142 THE ENGLISH TURF 



the Turf world has been agitated to its foundations by the 

 utterances of one or more of the speakers. Stewards of 

 the Jockey Club and others highly placed in the Turf world 

 have taken the opportunity of commenting on the state 

 of the Turf; they have at times spoken of abuses in no 

 half-hearted fashion, and upon one occasion a boldly out- 

 spoken speech was followed by a big Turf scandal, which 

 was finally settled in the law courts. I need not go into 

 this matter further than to remark that the Turf reformer 

 who brought the charges was undoubtedly acting to the 

 best of his ability in the very highest interests of the sport, 

 and that subsequent events proved he had not spoken with- 

 out justification. Yet one gentleman, almost unanimously 

 sympathised with at the time and since, was unfortunately 

 placed, owing to unfavourable circumstances, in a most 

 unpleasant position. To the speeches made at the dinner 

 of the Gimcrack Club we almost look to give an insight 

 of the policy of the Jockey Club in the matter of any 

 reforms or innovations that may be in progress of develop- 

 ment. 



MINOR YORKSHIRE MEETINGS 



After Doncaster and York Stockton takes the highest 

 place, and though it can only boast of one fixture in the 

 course of the year, that fixture is an important one. It 

 takes place in the middle of August, in the week which 

 comes between the Redcar and York meetings, when what 

 is known as the " Yorkshire Circuit " is in course of progress, 

 and extends over three days. The course is situated on 

 Mandale Bottoms, nearly a mile from the town, is perfectly 

 flat, and about one mile and three-quarters round. There 

 is, in addition, a straight six furlongs, and plenty of room 

 everywhere. The programme, without containing any event 

 of the first magnitude, is a sound one, and both two- and 

 three-year-olds are well catered for. The Wynyard, Hard- 

 wicke, Lambton, and Elton Juvenile Plates are the principal 

 races for the youngsters, and for three-year-olds there are 

 the Great Northern Leger of a mile and five furlongs and 

 the Durham County Produce Stakes of a mile and two 



