season was very good, although I have reason to know that at no period of the year was he quite up to the mark. His race at Chester (the only time he was beaten), when he ran second to Maria Day, beating Colin Clink and a large Field, proved him to be a "top-sawyer" amongst the two-year-olds, and I certainly expect to see him very forward on the 31st. Notwithstanding all the bearing up about MACCABEUS, he can have little or no chance for the Derby. It is easy enough for an enterprising party with a little tact to force a horse upon a "good-natured public;" but making the animul win is another question. Sir Gilbert Heathcote's lot must make Maccabeus safe, or there's no truth in public running. One of the most dangerous colts in the Stake to stand the shot |