Spring engagements, which ore numerous, and for 
winch he js sure to appear, will be the best guide for our 
readers. Generally speaking, the Duke of Bedford’s 
horses are only formidable over the short courses of New- 
market ; very few of them being able to stay a distance 
of ground— although, in a stranger's hands, vide Weather- 
gage and Mr. Parr, the most opposite qualities have 
been discovered. The Jlsley Downs, which, from the num- 
ber of first-class horses now trained upon them, are likely, 
ere long, to become as famous in racing stories as Lan»- 
ton Wold is in the north, are, we hear, alive with horses • 
and the bulletins from the large stables of Stevens, Wur- 
riner, Mat Dawson, and Joe Dawson are, we learn, most 
satisfactory to the backers of their Derby horses, Rifleman, 
Flatterer, and Frederick. The latter, from his good looks, 
his fashionable blood, his fine racing-like action, we look upon 
as the most dangerous outsider in the race ; and should he 
prove the best of Stevens’ lot in the Spring, his two-year- 
olds having run repeatedly with the best of their class, 
those who have now backed him will find that their in- 
vestments have yielded a Californian profit. 
For the next fortnight we shall have but a lightly-fi'led 
budget for our readers’ entertainment and information ; but 
upon the rc-assembling of the Members of the Legislature, 
und the appearance of the Acceptances for the Spring 
Handicaps, affairs will assume a different complexion — busi- 
ness will become livelier. As the favourites are watched 
in their morning gallops, and from the sources of know- 
ledge that are nlaced at our command, the Fieldsmen 
will find themselves as nu courant to the pencillings of the 
turfites, as to the doings of the high-mettled racers" 
John Scott’s subscription to the Patriotic Fund, to 
which we before alluded, has, as we ^anticipated, proved 
worthy of the high character of the Whitewall establish- 
ment, the contribution being twenty-five pounds two sibl- 
ings. We need not add our advice toothers of his breth- 
ren, to “go and do likewise." 
TATTERS ALL'S. — Thursday. 
Chester Cup. 
GO to I offered on the Field | 1000 to 15 agst Llnnforda (t) 
1000 to 20 Offst Arthur Wellesey (t) | lOOO to 1 f, Monie Moses (t) 
Ttco Thousand Guineas Stakes. 
00 to 20 agst St. Hubert (t) 
11 to 1 agst Orreculus Esuricns 
1 2 to 1 De Clare (t) 
10 to 1 Rifleman (t to £75) 
20 to 1 Wild Davrell (t to 
£125) 
20 to 1 Dirk Ilatterick (t 
to £30) 
25 to 1 Cruiser (t to £00) 
1000 to 35 1‘olydore (t six 
times) 
1000 to 15 Rambling Katie (t 
four times) 
MANCHESTER.— Tuesday. 
The muster at the rooms to-day was chiefly confined to book-makers, 
and only a few investments were made. SL Hubert was backed at 
4 to 1 tor the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, and at 1 1 to 1 for the 
Derby, for which event 10 to 1 was offered in hundreds against either 
Gricculus Esuricns or De Clare, and at the close 100 to !) was offered 
against the latter. An ardent supporter of Donnie Morn asked, by 
way of a fueler, for 1.000 to 20 against him, but met with no response ; 
40 to 1, however, hud no takers. 12 to 1 would have been taken nl>out 
Lord of the Isles ; and Oulston, who has been on the decline of lute, 
would have received support at 20 to 1. IVe understand that 400 to 10 
was taken, on the quiet, about the Reiver, for the Chester Cup, but his 
nuine did not transpire in our hearing; n great number of horses con- 
tinue to be backed at 100 to 1, but no sum of money has yet been 
invested upon anything calculated to create a sensation, such as has 
been the case in previous years. Tho following are the latest 
quotations : — 
Tiro Thousand Guineas Stakes. 
4 to 1 agst St. Hubert (t) 
Derby. 
10 
to 
1 
agst 
Gra’culus Esuricns 
(t 11 to 1) 
11 
to 
1 
— 
St. Hubert (t) 
loo 
to 
0 
— 
De Clare (t 12 to 1 1 
12 
to 
1 
— 
Lord of tho Isles 
(wantod) 
15 
to 
1 
— 
Rifleman (oft') 
100 
to 
0 
Oulston (t 20 to 1) 
20 to 1 agst Cruiser (off) 
20 to 1 Dirk Ilatterick (t 
25 to 1) 
40 to 1 Donnie Mom (t 5C 
to 1) 
1000 to 10 Bison (wanted) 
1000 to 10 Elvaston (wanted) 
Oaks. 
100 to 20 on the Field (off) 
♦ 
FALLS (COUNTY ANTRIM) STEEPLE-CHASES.— 
Monday, Dec. 25. 
On Christmas-dny tho inhabitants of Belfast, Falls, &?,, got up (or 
attempted to get up) a steeplc-ehnse, which turned out a complete 
failure, only three homes having entered for the handicap, which, if we 
except a race for hacks, was the only event decided. There was a very 
large attendance, composed principally of the lower order*. Shortly 
before two o'clock, the start took place for a 
Handicap Sieeepstakes of 1 sov. each, with 10 added. Two miles. 
Mr. Saunders's Charley Magee, 10»t 71b M'Clory 1 
Mr. Scott’s Kate, list 71b, Magee 
Mr. Johnston's Mr. Cool (late St. Alban’s), lrtst, J O’Neill 
Betting — 2 to 1 on Kate. All crossed the first leap together ; but 
Mr. Cool having stopped short in the second Held, tho race wo* at once 
reduced to a match between Charley Magee and Kate, the former win- 
ning by a distance, owing to Kate having fallen at the last fence, 
whereby she dislocated her near fore leg. 
A second race was announced, but there having been no entries for 
It, tho day's sports concluded with a scurry for hacks, which was won 
by Mr. Somerville's Chance (Malay) beating Mr. Pendleton's Old Fox 
and Mr. Ireland's Prince Albert 
MATCH AT TEMPLEMORE. 
On Wednesday week the following match was run oft’ on the lawn of 
Eastwood, the residence of Miyjor Maean, situate within one mile of 
Templemore. A hu ge number of fashionables were present, amongst 
whom we noticed — Sir John C. Carden, Bart; Captain Butler, J.l’., 
Chas. D. H. Webb, Esq.; John I.auignn, Esq., J P. ; Jas. Mason, Esq., 
J.l*.; George Lloyd, Esq.; Richard Cambio, Esq.; John Kennedy, 
Esq.; Capt White; Capt. Armitt, 47tb Regiment, and ofticen of the 
garrison, &c. Subjoined is a return — 
Match 20 sovs a-sido. Two miles. Flat course. 
Mr. Valentine O'Mara's h m Lady Anno . . Lieut. Wellington 1 
Mr. Thcophilus Bennett's b m Pop-goes-the-Weasel .. Owner 2 
Pop-goes-tho- Weasel led for the first mile, when she was collared by 
Lady Anne, and both kept together to the last turn ; after rounding 
wlilch the latter got slightly in front, and won a slashing race by 
barely a neck. A good deal of money changed hands on the event 
Tjie Derby Spring Meeting is appointed for tho 
14th of February next. Mr. Denham, the much respected 
clerk of the course of this meeting for many years past, has 
resigned tho office, and Mr. T. Marshall, jun., of Northampton, 
has been appointed in hia place. Mr. Deuham carries with 
him the best wishes of his sporting friends and neighbours, 
with whom he has so long been associated. 
Down Royal Corporation Summer Meeting, 1855. — 
There are fifteen entries for the Downshire Stakes of 15 sovs. 
each, 10 ft, 60 sovs. added, and twenty-two for the North of 
Ireland Produce Stakes of 10 sovs. oaoh, p.p., 100 sovs. added. 
THE FIELD. 
both for two-yr-olds. For the latter stake, 1857, thirty-six 
mares have been named. 
Bellewstown Races, 1855. — Tho two-yr-old stake at this 
meeting, which is fixed for the 4 th and 5th of July, has 
closed with the following entries : — Lord Waterford's b f by 
foi° r8e 0U ^ • Lord Waterford’s b f by Frenoy out 
of Sharavogue's dam ; Mr. Laugnu's ch f The Princess ; Mr. 
Osborne's ch c Heber; Mr. Irwin's b c Uncle Tom ; Mr. A 
M Douogh’sb f Irene; and Mr. E. W. Nunn's ch e Good 
Friday. 
An attempt to got up a steeple-chase at Tallaght on St. 
Stephen’s -day, proved a failure in toto. There was little or 
no money collected, but even if there was enough, we ques- 
tion if there would have been any entries, ro completely bus 
this once favourite place of sport lost itself iu the eyes of 
the racing public, from the manner in which its affairs aro 
geuerally managed. 
Master Tom won more races in Ireland this year than auy 
other horse. He started eleven times, and was beaten but 
twice. Master Tom, who is by Bashful, was bred by Richard 
S. Hawkeswoi'th, Esq., of Forest, Queen’s Couuty, but is 
now the property of George Bryan, Esq., of Jenkiustown, 
Kilkenny Couuty, who, it is said, has him iu tr.iining for 
steeple-chasing, and that he will bo a dangerous horse for the 
Liverpool Grand National. 
On the 1st of January, forfeits are to be declared for tho 
second class of the Madrid Stakes aud Kildare Handicap, at 
the Curragh April Meeting. The Post Waterford Stakes of 
50 sovs. each, li ft., to be run for in September, 1850, close 
the same day, with J. R. Hunter, Esq., 5, Haddingtou-ter- 
race, Kingstown. Mares are to bo named, at the same time 
aud place, for tho third class of the Post Waterford Stakes 
of 25 sovs. each, p.p., at the September Meeting, 1857. 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A HORSE. 
CHAP. IV. 
After the ladies had dismounted, we were led round to 
the stables, and found ourselves iu stalls next to each other. 
We got into conversation, aud the poor auimal who had 
carried Miss Bessie told me the following story, which, for 
the benefit of my readers, I propose here to give to them 
precisely as told me. 
N ot many mouths ago, began my companion (though you 
may scarco credit me), I was as beautiful a horse as was 
ever seen. At that time I was the property of a Miss Clara 
Duncan, a first-rate horsewomau, aud ns kind a mistress as 
ever horse had. She used to ride me almost every day iu 
compauy with her sister and her father, an old man, who 
could not bear any motiou quicker than a gentle cantor, so 
that my work was never severe. One day Miss Clara was 
accompanied iu her ride by her father aud by a young man ; 
her sister was not with her that day. At the beginning of 
this ride I could not conceive what had come over my rider. 
Every now ami then, when I knew I had done nothing to 
deserve it, she gave me several smart touches with her whip, 
at the same time holding the bridle so tight as to hurt me 
not a little. This went on till I could stand it no longer. I 
kicked out violently, and became very restive. Mr. Duncan 
seemed much frightened, but my mistress gave mo two or 
three cuts behind with all her might, ut the same time 
•lackeuing the bridle. 1 at once darted off at full gallop. 
At first my rider did not restrain me, but kept urging mo 
on, till after about five minutes' hard gallop she pulled me 
in. Mr. Harcourt, the youug man who was riding with her, 
was by her side ; aud I heard him say, “ This is all right ; 
we are safe for a few minutes. Thauks to your boldness iu 
forcingyour horse toruu away." “ I was so afraid Prince would 
not become restive, and it seemed so cruel whipping him for 
nothing; hut now r all is well." “ Yes, Clam dearest, is your 
mind still the same/" “ Yes." “ Theu let us meet to-night 
at eight o'clock at the back gate. I will see that the horses 
are there, aud we will ride as for our lives. If possible, 
provide yourself with a spur, as we must ride far aud fust, 
aud must not spare horseflesh.” “ I will get Louisa’s spur ; 
she always rides with one ; and will you see that Prince gets 
well cared for in the interval ?" “ Certainly, for our sakea 
as well as his, he must be in good condition ; but dou’t you 
think you had better ride your sister's horse. It lias had uo 
work to-day, and will, of course, be fresher aud more up to 
the work." " Oh, no ; if there is i\uy fear of spoiling the 
horse, I should much rather take mine. Louisa is so fond of 
hers, I should be very sorry to do it any harm. Besides," she 
added, patting me, “1 think good old Priuce will carry me 
far better, even though he is not quite so fresh as Louisa’s 
mare.” “ Very well, then, these two horses shall be there at 
eight o'clock. May they have good speed !” There was a 
little more affectionate talk about present risks and future 
happiness, and then we went back slowly to meet Mr. Duncan. 
The lovers talked throughout the rest of the ride about 
my ruuuiug away, and allowed Mr. Duncan to lay all the 
blame upon me. My mistress gave me several kind pats, 
and rode me as pleasantly as she always did ; but my 
thoughts ran wholly upon the hard work which was before 
me. The ride was not a very long one, and when I got in 
there was about four hours' rest before me. A t tho appointed 
time I wa3 saddled, and led out to tho place of meeting. 
Miss Duncan quickly appeared, and, as she mounted me, she 
whispered to Mr. Harcourt — “ We are suspected : we must 
ride hard.” We started at a quick gallop. Miss Duncan 
was evidently much excited, aud even at the beginning of 
that long and painful ride she used her spur violently, though 
certainly it was not theu needful. Mr. H. advised her to 
spare mo as much as possible at first, as there might be heavy 
work to come; but the advice was unheard, or unheeded. 
After the first half hour, when I was dreadfully exhausted 
both with pace aud fatigue, our pace was slackened slightly, 
and my mistress seemed to be getting more composed. The 
lovers began to converse, and Mr. H. asked my rider how 
she had got off. She said : “Very well, till j ust as I was comiug 
down stairs to start, I met one of the kitchen-maids. She 
stared at me having my riding habit on, but curtsied and 
passed on. She is herself too stupid to suspect anything, 
but I fear she will certainly repeat her wonder to some wiser 
person than herself, by whom we may be suspected. I am 
certain they will pursue if they have any suspicion. Dou’t 
you think wo ought to ride faster f” 11 No, dearest ; I almost 
thiuk we should lose time by taking too much out of our 
horses yet ; they have an immense deal before them, and it 
is such a still night, I thiuk we should hear our pursuers a 
loug way off, when, of course, wo must put ou speed, aud if 
Prince and Hero can’t beat any two horses iu your father's 
stable, I am surprised." “ How far along this road must we 
go?" “ I am afraid nearly twenty miles more, when we can 
turn down by that small village — Elpington" (or some such 
name), “and, I hope and trust, givo them all the slip. Till 
then these horses must carry us, and that will be not less 
1229 
Hku, thirty miles altogether.” « Poor tilings; for their lake* 
n* n oil os for our own, I trust we shall not be pursued.'’ 
Hut if wo are, we must not spare them." 
K.r the next live miles abreast we cantered quickly along * 
and during that time my rider, having got over Lr firtt 
nervousness, gave me rest from the spur, and often patted 
me kindly \\ hilo, however, there was a pause in tile con- 
versa! i<>» of tho lovers, my ear heard a trump a long way off, 
and I m voluntarily quickened. A few seconds afterward,! 
Mr Harcourt exclaimed: "I hear them; now, Clara, for a 
ga lop for our lives ! Almost before I felt tho whip and 
sSed h ,!ff\t ny f n dei n Uaed l tho “wuo moment violently, I 
stalled off at full gallop. The conversation ceased— only 
rnilJn . f I"' ? trC * tod Misa to linstcu 
i flirt m f °{ ' Vlnch > 0utrcaties Poured for mo afresh 
t ' “ w " P # “‘ l TV “ We ten more miles 
to go, triar^ before wo reach tho town,” after somo minutes 
Uro l'Tal '' ’ Tii th ° h0r * C8 do il " M, »" >* awfully 
tiled, I am sure , but they must go on till they fall." What 
?oiu° 8 hnt fc h tlUa T WRf , be , forc "l 0 ' 1 felt «« if I should fall 
soon , but how I wished my nder would let mo go ou with- 
out the almost ceaseless punishment she was inflictiug on 
me. Such agony as I endured that night I never could have 
conceived beforej: I hardly dare to think of it now. My 
wind utterly failed me- my legs felt as if they could go no 
fuithei -and at last I stopped. I trembled iu every limb 
the blood came streaming down my spur-galled side, and I 
f i VVi! 1 m V 8t mu,lc,ll: 'tely. “ Clam, wo have only 
about three miles more; your horse must come on • directly 
we have taken the turn we shall change.” I just heard my 
mwtross say : “ Oh/my poor Prince!" and such torture 
Horn whip and spur ns I bad never conceived possible coin- 
pencil mo onco more to gallop. 
I cannot remember very distinctly anything that followed 
, • I know that I suffered greater agonies than I can 
rfii ’ , • , ■)" Ht remon *ber my mistress dismounting at 
a little road side mu. I heard her exclamation of sorrow und 
surprise at my bleeding side, testifying to the good use she 
had made of her spur, and then I fell down thoroughly 
exhausted from pain and from fatigue. 
I never saw Miss Clara Duncan again— neither do I know* 
whether she succeeded m her plain ; for a fortnight or tlneo 
weeks I was utterly unlit for anything, and was teuded care- 
fully in the stables of a largo horse-dealer. I do not know 
whether kind treatment could ultimately have restored mo 
to anything like my former condition— at any rate, my case 
now is hopeless. Broken-wiuded, aud still suffering from 
that cruel rule, I was sold to my present mistress, from 
whom, ns you may gather from what passed t..-day, I da 
not meet with much kindness. Probably my time will hooq 
come to be sold to bo a cab-horse, as her last horse was : 
till then I have no help but to endure tbo daily suffering ah« 
inflicts upon me. Such was the story. 
(To he continued.) 
HUNTiNS, 
’•* Masters of Hound* and Huntsmen will obiigobv sending their names 
and addrev.es iu hill, in order that thoir paper* may bo lonvur Jed 
direct, commencing with the new year. 
APPOINTMENTS FOR THE WEEK. 
The Queen’s Hounds.— Tuesday, Bedford Toll guto; Fri- 
day, Slough, at eleven. 
Tm: Cheltenham Subscription Stag-hounds (Captain 
Wests). — Friday, Teddingtou Cross-hands, at half-imsti 
eleven. 
The Puokeridge Hounds.— Monday, Hare-street; Wed. 
nesduy, Woodside Green ; Saturday, Wattou, at half-past teu. 
The Cheshire Hounds.— Monday, Norlcy Hall; Tuou! 
day, Appleton ; Thursday, Tan-in ; Friday, Beestou Castle 
at half-past ten. 
The Heythrop Hounds.— Monday, Boulter Barn; Wed* 
nesdiiv, Fox Northarton ; Friday, Bourtou Bridge ; Satur- 
day, Ditchley, at half-past ten. 
The Dkwsland Hounds. — Tuesday, Jordonstone Raith j 
Friday, Mathry Cross-roads, at ten. 
Captain Hampton Lewis’s Hounds.— W ednesday, Store- 
house Weu ; Saturday, Llmiddyfuan Low-gute, at eleven. 
Mr. Garth's Hounds.— Tuesday, Brick Bridge ; Wednes- 
day, Brainshill Park ; Friday, Groywell Hill, at half-past teu. 
Mr. Wheble's Hounds. — Monday, Hardwick House ; 
Tuesday, Burnt Hill: Thursday, Strathfieldsayc ; Friday, 
Thatcham Gate. 
Mu. Deacon's Hounds. — Monday, Viverdou, at half-past 
ten. 
Mu. Trelawney’s Hounds.— Tuesday, Carow Arms ; 
Saturday, l’lym Bridge, at half-past ton. 
The H. II. — Monday, Preston Oak Hills; Tuesday, Brain- 
dean Common ; Thursday, Harmsworth ; Saturday, Hod- 
dington House, at a quarter to eleven. 
The North Warwickshire Hounds. — Tuesday, Tile 
Hill ; Thursday, Stoucleigh Abbey ; Saturday, Rytou-ou- 
Dunsmore, at eleven. 
The Atiiehstone Hounds. — Monday, Barton-in-tho. 
Beans; Wednesday, Meriden Shafts ; Friday, Gill’s Corner; 
Saturday, Harris Bridge, at eleven. 
The North Staffordshire Hounds.— Monday, Wooro ; 
Wednesday, Stubleford Bridge ; Friday, Adderloy, at halt 
past teu. 
The Warwickshire Hounds.— Monday, Ufton Wood; 
Tuesday, Whatcote ; Thursday, Lighthorno Village; Fri* 
day, Sun Rising, Kdge Hill, at a quarter before eleven. 
Mr. Drake's Hounds. — Monday, Chilton Village; Tues- 
day, Westou-on-the-Green ; Thursday, Ham Green; Satur- 
day, Lower Beddingtoii, at a quarter before eleven. 
The Cottesmore Hounds. — Monday, Coltsworth; Tues- 
day, Seaton Windmill; Thursday, Horn Mills; Saturday, 
Little Dalby, at eleven. 
Mr. Assubton Smith's Hounds. - Monday, Longstock 
Down , Tuesday, Muiiuiugford ; Wednesday, Farcombe ; 
Thursday, Peutoii; Friday, Souihgrove; Saturday, Tyther- 
ley, at eleven. 
Earl Fite william's Hounds. — Monday, Castor Hang- 
lands; Wednesday, Old Weston Wiudmill ; Friday, Farming 
Woods, at ten o'clock. 
The Worcestershire Hounds. — Monday, Witley ; Wed- 
nesday, Old Hills; Friday, Copout Elm, at half-past ten. 
The Essex (Mr. Hkni.ky Grkavk’s) Hounds.— Monday, 
St. Leonard’s; Wednesday, Forest Hall; Saturday, Takeley 
Gate, at eleven. 
The Herefordshire (Mr. Hkllier’s).— Tuesday, Lug. 
wardine Bridge; Thursday, Hamptou Court; Friday, Haro- 
wood’s End, at half-paat ten. 
H. C. Meyski.l Ingram's Fox-hounds. — Tuesday, Kcdlo- 
stou Inn ; Thursday, Murkcuton ; Saturday, Aston. 
