THE DOWNFALL OF FRIAR'S BALSAM.

SENSATIONAL RACE FOR THE TWO !

THOUSAND.

AYRSHIRE'S VICTORY.

(From our' London Correspondent.)

London, May 5. Since that fatal afternoon at Epsom 18 years ago, when Macgregor, on'whom o3ds of 9 to 4 were freely laid, collapsed utterly i beforetheDerbydistancehadbeentrayersed ; there has been no downfall in a classicrace: so sensational as Friar's Balsam in the Two • Thousand Guineas yesterday. Last year ' Lord Alington's colt won every race for which he was started without even being extended. Seabreeze, Ayrshire, Hazleha'tch and G alor c alike failed to make the son of Flower' of Dorset galop, and it was well.known that both Ossory and Orbit were inferior to him at home. The youngster wintered well, and when seen in the paddock yesterday before the race was pronounced in the pink of condition. Crowds of admirers surrounded'the crack, and Lord Alington and Porter looked as proud as though the race Tvere already over.

| Orbit and Ossory, like the favourite, came from Kingsclere, and ran untried, but it was well understood that the stablembney was on and the stable confidence in Friars Balsam. The: only genuine opposition to the crack, therefore, came from Ayrshire and Crowberry, and as the latter was manifestly not " fit," most people dismissed him! from their calculations. \ . ■ , ,j.,

The Duke of /Portland's colfc was another matter. Rumour said Ayrshire badbeen coughing, bat -he looked grand, and both his owner and: young George Dawson were quiet. --: '■ -■ : ■;;,-. V ''-••' In the ling there was abj amount of money for 'the .favourite, bub most of the, book-makers Lad closed their books. The few willing ;to 3b busines? asked for 3 to 1, and in many cases 7to 2 was laidion Friar's1 Balaam. ,'• , ■ ■, " ! In London some large sums ware saved through commissioners, being unable to get them on. OnelrWlkhbwtneWruitlessly', to lay 1,000 to 300, on the favourite. Abouib Ayrshire; on the other hand, 8 tol could have been had to large sums. Crowberry s. price was 15 to 1; Orbit's 100 to 7, whilßb;; 25's and 50's were nominally on offer againsb Johnny-Morgan and-Ossory. The small "field got away at the first attempt, and came sweeping along at a; smart pace led by Johnny Morgan with ■ Ayrshire on the right and the favourite in' the centre. Ossory was beaten after going half-a-mile,aud at the Bushes a deafening rbar informed air whom it might concern that Cannon was at work on the crack. _ln an6fc¥er moment the hope of Kingsclere fell' back beaten, and Ayrshire, collaring bis stable companion in the dip, won in a common canter by ; a couple #Mftfc Orbit was only beaten -a bead oy Johhny Morgan for the second place, then came Crowberry. some distance m front of Friar's Balsam, with %«! ;off last. Excuses are madeior the fa\om ite on the ground that he wasrsuffmng from an abscess of the jaw which^rokem his mouth whilst running and almat. choked him with blood and matton * that as it may, the colt never lairiy to k Friar's Balsam.