150 
THE FIELD. [Saturday, 
TURF TALK. 
“ Tlie chosen sport of a great and a free people." 
Our Sailor Kino. 
Although 1854 has been painfully ushered in by wars 
nml rumours of wars, she has a clean bill of health to show, 
as far as her racing interests are concerned. About five- 
and-twenty matches stand already for decision on the pages 
of Weatherby, and if we are not mistaken, the average of 
entries for the Derby, St. Leger, and Oaks, arc only second 
to those of 1849, which had the largest average on record. 
Mr. Johnson has donned his judicial ermine very early in 
the year, but as yet he has decided no event, in which the 
running would seem to bear much upon the future. Lin- 
coln, under his auspices, had a good meeting. Lord 
Lieutenant is not grown since last year, and is a line ani- 
mal. He would have won the Handicap, but he lost a 
great deal of start in consequence of running over Reeves, 
the trainer, who had Lioness by the head. Mary is a 
good-looking filly, but although she was big and unpre- 
pared, and got off very badly, she won in a canter. Broom 
was coughing, and neither he nor Rochester filly looked 
worth a ten pound note. 
The steeplechase par excellence of the world does not seem 
to admit of any rival near its throne, and hence, in spite of 
all the liberal incentives to sportin the shape of liberal added 
money, and a new two-year old stake, “legitimacy” does 
not flourish at Aintree so early in the year. Nottingham 
has made a vigorous push in this respect, but somehow or 
other we never fancy the racing season fairly begun fill we 
find ourselves bodily in the corporate enclosure on Don- 
caster Moor. This meeting began some seven years ago in 
a very leather-plating way, Capt.Becher being the only “lion” 
present, whereas it now gives ±,540 of added money, and has 
the best filled (55) two-year old stakeofthe year. Lnstyear, 
19outof the 45 started, and the antics nndneighings which 
the “ fond” youngsters indulged in during the saddling, went 
a long way towards astonishing the “John Browdies,” and it 
must be something very new in the horseflesh way to do that. 
The scene this year will be something quite tremendous. In 
four-years also, the subscribers to the Handicap have sprung 
from 18 to 78, and 44 of those acceptors. If Hungerford 
with 8st. 13lbs. can do the trick again, he will have accom- 
plished the Doncaster Handicap four times in succession. 
Cst. 8lbs., 7st. 13lbs., and 8st. 7lbs., have been his successive 
hampers; so, although he does not appear the best built 
horse for weight in the world, he has quietly but surely raised 
his winning scale. Salisbury has to boast of the presence of 
Autocrat on paper, though he is not likely to favour them 
in the flesh, and has a nice programme in other respects; 
but we cannot understand why Sharavogue should be made 
to give Nabob 5lbs. in the Wiltshire Stakes. At Warwick 
the principal interest seems to concentrate on the meeting 
of Rataplan with Orson and several four-year olds of good 
second-rate renown. Catterick, that pleasantest of small 
Yorkshire meetings, seems to be rising again from the 
troubles, into which the lack of added money and the too 
free application of the sponge, (£40 out of L105 in 1852), 
had sunk it. Twenty years ngo, when Templeman in the 
Leeds chocolate, and “Tommy” in the pink and black 
stripes of Raby, were “up” in nearly every race, this little 
meeting was in its zenith. Earl Glasgow has long been 
fond and faithful to it, but one day and 17 horses was all it 
could muster last year. However, things are looking up 
now. Sir James Iloswell, who seems to have returned to 
the Turf like “a giant refreshed,” since Fobert was at 
liberty to try and bring out nnotber General Chass6 for him, 
has got 3 out of the 10 Catterick Stakes’ nominations this 
year; while the Oran Stakes for 1855 has 31 subscribers, 
and the Triennial for 1856—58, neither more nor less 
than 52 ! Northampton has hardly such a Handicap 
acceptance as the entry warranted, but her Althorp Park 
Stakes has filled well; and the same may be said in a still 
higher degree of the Wittlebury Stakes, although the 
calibre of its entries, as far as the three-year olds are con- 
cerned, is decidedly feeble. Still, no one ever came away 
yet disappointed from Northampton, nor is there any meet- 
ing at which we see a better filled stand. The Belvoir 
Castle Stakes at Croxton Park has no public interest ; 
racing, intheSst. 71bs. 6enseofthe word, will never get a great 
hold there. Epsom Spring, thanks to Mr. Beeton, lias a 
very different tale to tell. The Two-year Old Stake has 
swelled into very handsome proportions, and though owing, 
sis it is thought, to the early closing, a £350 bonus has not 
had the magnetic charms it might, the Pancake v. Ethel- 
bert issue of the Suburban last year, has given that stake 
a tone which has enabled it to make up for all its comrade’s 
shortcomings. 
Newmarket, faithful as ever to Easter Monday, looms 
on our ken rather late this year. At present an 8st. 71bs. 
each T.M.M. match, between Sittingbourne and Pelion, is 
the principal item of the opening day ; and if Pelion is at 
all the horse he was in the early part of last year, he ought 
never to let the chestnut extend him. His legs and health, 
we understand, became shaky after Goodwood: but be is 
now in work again, after a five months’ rest. The New- 
market Handicap has a very nice acceptance, and the 
“jockey" scale at which the weights arc fixed is an 
example which other haudicappers would do well to follow, 
as a universal rule. Unfortunately, now-a-days, the 
lower the handicap the greater the number of acceptances; 
and, therefore, handicappers are obliged to humour the 
popular taste. Nothing, therefore, but handicapping be- 
tween certain limits, say 9st. 9lbs. and 5st. 5lbs., would 
cure this evil, and confine “ weeds” to those optional selling 
stakes, &.c., beyond which they have no claim to venture. 
Men would thus have a chance of handicap mounts, and 
“men-boys” would not have to fairly parboil themselves to 
get to the low weights. Bessus (3 lb.) and Miranda are 
the best public performers out of the 22 column candi- 
dates ; and Tros will have to try and turn the York tables 
on to Ortolano (7 lb. extra) in the Aske Produce Stakes. 
The D. M. affords no very great scope, however, for a slow 
sort of colt; but still be did not, by any means, get a 
7 lb. beating at York. Perhaps the long-deferred hope of 
the Ring to 6ee Humguffin may also be gratified in this 
race, now that he is on the spot in Stephenson’s hands. 
Boiardo and I’bteton are the heroes of a heavy Buck- 
hurst Stakes, and Autocrat is in a 9 subs. D. M. stake 
with one of Lord Exeter’s, all ready to try and “ measure” 
him, if he is brought out. Now that Elmsthorpe is dead, 
Barbatus such an approved soft heart, and North Pole so 
hopelessly bad, Filbert is the only thing likely to confront 
relion, over the D. I. for the Claret Stakes. West 
Australian, if his legs arc in sufficient trim, ought to make 
short work of the Port; and if lie doesn’t show, Vindex 
will no doubt represent the stable, and throw down the 
glove to Sittingbourne. Somehow or other, this stake bus 
great interest connected with it, in spite of its scanty en- 
tries; and Jericho v. Old England, Knight of Avenel v. 
Beehunter, and Prime Minister v. Lamartine, to say no- 
thing of the terrible downfall of Adine last year, are all 
right-pleasant entries in its bede-roll. Dervish has to get 
over the D. M. and eight antagonists on the same day ; 
but as unpaid forfeits still keep Brother to Maid of Masham 
in private life, he has, as far as the public knows, nothing 
but the smart little Rosaline to meet. York Spring has 
had a success worthy of the great match which inaugurated 
its second existence. The Great Northern Handicnp has 
at once become, and is likely to continue, “ a great fact ;” 
but the contemporaneous success of Chester fully proves, 
that even in a racing sense (as Henry Russell sings) — 
“There’s room enough for alL” 
We believe that the germ of this stake was the vexation 
which was felt by the Yorkshiremen, at seeing Newminster, 
when he looked' the very picture of health, left some 200 
yards behind at the Chester Cup start; and it is not a little 
odd, that his weight should have been more cavilled 
at this year than any other in the stake, which he was 
thus indirectly the means of establishing. Tom, Barrel, 
and Orson, confer no little lustre on the Spring St. Leger, 
while the Zetland Stakes comprises some of the best-bred 
things in Yorkshire amongst its number. The Flying 
Dutchman Handicap is rather ungratefully thrust into the 
back ground, though both it and the Londesbro’ Cup 
average 50 subs, a piece. Malton has become an after- 
piece, and something more, to York; and John Scott’s have 
now the same delicious stable peep before the races, that 
the friends of the Days have so long revelled in at the 
Stockbridgc meeting. Daniel O'Rourke boldly stands in 
at the head of both the handicaps, but Mr. Johnson is 
not very likely to send his name first up the telegraph for 
either. 
Newmarket First Spring comes up strongly to the mark, 
(a remark which will never be made about its Second bro- 
ther). Cobnut seems to have the 300 B. C. stake in his 
grasp, and Miranda a 10 subs 200 sovs. one. The latter is 
a lengthy mare with suspicious sort of legs, and those who re- 
member her dam Celia’s perpetual contests with Oakley 
over this ground, till at last Admiral Rous and Lord Exeter 
understood their relative powers, when in form, to half-a- 
pound, will readily believe that she is well bred to run, on 
both sides. West Australian has to give 8lbs. to Barbatus 
in an A. F. 500 h. f. match, and nicely he ought to run 
round him ; while Champagne and Dervish may perhaps 
meet, we should say to the former’s certain discomfiture, 
over the D. M. in a 100 sovs. sweepstakes. Champagne’s 
brother had never any very great heart beyond a mile, 
when there was any very high pressure, but he was far the 
better horse of the two, and far better built. Tom, Plimton, 
Middlesex, Boiardo,(&c., are all ranged against Champagne 
in the 32 subs. Newmarket Stakes, and Ruby, First Lord, 
Boiardo, Phieton, Tros and Middlesex, form 6 out of the 
48 phalanx, which contest his claims in the 2000gs. Even 
the ever sanguine Squire will hardly dare to pot him for 
either event. This latter will .be a very exciting event, 
especially if Ruby shows as we fully believe he will, and 
win it too. Omoo is a nice compact animal, with no great 
bone and substauce and gives us rather the idea of not being 
a stayer. To say nothing of Miranda and Virago, John 
Scott will be there to confront the red and blue sleeves, 
with either Meteora or Sortie. Sortie has splendid length, 
and Meteora is as fine knit, muscular an animal as we have 
seen for many a day, but we believe that they have been a 
little anxious about her legs, and not put her forward in 
her work yet. We expect the former to be the Newmarket 
pilgrim, while the latter will be specially “ wound up” for 
the Oaks, which, with health, seems mortgaged to her. 
Chester is quite at the head of meetings as far as added 
money is concerned, and as Mr. Topham has called two of 
the best officials in the racing world into his cabinet at 
last, it has now no drawback, but the smallness of its 
course, and the paucity of its beds. The latter lack does 
not affect the turf devotees very seriously, as many of 
them, especially winners, are something of the same mind 
as the Richmond gentleman, who demanded of his friends 
(on the Saturday morning 4 a. m., of a Doncaster week) 
to know, “who'd go to bed, (hie) for Voltigeur’s won the 
Leger and the Cup?” As to running the Cup, we can only 
refer to the plan we mentioned last week, as the greater 
the importance of the event, the greater ought to be the 
care to get it decided as equitably as possible. The lead- 
ing handicap event in the year, should not hinge so much 
on the front, second, or back row lot, which a jockey draws 
from a hat, and least of all there should be no premium on 
making up an enormous field, simply in the hope of em- 
barrassing a favourite. The Dee has a delightful entry 
with Bessus, Horatio, Alas! Prince Arthur, Scythian, Orson, 
Champagne, and Knight of St. George. Bath is greatly 
strengthened by Biennial stakes; the younger of which 
exceeds the elder by 27 subscribers, and has some of the 
very best Turf names in it. 
Mr. Dorling has got within three of the Doncaster 
Hopeful with his Woodcote Stakes, in which we observe 
another very heavily engaged, Brother to Mountain Deer. 
Of the 217 Derby animals, only 170 or so are still in 
training; and out of the 15G Oaks fillies, about 116. 
Fillies seem to avoid the Derby, from a feeling of etiquette, 
as only 0 are to be found among the 217, whereas the St. 
Leger claims 35 of the sex out of 159. Rosaline, Sortie, 
Miranda, Alas, Meteora, Omoo, and Bay Celia form a 
stronger lot of two-year old winners in the latter race than 
we usually see, and the Derby is peculiarly attractive. 
Ruby, Star of Surrey, Wild Huntsman, First Lord, 
Boiardo, Dervish, Meteora, Acrobat, Knight of St. George, 
Phnjton, Tom (late Mountain Hawk), Autocrat, Andover, 
Orson, Champagne, Marsyas, Canute, King Tom, and 
Neville, although none of them have established a claim 
to be “flyers,” are a very strong comparative lot. It is 
rather odd, moreover, that during the season of ’53, with 
the exception of Dervish and Autocrat (whose positions we 
never expect to see reversed), the cracks seemed quite to 
keep out of each other’s way. Hence the turfites have scarcely 
a line of the slightest texture to guide them in their ef- 
forts to thread the Derby maze. For our parts, we have 
no intention to trouble our bumps of prophecy (whose ex- 
istence, by the bye, we very strongly doubt), either now 
or throughout the entire season. If we do speak of a race 
to come, we shall simply weigh the chances of sundry 
horses, and leave our readers to draw their own inferences. 
Dashing, then, into the midst of this phalanx of nineteen 
we repeat that Acrobat is Scott’s horse, and that those who 
know him best, aud their friends, are all heavily on him 
and smiling at the devotion of the “ danciug dervishes.'' 
To say nothing of this “great fact,” it really seems to us a 
libel on common sense, to think that a horse of Dervish’s 
wretched build behind the saddle, could ever stay over 
such a course as Epsom. The Newmarket flat is much 
more his forte , and there we do expect to see him shine. 
Two Derbys, two St. Legers, and two Oaks, in three years, 
compose a group of victories such as no trainer can ex- 
pect to see again; but still there are many who confidently 
expect that Scott and Butler will sweep all the three 
great events this year. Meteora is, strange to say, left out 
of the St. Leger. We feel sure of the accuracy of the Acro- 
bat hoi>es of the stable, else our fancy has always ranged 
alongside of Meteora, who looks a thorough specimen of 
perpetual motion, and very fast into the bargain. Acrobat, 
on the contrary, does not impress us with the idea that he 
is a very fast horse. First Lord we have never seen, but 
we believe that he will be found to slay better than his 
stable friend, Audover, whose sadly light back does not 
comport with a love for distance. Champagne can have no 
earthly pretensions, and must turn out his toes, as is his 
wont, in much inferior company. Orson, knight of St. 
George, and Tom we have never seen ; and having seen him, 
we hold Plueton very cheap. The star of Surrey’s stable 
change will make him a favourite, but we believe that he 
is one of those great slapping horses who will find himself 
better served at Doncaster. Wild Huntsman is one of the 
sweetest looking horses we have seen for some time, but 
we fancy that, like Neville, he will be better served at a mile. 
The Napier blood of the latter is too soft to please trainers 
generally. They are, however, very sanguine about him 
at Richmond, on the strength of the growth and improve- 
ment which he has made of late. He is no Voltigeur, as 
they will find to their cost. Mr. “ Clarkson” is not a myth, 
as has been generally asserted, but a real flesh aud blood 
man. Marsyas finds little favour at Hambledon. He 
strikes us as a short game little horse of the “ cut and come 
again ” school. Canute is the superior horse of the two, and 
when he is at last in form will assert his sway very de- 
cidedly. King Tom looks rough and ready to a degree, and 
is now in the Baron’s new training quarters at Lambourne’s ; 
and although some good judges fancy he will be found to 
do so, his half-brothers have shown no dislike to a distance. 
There will of course be plenty of reports that Middlesex is 
master of the two, but the public will be very cautious about 
believing it. What prejudices us most against him is our 
belief that his old stable are not backing him, and they 
must have put him pretty well through the mill before he 
quitted them. This looks suspicious. 
[To be continued.'] 
tyt ®atf. 
TATTERSALL’S. — Mondat. 
Lincoln Steeplechase. Somo business had been transacted 
on this event in the city, but only Maid of the West was brought 
into notice nt the Corner. The City prices were 4 to 1 ngst the 
favourite just named, 5 to 1 agst Trout, 6 to 1 each agst Topsy 
and Little Charley, and 7 to 1 agst Melon. 
Liverpool Grand National.— Bourton had a decided lead ; 
upwards of 60/. were invested on him at 8 to 1 — odds which went 
a-begging about Miss Mowbray. 12 to 1 taken to 50 Z. about 
Peter Simple. La Gazza Ladra was backed at 100 to C and 15 
to 1, Burnt Sienna at 30 and 25 to 1, and 1,000 to 40 taken about 
Maurice Daley. Half-aud-Half was friendless — in the City 50 to 
1 had been laid. 
Chester Cop.— T he two lending favourites quietly maintained 
their respective positions — 20 to 1 was wanted about each. 30 to 
1 was taken to 25/. about Tom ; 50 to 1 to 20/. and 40 to 1 to 
50/. about Royalist, who was also backed for a trifle for tho 
Metropolitan Stakes, for which event Lindrick and Vingt-uu 
were also backed for 25/. each, at the odds quoted below. 
Muscovite appeared to be under “ suspicion.” 
The rest of the betting on the above-named handicaps was only 
in small sums. 
Derby. — 4 to 1 taken and afterwards currently offered about 
Autocrat, and 700 to 100 ubout King Tom ; 13 to 1 to 50/. and 
15 to 1 to 25/. laid against Dervish ; 025 to 25 taken twice about 
Ruby, and the same about Acrobat ; 1,000 to 20 and afterwards 
1,000 to 15 laid against Early Bird; aud 4,000 to 60 aguinst 
Burlington, a new outsider, included in “ Scott’s lot.” 
The room was thinly attended, several members having left 
town to ussist during the next two days at the Lincoln Spring 
Meeting. Closing prices : — 
Lincoln Steeplechase. 
6 to 1 agst Mr. W. Thompson's Maid of the West (taken) 
Liverpool Grand National. 
8 to 1 agst Mr. Moseley's Bourton (taken) 
8 to 1 Mr. T. Mason's Miss Mowbray (offered) 
12 to 1 Captain Little na Peter Simple (t) 
16 to 1 Mr. J. Williams's La Gazza Ladra (t) 
100 to C Mr. Linell's Peter ft) 
25 to 1 Mr. Slater's Burnt Sienna (t) 
26 to 1 Mr. James's Maurice Daley (t) 
Great Metropolitan Stakes. 
10 to 1 agst Mr Benson na Royalist (t) 
20 to 1 Lord John Scott's Vingt-un (t) 
20 to 1 Mr. Harrison's Lindrick (t) 
26 to 1 Mr. Grcville's Muscovite (t) 
Chester Cdp. 
18 to 1 ngst Mr. Howard's Star of Surrey 
18 to 1 Mr. A. Nlchol's Newminster 
30 to 1 Mr. Howard's Nabob (taken) 
30 to 1 Mr. G. B. Price's Tom (t) 
33 to 1 Mr. Knowles's Tulfourd (t) 
40 to 1 Captain Little's Sandhurst (t) 
40 to 1 Mr. Benson na Royalist (t) 
40 to 1 Mr. J. Pownoy's Marc Antony (t) 
60 to 1 Mr. Inman's Horatio (t) 
GO to 1 Mr. W. H. Scott s Blame (t) 
Two Thousand Guineas Stakes. 
1) to 1 ngst Mr. Osbaldeston's Champagne (taken) 
Derdt. 
4 to 1 agst Mr. R. E. Cooper's Autocrat (taken and offered) 
7 to 1 Baron Rothschild's King Tom (taken) 
14 to 1 Lord Derby's Dervisli 
26 to 1 Mr. J. Adkin's Ruby (t) 
25 to 1 Lord Derby's Acrobat (t) 
1,000 to 15 Mr. Copperthwaite's Tlio Early Bird (I) 
1,000 to 16 Mr. Montague’s Burlington (t) 
600 to 25 Ruby winning the Two Thousand and Autocrat 
the Derby (t ) 
Oaks. 
4 to 1 agst Lord Derby’s Meteora 
Thursday. 
A scanty attendance, nnd business very limited. 
Liverpool Grand National. — Miss Mowbray was again 
buoyant. After 8 to 1 bad been taken to 35/., 7 to 1 was booked 
to a similar sum, and the taker was desirous of having tho odds 
laid again in fifties. La Guzza Ladra was in good demnnd, and 
Maurice Daley and Trout received some pretty strong support at 
the odds quoted. In tho City, the latter had been backed at odds 
varying from 35 to 20 to 1. 
