TMK XACINCi ISKAS'IS. ) M3. 



211 



THE RACING SEASON, 1839. 



The Racing Season 1839, produced rather more than the 

 usual average of running, but the horses, with perhaps a 

 few exceptions, were " below par" in point of merit. The 

 inferiority of the two year old colts which appeared in 

 public during the year was very striking, nothing save 

 Launcelot and the Brother to Euclid in the North, and 

 Wardan and Defendant in the South, having shown any- 

 thing like running. On the other hand, the fillies, more 

 especially that " crack," Crucifix, made their debut in a 

 highly promising manner, and retained their laurels " un- 

 tainted by defeat," to the end of the year. Lalla Rookh's 

 exploits were entirely amongst the provincials, but she won 

 six engagements, in some giving weight, and running long 

 distances, without letting the public know the extent of her 

 speed and stoutness. Most of the " professors' turned 

 matters to a good account during the season ; but the 

 balances, save in two or three instances, were by no means 

 heavy — the difficulty in getting the " circle," as some term 

 it, in a large book, being every year more manifest : — betting 

 " round," in fact, becoming now the order of the day with 

 almost all partie-. 



In the Newmarket Craven Meeting — the old quaint saying 

 that " mistakes will occur in the best regulated establish- 

 ments," was most strikingly exemplified ; for nothing but 

 Conolly's riding strictly to " order" lost Mr Thornhill the 

 Riddlesworth. The fact was, that Lord Jersey was consi- 

 dered " safe to win," and Pettit, to save Euclid for another 

 handsome engage;;. ent on the same day, gave instructions 

 to Conolly not to persevere if he considered his chance out. 



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