Mr. Walker's Music, Mr. Herbert's Oxonian, Mr. Turk's Nameless, Colonel Charritie's Palatine, Mr. Smith's Gipsy, Mr. Parr's Snipe, Mr. Branker's Mary Ann, Mr. Wood's Gift, Mr. Wilson's Sal, Mr. Benger's Skylark, Sir Charles Cockrill's Doctor, and Mr. Dewley's Jim Crow. Tamworth, March 31st.-Sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each, with a Purse added, for horses regularly hunted with the Marquis of Hastings, Mr. Meynell's, or the Atherstone hounds; the second to save his Stake: Mr. Barker na. Forester (Arnold) .................... 1 Mr. Atkins's The Doctor (Carter)... .................. 2 ........ 3 Not placed:-Mr. Cato's Gamecock (Owner), Mr. Busby's Rory O'More (Dester), Mr. Princeps' The Queen (Barker), Mr. Denham's Fourscore (Parker), and Mr. Cato's Astrologer (Mintz). Astrologer refused his first fence, and never got within a field's length of any of the horses throughout the race. At the fourth fence, a strong post and a rail with a drain newly made, Fourscore dropped into the ditch, and was so injured he could not proceed. Gamecock fell at a drop leap into a road, but was game enough to come in third. The Queen, at the fourth fence from home, when looking like a winner, over-reached herself, and fell a complete summerset into a ploughed field, and was lost in a cloud of dust. The other horses took their fences well, and when about half the distance, Rory, who was leading, gave up his place to The Doctor, who kept it till the last fence, when Forester came up to him, and both cleared it together. The run in was well contested, Forester finally physicking The Doctor by two lengths. High Wycombe, March 31st.-A Purse, 40 sovs. to the first horse, 10 for the second, and 5 for the third. Not placed:-Mr. Webber's Othello (Owner), Mr. Hussey's Valentine (Owner), Mr. Workman's Waterman (Owner), Mr. Workman's Winchester (G. Fane), Mr. W. Nash's The Captain (Williamson), and Mr. Tollitt's Touch-and-Go (Robinson). The Stewards were Sir William Young, M. P., and G. H. Dashwood, Esq., M. P., and the start announced by cannon on the summit of West Wycombe Hill. It was a beautiful contest with the two placed, Jubilee winning by a length. Drogheda, April 1st.-The first event was the Challenge Cup, for which only two entered, and Mr. Smith's b. m. having paid, Mr. Matthews's Lady Langford walked over.-The second, a Sweepstakes of 2 sovs. each, with 20 added, was won at two heats by Mr. Ferguson's Bannathlath (Abbot), the first cleverly and the second easy, beating Mr. M'Donnell's Rusty Coat, Mr. Dowdall's Wire, and Mr. Sellery's Deceiver (lame). Haggardstown, April 2nd.-The first event was the Cup, heats; both won by Mr. Blake's Slashing Harry (Owner). In the first heat Mr. Ogle's Damian filly was second, and distanced in the second; Mr. John Cassidy's Forget-me-not third in the first, and second in the second; his The Banker fourth, and distanced: Mr. Cormack's Kate distanced in the first heat. The second race was the Victoria Stakes of 5 sovs., which was literally run away with in both heats by Mr. Hatch's Grisi (Filgate) from Mr. J. Cassidy's Victoria. The third was a capital race of three heats, each well contested, and decided as follows: Burton Constable, April 2nd.-Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, P. P., with 50 added, the second to save his Stake, the winner to pay 5 sovs. and the last I sov.; eleven subs. : Not placed:-Mr. Walker's Sportsman (Hobson), Mr. Bowlby's Shamrock (Londesborough), Mr. Baxter's Hardship (Owner), and Mr. G. Wray's Champagne (Owner). Champagne, in crossing a ploughed field, the last but one from the winning flag, got his hind legs in a grip, and broke his back, his rider escaping with trifling injury. The owner of Emperor claimed the Stakes on the ground that the winner and Lady Gosling had both gone on the wrong side of the post. Much cavilling ensued, it being stated that all the horses had at one time gone wrong except the unfortunate Champagne, and the Stakes are for the present withheld. Fingal, April 2nd.-A handsome Whip, the gift of W. Shaw, Esq., to the Fingal Hunt, with 20 sovs. added, Members only to ride : : dis. First heat won easy by Malibran the second a strong contest with Sir Edward and Wagtail; in the third Sir Edward had a severe fall, and was distanced, and Malibran swerved at one of the turns, leaving a clear field for Wagtail. In the fourth Malibran had had "enough," and Wagtail had it all to herself. Mary Anne was nowhere in the first, and distanced in the second heat. Grantham, April 2nd.-Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, with 50 added by the Town; the winner to pay 5 sovs., and the second horse to save his Stake; eleven subs. Not placed:-Mr. Hitchcock's Dusty Bob (Tomlin), Mr. Brown's Goblin (Brown), Captain Skipworth's Croxby (Owner), Mr. Patchitt's Grasshopper (Brown), Mr. John Sampey's Brazen Nose (Sampey), Sir T. Whichcote's Casewick (Thomas), and Mr. W. Robinson's Prioress (Bennose). The fences were very severe, and the pace first-rate.-Casewick and Croxby fell, the latter from distress; and though Thought tried hard, he could not tackle the superior speed of Peter Simple, who eventually went in a winner by several lengths. Sheffield, April 3rd.-Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, with 50 and a Whip added, for horses the property of and ridden by Officers of the Royal Dragoons-won by Mr. Peel's Dentist beating Mr. Morris's St. Patrick, Mr. Ricket's Lewd Jane, and Mr. Wardlaw's Eagle :-Mr. Croft's Woldsman and Mr. Palk's Iris not placed; and Mr. Yorke's Spectre, Mr. Sibthorp's Flying Gib, and Mr. Bartelot's Telegraph drawn. Cheltenham.-The "Grand Annual Steeple Chase" came off on the 3rd of April, and for two preceding days all the inns in the town were filled to an overflow. The Berkeley Hunt Club dined for the last time this season at the Plough (the grand rendezvous) the preceding evening, and was attended by forty Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Hunt. Lord Segrave had presented the Committee for conducting the "Chase" with a Cup of 100gs. value, on condition that the Town would guaranty £100, and this was cheerfully responded to, added to a Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each; the winner to pay 15 sovs. towards expenses: open to horses of all denominations, carrying 12st. each, with additional weights on previous winners.-The following is the result of the race :— The next in order were-Mr. Robertson's Cigar (A. M'Donough), Lord Macdonald's The Weaver (Captain Skipworth), Mr. P. Lewis na. Jacob Faithful (De Winton), Mr. J. Dyson na. Patron (Bretherton), and Lord Segrave na. Zethus (W. Sadler); but Lord Segrave declared all these distanced from not complying with an express condition to enter a grass-field, which they shirked, thereby saving three fences. Not placed:-Mr. A. L. Goodman na. Arthur (W. M‘Donough), Captain Newall na. The Sea (Wore), Mr. C. Marshall's Physician (Oliver), Mr. E. B. Wood na. Tobacconist (Powell), Mr. J. R. Newcombe's Cannon-ball (Owner), and Mr. Tomes's Cheroot (Martin). Mr. A. Robinson na. Sarah and Captain Lamb's Vivian drawn. The following paid 5 sovs. each ft. :—Mr. Cridland na. The Grayling, Mr. Jones na. Walker, Captain Merryweather na. The Disputed, Hon. C. F. Berkeley na. Jerry, Mr. P. Thompson na. Hasty, Colonel Charritie's Harriet, and Mr. H. W. De Winton na. Rory O'More. Lottery, from previous winnings, carried seventeen pounds extra, and towards the close of the race was hard pushed by Cigar, who, however, in taking the last fence, was so dead beat that he fell over into the winningfield, thereby enabling Seventy-four to take his place. Patron had two bad falls, and Cannon-ball had a complete purler, wounding Mr. Newcombe severely on the head. Arthur had also a fall; Oliver, on Physician, got into a bog; and Sadler, on Zethus, when going along pretty well, lost his stirrup-leather. The second race, over two miles of the same country, was for a Sweepstakes of 5 soys. each, with 10 added, for horses of all denominations, 11st. 71b.: Mr. Branker's Miss Fanny (Bretherton) .............. 2 The following also started, but as they all refused a wall, they were thrown out of the race:-Mr. J. R. Newcombe's The Disputed (Patrick), Colonel Charritie's Palatine (Roberts), and Mr. J. Newman's Salopian (Owner). Mr. Verers' Cruikshank (Powell) fell at a brook, and got so firmly fixed between two stones that he was not extricated without difficulty. Perfection was leading, when his rider (Sir E. Mostyn's groom) was dismounted, and though he was quickly at work again, the race was evidently between Napoleon and Miss Fanny, and they made a splendid finish, the former winning by little more than half a length. Scruton, near Bedale, April 3rd.-The first race was for a Purse of Gold, with a Sweepstakes-won by Mr. J. Little's Scruton Lass (Mitchel) beating at the finish by five lengths Mr. Hedley's Rattler (Owner), Mr. W. Busby's Atalanta (Jones), and Mr. C. Bowman's Miss Fanny (Collett). -Atalanta was the fore-horse in the team, but when within a quarter of a mile from home, she refused a strong fence with a ditch, her example being followed by the other two, thus verifying the old adage, “the last shall be first." The second was a Hurdle race for a Purse of Gold, with a Sweepstakes, which produced three heats : Mr. W. Busby's Starch (Mitchel)... Mr. Smith's colt by Physician Mr. T. Smith's ch. m. ... .. 2 1 1 Not placed:-Mr. Allison's gr. f., and Mr. C. Bowman's Cricket Ball. The first heat was admirably contested, and won by nearly a length; the second easy by Starch, the gr. f. having bolted, and Cricket Ball bowling his rider out of the saddle. In the third the Physician colt bolted, leaving Starch and the ch. m. to fight it out, the result shewing that the latter was over-matched. Buckenham, April 6th -For the first race, four horses entered. In the first heat Mr. Rush's horse (a Yorkshire groom) fell at the last leap when leading, which gave the race to Mr. Betts' mare (Lemon), Mr. Ball's horse second, and Mr. Holl's last, owing to several falls. In the second heat, Betts' mare refused a fence, and Rush's horse went in first. In the third, Betts' mare refused the last leap but one, and Rush's horse went in an easy victor. For the second, with four sets of hurdles in addition, four entered, but two being drawn, reduced the race to a Match between Mr. Betts' Harkaway (Lemon) and Jack-o'-Lanthorn.-Lemon went twice on the wrong side of a flag, and was obliged to return, or he must have won easy; as it was, he came up in fine style, losing only by a neck, and passing his competitor in the next stride past the winning-flag. Harkaway won the second very easy. In the third, Jack-o'-Lanthorn fell at the third fence, and Harkaway cantered home. Tallaght, April 6th.-Purse of 10 sovs., with Sweepstakes of 1 each, won by Mr. Magrath's Killikee beating Mr. Conolly's b. g. and Mr. Ball's b. g. Mr. Byrne's g. g., Mr. Earley's b. m., and Mr. Shaw's b. g. not placed. Stratford-on-Avon, April 8th.-The first race was a Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, with 60 added, the winner to pay 10 sovs. towards expenses. Mr. Elmore's Lottery (Mason) Mr. Barker's Forester (Arnold) ................. 4 Lord Macdonald's The Weaver (Capt. Skipworth) and Mr. Elmore's Patron (Bretherton) distanced. Weaver, leading, refused the second brook, and made a circuit of the whole field before he was brought to it again, and he was then too far behind to make up his leeway. Patron, who was second, followed his example, and then stumbled into the water, capsizing his rider, who was so long before he could get to work again that he resigned. The other four kept pretty well together till the last fence, which the three first took in a line, when Lottery came out and won easily by two lengths. The second race was a Sweepstakes of 3 sovs. with 30 added, the winner to be sold for 120 sovs. and the second to save his Stake; seven subs. :Mr. Powell's Perfection, post entered (Owner).... 1 Mr. H. Higgins's Weathercock (Mason).......... 2 Mr. Cumines's Jack Robinson (Sanders).......... 3 Not placed:-Mr. Moore's St. Lawrence (Owner), Mr. Root na. Capulet (Root), and Mr. Robertson's Humbug, post entered (Dark). Lawrence and his rider had one tremendous purl, the latter breaking two bones of his left hand-a fine race with the three first, Perfection winning by a length, and Jack Robinson scarcely half a head behind Weathercock. Bridlington, April 8th.-Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, with 40 added:Mr. J. Lamplugh's Mischief (Owner)............ 1 Mr. J. Cook's Gipsey King (R. Simpson) ........ 2 Mr. F. Taylor's br. h. by Sandbeck (H. Robinson) 3 Not placed:-Mr. J. Sigsworth's b. h. by Paul Pry (Sampson) and Mr. Lister's The Romp (J. Danby). Mischief had it all her own way, winning by 300 yards. Monmouth, April 8th.-The first event was a Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each : Mr. Codrington na. Grayling (Oliver)............ 1 2 Mr. J. Newman's Doctor (W. Newman) ......... 3 Mr. H. De Winton's Nimrod (Owner) ........................... 5 Walker got entangled in some hip-briars, which lost him his chance-an excellent race between the first two when near home, and won by little more than a neck. The second race was a Sweepstakes of 2 sovs. each, with 15 added, for horses the property of Gentlemen, farmers, or tradesmen residing within ten miles of the town.-Of the seven that started, five appeared not to have the shadow of a chance, the two leaders making a desperate push at the close, and Mr. Vaughan's Tartar (Williams) beating Mr. Williams's Ploughboy (Marfield) only by a head-Mr. Bellamy's Vingt-et-un, Mr. Goodwin's Waterford, Mr. W. Newman's Salopian, Mr. Whiting's Black Bess, and Mr. Morgan's Morgiana nowhere. Waltham Abbey, April 9th.-Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, h. ft., with a Silver Cup given by Mr. Algar-a good race with the leaders, terminating as follows: Not placed:-Mr. Price's Old Billy (Vickers), Captain Partridge's Orangeman (Owner), Mr. Dawson's Winchester (Owner), and Mr. Worley's Ringleader (Catlin). The owner of Terror claimed the Stakes, alleging that the two first horses had gone on the wrong side of the posts, instead of between them. This being satisfactorily established, the Judge decided that the objection was good, and awarded the race to Mr. Mason, whose horse had taken the proper course. The second Sweepstakes was won by Thought beating Old Billy and others; but here again an objection was sustained that the rider had forgotten to go to the scale after the race, and Old Billy received the mopusses! Beaconsfield, April 10th.-A Purse of 40 sovs., with 5 for the second horse the winner to be sold for 100 sovs.-Thirteen entered, but only ten at the post, Lord Drumlanrig having drawn Cardinal, Cottager, and Poacher. Mr. C. Oldacre's Phosphorus (F. Oldacre)........ 1 Mr. Webber's Steamer (Owner) Captain West's Brunetta (Mason) Not placed:-Capt. Reynard's Gipsey Queen (Owner), Capt. Best's Rebel (Owner's groom), Captain Bastard's Mystery (Captain Beauchamp), Mr. Tilbury's Barrister (Captain Best), Mr. J. Tollitt's Touch-and-go (Owner), Captain Freeman's Carbine (Owner's groom), and Mr. J. Lovegrove's Jubilee (Wood). Steamer was evidently winning, but at the last leap his rider lost his seat, and Phosphorus went a-head: still there was no certainty, for Webber was speedily at work, and was only defeated by half a length.-One of the conditions was that the owners and riders should reside within 18 miles of Beaconsfield, and as Phosphorus was jock'd by the brother of the owner, residing in London, an objection of disqualification was made; but the Stewards, deeming that the objection should have been made previous to the race, decided in favor of the winner. ELEAZER ASHTON, AND THE HOPWOOD BEAGLES. Ir is some years since I have been anything more than a silent reader of your pages, but I am once more induced to become a contributor to them by the occurrence of an event intimately connected with the subject of my former communication, and in every way worthy of a conspicuous place in the sporting annals of THE MAGAZINE. VOL. XXI.-SECOND SERIES.-No. 121. F |