CAP AND JAKET

R,oehampton walked over for the York Cup for the second year in sueeession. Cipolata carried 7st Gibs, in the Cesarewitch, and "The Star" 6st. 21bs. Messrs. Brewer and Blanton are reputed to have won over £80,000 by Robert the Devil's victory in the Leger. Tom Cannon, and not Rossiter, rode the Leger winner, Constable being on Cipolata, and Webb on The Abbot. The King of Italy has instituted a Roman Derby to be run on the' Campagna racecourse in 1884. The added money will be 24,000 francs or £1000. "People little thought Robert the Devil had 141bs. in hand when he won the Leger, yet the Cesarewitch running proves this to be the case. The Star, who ran third for the Cesarewitch to Robert the Devil and Cipolata, is a three-year-old bay colt by Struau, out of Eadith, belonging to Mr. Joseph Hayhoe, the Newmarket trainer. This year, as last, the three placed horses in the Cesarewitch are three-year-olds. I mention the fact because it shows the three-year-olds of '80 are above, rather than below the average as regards quality. Lord Falmouth's flying two-year-old Bal Gal has added the Prince of Wales's Stakes at York and the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster to her long list of victories. These events are worth about £1200 a piece. Whenever the " Star " attempts to touch sporting matters it comes to grief. In Monday's issue Cipolata was styled "Cypilita;" Roulette, "Poulette," and Bal Gal, " Bui Gal." The following stakes have been paid over the Napier meeting :—Mr. H. Farmer, £184; Mr. W. Walters, £100 • Mr. G. Heslop, £60 ; Mr. James Lyon, £50; Mr. R. M'lvor, £30; Mr. J. B. Hollis, £20. After the meeting in January next, the whole of the Tauranga Racecourse is to be ploughed and laid down in English grass, and a saddling paddock and grandstand erected. The Tauranga Jockey Club intend spending^aboiit £700 on it in the course of the year. Betting on Canterbury spring event appears to be xmchanged. Lure is still undisputed favourite in Derby and Cup, and Betrayer holds his position for the C.J.C. Handicap, the figures last quoted being undisturbed. The betting at the start for the Leger was 5 to 4 on Bend Or, 15 to 4 against Robert the Devil, 12 to 1 against Cipolata, 12 to 1 against The Abbot, 11 to 1 against Zealot, 16 to 1 against Beauminet, 25 to 1 against Jenny Howlet, and 100 to 1 any other. Lord Falmouth, who won the Yorkshire Oaks in 1875"-77, '78 and' 79 with Spinaway, Lady Goligthly, Jannette, and Wheel of Fortune, made a bid for it this year with Muriel, who, however, was defeated by Mr. Chas. Bush's Belfry, a nice looking clio3tnut <t»«v by Cathedral out of La Name. A cable message to the " New York Herald" says:—"The Duke of Westminster's Bend Or was struck in the race for the Leger by Lord Bradford's Zealot, and the former's fetlock was rather badly cut; but the general opinion is that he was beaten at the time of the mishap." All sporting writers concur that the accident did not affect the result- of the race.

The chief event of the first day at Doncaster was the Great Yorkshire Handicap which fell to Mr. Jardine's Goodwood Stakes' winner Reveller, the some owner's Roulette second, and Mr. Crawfurd's Schoolboy, third. Ten ran and the betting at the start was 3 to 1 against Reveller, 16 to 1 against Roulette and 20 to 1 against Schoolboy. It seems pretty certain that the Wellington Spring Meeting will be fairly patronised, It is Mr. "Walters' intention to bring his string to Wellington after the Canterbury Spring Meeting, and to remain here until after the meeting at the Empire city. Sir Hercules Robinson's horses, being stabled at the Hutt, are pretty sure to be entered, while several Wanganui visitors are spoken of. That Robert the Devil lost, and Bend Or won the Epsom Derby by the merest fluke is now only too evident. Whilst the former has assured his position by carrying off not only the Grand Prize and Leger, but that greatest of English handicajis, the Cesarewitch, the unfortunate Bend Or has followed m the footsteps of so many Derby seconds and after one good race faded into insignificance. The Portland Plate, the popular short scurry handicap, run on the third day ofthe Doncaster meeting, was won by Mr. Graham's three-year-old chestnut colt Discount (by Stirling out of Fern), Peter second, and Cainbusdoon, third. " The new Rous Plate for two-year-olds, worth over £1000, was also brought to an issue that day, and won by Lord Rosebery' s unnamed filly by Doncaster out of Czarina. The Bend Or "furore" came to a head on Leger day when odds were absolutely laid on the Derby winner. The muddy ground, however, completely chawed him up, and after showing well in front for three quarters of the way he shut up and the bookmakers cheered till they were hoarse. Poor Archer, whose luck seems to have deserted him since he raet with the accident to his arm, looked terribly disappointed, when he dismounted. The Great Yorkshire Stakes, a race prolific in surprises, kept up its reputation this year. There were eleven starters, the favourite being a colt named Victor Emanuel, who, however, was nowhere. The winner turned iip in the outest of outsiders, Mr. Vyner's Napsbury (by Scottish Chicf — Mandragora,) who beat Lord Falmouth's Apollo, and Lord Rosebery's Prince Palatine by halt' a length. Time, 3 mm, 12 sees. Value of the stakes, £2700. The more one thinks about Robert the Devil's victory in the Cesarewitch the more remarkable it seems. From papers to hand by the mail, I gather that 134 horses were handicapped, Isononiy heading the list with lOst. 21bs. The weight assigned to Robert tbo Devil was B.=st. 41bs. but in accordance with the condition which 2>rovide3 that the Leger winner must carry at least Bst. I Gibs., the colt had certainly 21bs. more on his back. Now in the history of the race, no three-year-old ever got home under such a burden. The 83t. 61bs. proviso was not in vogue when The Baron 7st. 91bs., and Faugha Ballagh, Bst., (both Leger winners) carried off the Cesarewitch, and even the great Julius only got Bst. home successfully. Everything considered, I think the achievement is the greatest handicap performance of modern times, aud 1 shall be much surprised if the home papers don't back me up in this opinion. A cable message to the New York " Herald" says: — Twelve horses started for the St. Leger. The weather was cold, wet, and cheerless, and the course very muddy. The flag fell to a capital start at precisely four o'clock, afc which time it was raining hard.. Bend Or, who was on the inside, was first away, with Robert the Devil, Zealot, Cipolata, The Abbot, Beauminet and Jenny Howlet bunched, and the Maryland colt for whipper in. Novice went to the front on settling down to work, with Incendiary second. Half a mile from home Novice and Incendiary were beaten by Bend Or, who took a slight lead of the Abbot, Robert the Devil, Apollo and Cipolata in the order named. Three furlongs j from home the favorite Bend Or, got in trouble and Robert the Devil shot out with a clear lead and won easily by three lengths, with a neck between Cipolata, second, and The Abbot, third. Zealot came in fourth, Beauiniuefc, fifth, and Bend Or sixth. Time, 3min. 32secs.