Vol. IV.— No. 92.] 
Saturday, September 30, 1S54. [With Supplement, Price 6d . 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
PLAN OF NEWMARKET HEATH. 
SEBASTOPOL. — Drawn by T. H. WOIOH. 
SOUDJAK BAY, CIRCASSIA. 
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM. 
CONTENTS. 
Racing — T urf Talk — Newmarket Autumn Handicap — The Ccsarowltab 
— Betting at TattcrsaH’s and Manchester — Newmarket First 
October Meeting — Chesterfield Races, Ac. — Programmes; Chester, 
Newmarket, Warwick, Yorkshire, Stamford, Stockbrldgo, Kelso. 
Yachting — Rowing — Angling — Abchert — Cricket, Reports, See, 
Octr Opera Glass — Foreign, Provincial, Law and Police, & c. 
PRINCIPAL ILLUSTRATIONS NEXT WEEK 
Interior or the Theatre Rovat, Adelfui. 
Sketches from tiik Skat or War, 
&o. Ac. So, 
YBRF_TALK. 
“The chosen sport of a great and a free peoplo." 
Our Sailor King. 
S UMMER, as if unwilling to yield to her more staid suc- 
cessor, has cast some of her brightest smiles on the First 
October Meeting at Newmarket. With such splendid weather, 
the ground in capital condition, and a fair share of good 
racing, it is not to be wondered at that the meeting, ordi- 
narily none of the liveliest, should have passed off with 
uncommon brilliancy. It might have been wished that the 
attendance and fields had been larger ; but enough has been 
accomplished to render “ The First October ” a very pleasant 
affair. As the gathering but seldom enters on the month 
from which it takes its name, a change of title would remove 
au apparent contradiction of terms. Such an alteration 
would, of course, necessitate another, that of the Second 
October; but “ The First Autumn ” would afford sufficient 
distinction from the Newmarket October and Houghton 
Meetings. 
The Duke of Bedford’s Nathan opened the ball on Tuesday 
by winning the Handicap Sweepstakes over the T.Y.C., and 
beating easily his brace of opponents, Falcon and Spinaway. 
The odds were on the victor, therefore there was no lack of 
judgment on the part of the ring. But the reverse was the 
case for the Eastern Counties Handicap, when Alembic started 
at 9 to 4, and the winner at 8 to 1. From fifty nominations 
eleven only were saddled to contest the prize. This can 
scarcely be a matter of surprise when the eccentricities of 
the handicap are duly considered. Old Rowley, 5 yrs, at 5st 
91b, was absolutely turned loose. The theory, that no allow- 
ance of weight will bring an inferior animal to the form of a 
good one, is every day meeting with confutation. Anteverta, 
a four-yr-old, at the same weight with the winner, was 
second. The system of handicapping at Newmarket requires 
reformation, and we trust shortly to see a move made in the 
right direction. Alembic, who was certainly well in at 6st 
Gib, lost start, but managed to finish third. Lord Ciifden 
declared to win with the son of Touchstone and Latitude. 
But Old Rowley, not caring two straws for his opponents, 
made the most of his advantage, liko an old soldier, and 
cleared the winning-post by an easy couple of lengths. 
Alembic's subsequent achievement iu the Sixth Triennial, 
and his running with The Trapper, across the flat, for 
the Grand Duke Michael’s Stakes — three races in ono 
day — must give warning to the field that they will find 
in him no despicable competitor for the burster in the 
Cambridgeshire. Hesse Cassel, who, it was rumoured, 
had broken down a fortnight back in the St. Leger, 
contrived to take part in three different contests with 
a considerable improvement on his Doncaster display. 
These reports of breaking-down must henceforth bo received 
by the public cum. grano salis, since some of the friendB of 
Autocrat assert that he also escaped that casualty on tho 
eventful day that gave victory to tho Knight of St. George. 
The style in which Clotildo carried off the Hopeful Stakes 
must give an increase of confidence to tho adherents of 
Lord of the Isles. Dirk Hatteraick, though with the odds 
on him, was doomed to another defeat in the Buckonhnm,— 
Rambling Katie beating him by a head. But Lord Eglinton 
may console himself with the assurance that he possesses a 
fine colt in Dirk, and we fully expect to Bee the son of Yan 
Tromp and Blue Bonnet ripen into a most formidable threo- 
yr-old. The Trapper accomplished a brace of successes. 
Those who doubted his staying powers were decidedly 
proved to bo wrong. Though ho had nothing much to beat 
in the " Ditch In,” gallop for the St. Leger Stakes, the nun- 
ner in which he disposed of HeBse Cassel and Pumicestone 
admits not of the slightest cavil. Tho Granby brought out 
a field of five ; Daffodil starting the favourite at 6 to 4 on 
her, but Lord Exeter's Besika proved tho winner by half a 
length. A new candidate for distinction, bearing the bold 
name of Wild Dayrell, made such an example of Tara and 
Hazel in the 30 sovs Sweepstakes, that he is not unlikely to find 
a place in the books of those who are betting on the Derby. 
Sharavoguo again defeated Adine, and on Thursday added 
tho Queeu's Guineas to his noble owner's account. Vandor- 
decken sorely disappointed tho expectations of his party, as 4 
to 1 was laid on him for tho Fifth Triennial, Mr. Knowles's 
Talfourd, however, giving him tho go-by in tho race. But, 
perhaps the most interesting event, was the contest botweou 
Rifleman and Bonnie Morn in tho Sovcnth Triennial. Bonnie 
Morn was by long odds tho favourite, but tho gallant little 
grey, for the first time, found a conqueror in Mr. Osbnldis ton’s 
colt. Tho struggle was narrowly watched, and will probably 
effect some changes iu tho market. It was a groat triumph 
for tho 'Squire, and must bo highly gratifying to his lady, 
who, it is said, takes no little interest iu the careor of tho 
smart Rifleman. On tho whole, tho sport was above tho 
average, and tho meeting likely to bo remembered as ono of 
the best First Octobers witnessed for some yoars. 
Nothing has been douo, publicly nt least, relative to the 
Doncaster affair. Rumours thoro aro in plenty, but wo ahull 
avoid noticing them till they tako a definite shape. Ono 
thing we hopo will provo something ruoro than an improba- 
bility, that any part of tho question should be oarried into it 
court of law. Turf muttora, liko those of Cupid, aro never 
seen to so little advantage ns when unravelled by foreneio 
acumen. Honour and not law should form tho sole juris- 
diction. Tho evidence taken before a committeo of tho 
House of Commons, some ton years back on gaming, might 
bo resuscitated with advantage. It is extant, and tho opinions 
of trainers and others connected with racing, may still ho 
found amid tho light literature of the ponderous Blue-books 
of the day. 
The betting throughout tho wook ban been dull in tho ex- 
treme, and, with the exception of a rapid ris tin Muscovite, 
characterised by little or no chongo. 
The famous West Australian, respecting whom thero was 
also an imaginative break down a few days back, is about to 
retire into private life, and ho certainly curries with him the 
highest of reputations. Tho triple victory of 2,000 gs, Derby, 
and St. Leger, the most ambitious of steeds may hereafter 
long strive for in vaiq. 
■JTAITi 
C. START 
NEWMARKET HEATH. 
