1 84 HORSE-RACING IN ENGLAND 



Portland in a controversy with Mr. William Day, 

 there is reason for a short account of it. The 

 Stewards of the Jockey Club, after examination, 

 ordered Messrs. J. F. Bloodsworth, William Steb- 

 bings and William Day to be "warned off,' for a 

 conspiracy to make money out of Mr. Gully's 

 horse Old England by betting against the horse 

 for the Derby and to prevent the horse from 

 running for that race, whether by maiming or 

 otherwise. As a matter of fact, Old England did 

 run for the Derby, and was third to Annandale 

 and The Merry Monarch (winner) ; and it is 

 only fair to remark that if the Stewards of the 

 Jockey Club had clear proof of the atrocity 

 charged against Mr. W. Day (who declares that 

 he was unjustly dealt with, and who does not 

 appear to have entertained the suggestion as to 

 maiming the horse), their subsequent leniency 

 towards him, after only about two years' suspen- 

 sion, notwithstanding what they still, in 1847, 

 called ' the enormity of his offence,' is incompre- 

 hensible and most blameworthy ; and that, if they 

 had, on the other hand, convinced themselves 

 that they were mistaken, they owed Mr. Day a 

 handsome apology. 



