1201 
the field. 
SPOBT AND SPORTSMEN. 
« Pray, what is a gentleman without his recreations ? " 
The past week has been, without exception, one of the 
dullest of the year, the sportsman having had scarcely 
dullest ot tne year, ^ * aUention> 1}ir 3g are wild- 
S7ta3i resting—- i"» flat racing lie mu.1 
ss £ «eek 
fameg-offin^.e mtmbefo? ntoor-ga.n " bagged 'vhen com- 
rnredwitli the abundance of the preceding season. He 
will have witnessed a good race for the sporting race of the 
V ear — the St Leger — the defeat of the favourite, and on 
lionest trainer publicly attacked with seventy by some dis- 
honest parties, who would be scouted by any body of nei- 
sons claiming the slightest pretensions to respectabdUy 
There is, however, a strange admixture of characters m 
the “ring.” We find the statesman, the scholar, and the 
eentleman. We also find the outcasts of society ; or, if not 
exactly outcasts, parties who have figured m peculiar 
transactions before the magistrates of the respective police- 
coiTs ; and who, having ‘‘used up " their ordinary and 
accustomed modes of obtaining a livelihood, have entered 
?he ring professionally, for the purpose of becoming 
«• respectable.” This class of the ring are apparently very 
particular with whom they have transactions. Before 
booking a bet, they take good care to inquire into the cha- 
racter of either the “gentleman, statesman, or scholar. 
They “ assume a virtue if they have it not, and when a 
“robbery" or a “sell" takes place on the turf, there are 
no members so boisterous, and, to all appearance, so 
indignant— and so eager to punish the delinquents- as 
the new but respectable members of the enclosure. 
It was these worthies to whom John Scott, the eminent, 
and, we believe, the lionest trainer, was indebted for the un- 
English and unsportsmanlike treatment that marked the 
late Doncaster meeting. Mr. Scott lias not, we believe, 
t iken steps to punish the miscreants ; and lie has, an our 
opinion, acted wisely in so doing ; for, if we may judge of 
the past, his name and reputation will live when Ins assail- 
ants will he forgotten ; or, if not forgotten, remembered 
only to be despised. But, to return. Our sportsman will 
have to record plenty of good hunting, a decrease m the 
number of the salmon, and an opportunity of chatting over 
the merits or demerits of the new bill for preserving the 
breed of this beautiful fresh-water fish. These subjects 
will be pleasing both to himself and friends. Ills adven- 
tures will, in all probability, be marked with remarkable 
and satisfactory incidents. There are, however, other ad- 
ventures, by “flood and field,” in a far-distant country, to 
be related by the cheerful five-side — the daring exploits 
of many a good sportsman who were well known and be- 
loved in their respective hunts - noted for tlieir daring but 
skilful riding— for the cool yet graceful use of the deadly 
weapon. Poor fellows! Where are they now? Echo 
answers— where ? Let us drink in silence to their im- 
mortal memory. Theirs is, indeed, a noble death ; but 
who can avoid thinking deeply of their fate— a fate that 
called them from all that was dear. We shall never again 
meet them at the cover-side ; for out of even- ten officers 
who have fallen, at least seven were followers of the chase. 
Ought not the memory of these noble fellows to be cherished? 
Aye, their deeds shall ever be remembered, and let us 
hope that — 
“ They have pone to a happier clime, 
— And on a safer shore. 
Where troubles never shall approach them more. 
Large flocks of wild-fowl have made tlieir appearance in 
various parts of England. In Ireland and Scotland, too, 
they are more numerous than have been known for several 
s .asons past. In the extreme north of Scotland, immense 
lar<re flocks of snow-fowls have been seen on the shores. 
“These snow buntings,” says the John O' Groat Journal , 
“ come in large flights to the Scottish coasts at this season 
of the year, and many of them fall a prey to hunger and 
the fowling-piece." The Journal does not explicitly state 
whether these birds are the “snow-birds” (Struthus hie- 
malis), or the “ snow-buntings." We are inclined to 
think that' the birds that visit the north are the “snow- 
birds." This species, which is a true finch, must not be 
confounded with the snow-bunting ( Vlectrophanes nivalis) 
of the Arctic regions of the old and new world, of which it 
is also a native, migrating in flocks southwards on the 
approach of winter. At first, snow-birds are most gene- 
rally seen on the borders of woods, among the falling and 
decayed leaves, in loose flocks of thirty or forty together, 
always taking to the trees when disturbed. As the weather 
sets in colder, they approach nearer the farm-houses and 
villages, assembling in larger flocks, and doubly diligent in 
searching for food. When deep snow covers the ground, 
they become almost half-domesticated. They collect about 
the bams, stables, and other out-houses, and even round 
the steps of the doors, not only in the country and villages, 
but in towns, crowding around the threshold early in the 
morning, gleaning up the crumbs, and appearing lively and 
familiar. They retire northwards in April, breeding in 
the high latitudes, and making a nest on the ground. The 
snow-bird is about six inches long ; the general colour is 
slate grey, deeper and purer in winter — the lower part of 
the breast, the under parts, the edges of the primaries, and 
the two outer toil-feathers, being white. In fine weather, 
they roost in the evergreen foliage of the holly, the cedar, 
and the pine; but, in cold weather, in holes in stacks, and 
other snug retreats. They afford pretty shooting, and make 
a delicious dish. 
We learn that the fish will not he in the lower pools of 
the river Ness owing to some imperfections which have 
been made in the beds by the proprtM 0rs< Last season 
the angling in this river was very unsuccT^fl, although 
thousands of grilse and salmon were seen playing about the 
mouth of the river. The net-fishing in Loch Ness, however, 
was unusually prolific. This speaks volumes against the exist- 
ing fishery laws. In another part ofTiiE Field will be found 
I«i»pr from “ J. S..” showing the, importance of altering 
by lime, or the wilful injection of any other noxious 
material. Fish can be poisoned for mUes in the river by 
any evil-disposed or vicious miscreant. Tins offence should 
be rendered highly penal. 
The coursing meetings for the week are 
Plnro County. Judge. Date. 
tt 0 w Worcestershire . . Mr. A. Bennett -6 
" ol i York Mr. Norvnl 26 and 27 
Seorton Yorkshire .... Sir. Nightingale .. 27 and 2* 
Meath . M* O " on9 ‘ 28 and 29 
RACING. 
_ !»Hfr from “ J. S.,” showing the, importance of altering 
the size oi v^nt statute-net. .Taert is another sug- 
gestion worthy of “ • -«iion, yizv> ^ * ' - -ffiah 
DATES OF RACES. 
FEBRUARY— Nottingham 20 , Nottingham 
I ivrrnool Soring 28 ; Goodwood 
is I^S.kctcra;cn :: 2 S » 
:::::::::::::::::: 22 
Newmarket First Spring 23 Egham 
SStfsan* r. 1 « 
\l 
SKfohciter :::::::: : : : so October g 
HlSoa A “ 0 v* S, CT< i^- che,to ! 
Stockiridw W.'.'!.. 21 Newmarket Second October .... 8 
w£££X S Warwick Autumn 8 
SuLT!— N ewmarket 8 Newmarket Houghton 22 
Lancaster ! .* NOVEMBEH.-Ep.om 1 
Stamford 17 Shrewsbury 13 
♦— 
RACING AND RACERS. 
The dulness of the past week in Metropolitan racing circles 
has been partially relieved by the Waltham Abbey Steeple- 
chases, which have passed off in the usual manner, and 
added but little to the reputation of similar events in the 
vicinity of Row bells. It is a strange fact that, popular as 
Steeple-chasing is in the provinces, it has never flourished 
in the metropolitan districts, and we verily believe that 
that most ancient patron of the sport, Mr. lilbury, ot 
Mount-street, better known as “ Old Till, cannot call to 
mind any single square race of the kind, from the days of 
Beecher and Jem Mason, down to the present period ol 
Green and Sait The flagrant robberies practised m 
steeple-chasing— thanks to the exposures of the press— have, 
we are "lad to record, exercised a salutary influence on that 
portion of the professionals who will, even now, venture to 
bet upon them; and the result is, that no man being able to 
back his horse, except at the post, all “ arrangements ' arc 
defeated, and a tolerable fair contest is secured. It might, 
perhaps, also serve an useful end, if we were to point out 
how sure and gradual has been the decay of the patrons of 
steeple-chasing, consequent upon the villames of some of 
its professors. When first we made our d£but on the turf, 
some thirty years back, steeple-chases, like angels visits, 
were few and far between. The Squire (then in his zenith) 
and Mr. Horatio Ross, or rather Captain Ross, occasionally 
had a turn at each other, and Clinker and Clasher were 
“ Household Words ” in Leicestershire. Now, Captain 
Ross confines himself to his rifle in the Highland forests, 
while the Squire is but too delighted to win a fifty- 
pound plate at Stockbridge or Goodwood. Then followed 
the spicy Captain Lamb, whose rupees so enlivened Lea- 
mington, and whose blue jacket and yellow cap was ren- 
dered so familiar in every shire by that pair of celebrities 
Vivian and the Captain ; tlieir constant rival being the 
Currngbmore marquis, with Cock Robin and Lancet. And 
of this lot, whose deeds were so faithfully chronicled in the 
journals of the day, who remains? Captain Lamb, who 
was skinned like lii's namesake, sleeps in a country church- 
yard, far removed from his scene of mirth and sport. 
Vivian, whose picture stopped you at every print-shop, 
ended his days in an Irish jaunting-car in Dublin.. Captain 
Beecher, after enduring every species of vicissitude, was, 
when we last heard of him, filling the uncongenial ap- 
pointment of inspector of sacks oil the Great Northern 
Railway ; and Lord Waterford, forsaking the purlieus of 
the Haymarket and St. James’s, has settled down into his 
proper sphere of an Irish landlord; and which character, we 
are happy to state, he enacts to perfection. To this regime 
succeeded the Strathmore dynasty ; and well do we call to 
mind how gallantly the young Earl came out with Red 
Lance, The Surtchee, and St. Leger, and how ably his 
efforts were seconded by that prince of welter weights, Cap- 
tain William Peel, who delighted the French sportsmen by 
the sty'e in which he carried off the grand French steeple- 
chase, obtaining from Louis Philippe the decoration of the 
Leg'-on of Honour. Disgusted with the ingratitude of 
those whom his purse and his influence had befriended, 
Lord Strathmore did not long persevere ; and therefore it 
was not surprising that the advertisement of a “ Lot of 
Steeple-chase Horses, the property of a nobleman, were 
to be sold at Tattersall's, should have met the public 
eye. Since then we have never seen the Earl at a 
steeple-chase ; and his contemporary, Sir Robert Clifton, 
is, if we err not greatly, an exile in a foreign land. Mr. 
Carew was the latest victim to the mania for the sport, and 
with him the name of the British Yeoman is honourably 
identified. He, too, in sporting language, is what is desig- 
nated as “ settled.” His stud is dispersed, a stranger sits 
in his hall, and he himself is left to brood over his own 
folly and the ingratitude of those his former bounty fed ! 
Now, by a reference to the cards of the day, it will be seen 
that no nobleman or gentlcmun of any position in life will 
have anything to do with a sport the delinquincies of which 
have out-Heroded any similar matters on the turf; and hence- 
forth we shall anticipate the partakers of it confined to 
horse-dealers, small farmers, and plating-trainers ; and until 
a healthier spirit springs up, we confess, for the interests 
of morality, that we should not be desirous of witnessing a 
return of the patronage of “the landed gentry. In the 
racing-stables nothing is doing, and trainers are enabled to 
snatch a little rest while they make out tlieir employers 
bills, enjoy a course with their dogs, or a gallop with the 
neighbouring hounds. Next week, however, a little more 
energy will be required, as the young ones will have to be 
put through the sieve previous to the 1st of January entries, 
which ave expected to be quite up to the mark. The post- 
poncment of the St. Leger entry until July, to take place 
contemporaneously with the Derby and Oaks, is a step that 
must be approved of by all Turfites, as it was imperatively 
called for by the declining fortunes of the race, and hail 
long been advocated by the Yorkshire trainers. 
At Tattersall's, on Monday— being the last grand day pre- 
vious to the breaking-up for the holidays — a fair share of busi- 
ness was got through. Graeculus Esunens retreated in favour 
of De Clare, upon whom “a monkey ” was placed by a 
well-known partisan of the stable, and the son of a late 
City dignitary as celebrated for his caustic wit as for his 
great wealth. The St. Hubert and Oulston’s commission 
has been worked well, but we can clearly discover that all the 
outlay upon the former cannot send back the latter, which 
is an object no doubt with Mr. Howard. Rifleman has 
also re-appeared in the market after a long absence ; and we 
are strong converts to the belief that, if properly managed, 
the Rifleman will be very near hitting the Epsom target. 
His race for the Criterion we put on one side at once, as 
we were cognisant of the fact of his being amiss at the time 
he ran for it, and, to use a trainer's phrase, he was as dry 
ns a chip. A host of outsiders were also backed at what 
Mr. Davis terms extremely liberal odds ; but none of them, 
we conceive, will hurt any but tlieir supporters. 
John Day, Junior, we are glad to observe, has got up a sub- 
scription for the Patriotic Fund, amounting to upwards of 
twenty pounds, and Mr. John Scott is said to be following 
in his w ake ; and were all the great stables to unite in this 
charitable object, a large sum might be collected, and the 
sporting world be well represented in the national demon- 
stration. Mr. Greville's horses will, it is said, in future be 
placed under the charge of Harlock; as Mr. Dockeray, from 
age and other causes, gives up. During his career, he has 
been remarkably fortunate for Mr. G. and his confederate 
Mr. Payne; although, from unforeseen causes, he was 
unlucky in the Derby and Ouks for them, his animals 
having always gone amiss on the day. With steeple- 
chasers he was more lucky, as the many victories of Lot- 
tery', Miss Mowbray, Oscar, and British Yeoman, will 
testify ; and as far ns he himself was concerned, his cha- 
racter lias always been above reproach. Mr. Parr lias 
advertised his stud for sale ; but, from the prices he is 
understood to have put upon them, we are apprehensive 
he will be as long a time in finding customers for them as 
Lord Exeter was for his lot ; and until we sec them all at 
llyde-park Corner, we shall not despair of seeing the puce 
and white jacket in the cards of the day'. Should Mr. 
Parr, however, really persevere in his alleged intention of 
retiring, we do hope lie will give to the public his racing 
reminiscences, for they will not only be varied, but valuable. 
The decision of the Queen's Bench upon the Long-acre 
betting-ease is regarded with much anxiety by the 
London turfites; as, if the appeal of the defendant 
is quashed, we may witness in Grosvenor-place some fine 
Monday afternoon, some curious proceedings ; and it 
would be rather strange to see, arraigned at Marlborough- 
street on the following morning, the veteran Clerk of the 
Council, two or three lord-lieutenants of counties, a gallant 
admiral, some of the elite of our household troops, as well 
as a sprinkling of City merchants— all charged with 
assembling for the purpose of illegal betting, which is 
really the charge against the one hundred and fourteen in- 
dividuals whom the police took in their foray. But, never- 
theless, such an event is not only possible but most pro- 
bable, in the event of the contingency to which we have 
alluded occurring. And now we will no longer detain our 
readers from the enjoyment of their Christmas cheer ; and, 
trusting that our weekly budget will serve them for enter- 
tainment and reflection by their cheerful fireside, we lay 
down our pen. 
REVIEW OF THE RACING SEASON, 1854. 
No. III. 
The month of May proved an exceedingly busy one, and 
was opened at head-quarters by the First Spring Meeting. 
The list, however, was a very scanty one, and the only 
really interesting event was the 2000 Guineas, for which 
odds were laid on the roaring Boiardo, and a few “ flats 
were found to support the notorious Ruby as second 
favourite. The latter was wound up in the first hundred 
yards, and the Malton crack was no where, Middlesex 
running out to the left at the finish, and him and Alembic 
to do the same ; but the outsider, Hermit, had them all 
safe, and won as he liked, which immediately brought 
Daneburg into strong vogue for the Surrey tryst, it being 
pretty well understood that Andover was lOlbs better than 
his half-brother. In the Sweepstakes of ,£1,200 for three- 
yr-old fillies, won by Lady Bird, Miranda and Moresca 
broke down. Bobby, 3 yrs, and Switch, 3 yrs, were 
claimed here, the former for £70 and the latter for £80. 
The Queen's Plate, on the R.C., was a farce, the first two 
miles being walked over, and Rataplan taking 25 nun. 
21 secs, to cover the whole distance ! Meteora and 
Honeysuckle would not have faced Virago in the One 
Thousand but for the “cool hundred" allotted to the 
second. Chester moulted no feather in interest or strength 
this season. The Trades’ Cup was worth £2,555, and two 
dozen competed, a three-yr-old again triumphing— Epnmi- 
nondas at 25 to 1— that unfortunate but splendid annual, 
the Indian Warrior, again getting a second place. John 
Scott still asserts that Acrobat (third) would have won but 
for the unwarrantable liberties young Garvey took with 
him. It was a pity that Wells should have been taken oh. 
Another mistake, too, was manifest after the race— the 
scratching of Virago. We always dread the tussle for this 
race, round such a cock-pit course, but it was happily g 0 ^ 
over this journey without any “ forcing over the rails. 
Dr. O'Toole, however, fell at the finish, but that was 
through his changing legs and being in difficulties. Brother 
to Troy and Bridekirk were claimed here, for 80 soys, 
each • and the fund benefitted £208. 15s. from the sales 
of Dispute, 3 yrs (£30), and Pactrycook (£50). The 
Second Spring Meeting at Newmarket, devoid ot 
