CAPAND JACKET

A New York paper calls lawn- tennis "Presbyterian baseball." The value of the St. Leger was £0025, or £525 less than last year. It U said that Mr. W. Long intends taking Grand Flaneur to England. Benson, the Great Turf Fraud, was said to be lying seriously ill in Portsmouth Convict Prison when the mail left England. The total number who went to the Melbourne Cup by rail was 56,492, as compared with 43,085 last year, and 42,550 in 1878. The Doncaster St. Leger of 1882 has closed with 209 subscribers, a falling off as compared with the 236 of 1881, and 259 of the present year. Count Lagrange's Maskelyne, by Albert Victor, out of Palmistry, won the Hopeful Stakes for two-year-olds at the Newmarket First October Meeting. The time honoured Select Stakes, at the Second October Meeting, fell to Lord Wilton's Toastmaster, Valentino, second ; and Mask, third. Musket's son, Petronel (carrying 7st. 51bs.), started first favourite for the Cesarewitch at sto 1. He ran nowhere. Grand Flaneur's performance in the Produce Stakes is the fastest on record in the world. Distance, 1J mile ; time, 2min. llf sec. Mr. John Tait. This well-known racing man has, in his 65th year, again become a Benedict. His late wife, it may be remembered, died a short time before he left for the old country. The receipts of the Victoria Racing Club for last year amounted to £11,743 17s. lid., and the amount paid in stakes at the Spring, Champion, and Autumn Meetings amounted to a total of £25,385. Two of Musket's progeny ran in the Cesarewitch, viz., the Duke of Beaufort's Petronel, and Colonel Cape's Caroline, a three-year-old bay filly, out of Carine, carrying sst. 131bs. The night before the race for the C.J.C. Handicap, the betting in Christchurch was 3 to 1 each against Foul Play and Betrayer, 4 to 1 against Le Loup, and 5 to 1 Piscatorins. Thebais (a stable companion of St. Louis), by Hermit-Devotion, carried off the Buckenham Stakes, and the Thirty-Third Triennial, at the First October Meeting, and the Great Challenge Stakes, at the Second October Meeting. Lord Falmouth/s Muriel (a half sister to the peerless Jannette, by Parmesan, out of Cheirsaunce), who lost all form during the summer, recovered it miraculously at the Second October Meeting, when she beat Cipolata in the Newmarket Oaks. Luke Blackburn, this year's king of the American tixrf, has already won nineteen out of twentyone races this season, and has earned upwards of 35,000 dols. He is by imported Bonnie Scotland, is named after the present Governor of Kentucky, and was bred by J. and A. C. Franklin, of Gallatin, Tennessee. Beacon supplies the following amusing item : — " At Blacks, on the day of the match between Sam and The Devil, the hat was sent round amongst the spectators, and funds were collected for a couple of hack races. The first was a handicap. The owners of Cappa and Schoolboy entered their respective horses. The owner of Cappa, feeling confident of winning paid the entrance fee for a horse owned by W. Dnndass, so as to make it more interesting. Dundass rode the race without a saddle/and won it easily amid great applause, but much to the dissatisfaction of Cappa' s owner.' The following particulars of the race for the Cesarewitch, the bare result of which was cabled some weeks ago, are culled from the "New York Herald:— " The race brought twenty-one horses to the post, and the betting at the start was 17 to 2 against Robert the Devil, 11 to 2 against Cipolata, 11 to 2 against The Star, 14 to 1 against Ketreat, 10 to 1 against Chippendale, 20 to 1 against School Boy, and 33 to 1 against Wallenstem. Cipolata and Eobert the Devil remained with the middle of the second division for a mile, but they slightly improved their position when crossing the Flat. Coming down the Hill into the Dip, Eobert the Devil shot out, followed by Cipolata, and won in a canter by four lengths, with a length between Cipolata and The Star. The time of the race was 4inin. 19sec. Retreat, Chippendale, and School Boy came in fourth, fifth, and sixth respectively, while Pacific, Eurus, and Jessie Agnes were the last three. Cannon rode Eobert the Devil ; Fordham, Cipolata; Orton, The Star ; and Greaves, Wallenstom. The extraordinary series of triumphs achieved by Eobert the Devil this autumn throw into the shade even the great deeds of Gladiateur, Blue Gown, and other historical three year olds. After winning the St. Leeer in a canter, Mr. Brewer's colt was brought out for the Great Foal Stakes (£2697) at Newmarket First October Meeting. In this event he met the renowned , Bend Or, ridden by Archer, at even weights (9st. 51bs. each), not to mention Lord Falmouth's Muriel and four other moderate three year olds. The betting was 65 to 40 on Eobert, and 9to 4 against Bend Or. Eobert made the running till they reached the distance, when he was collared by the Derby winner, and just managed to win an exciting race by a short head. Despite this somewhat hardly won victory the colfc became a great favourite for the Cesarewitch, which, as will be seen elsewhere, lie won ridiculously easily, Robert was then brought out for the Champion Stakes on the last day of the same meeting, and astounded every one by literally running away from Bend Or, whom he again beat this tune by ton lengths. How Eobert the Devil came to lose the Derby will ever remain a. mystery. That he is the best colt of the year seems now evident. The "Argus " thus describes the race for the ' Melbourne Cvp :— The horses were closely scanned as they -took their preliminary canters, those who had backed. their fancies persuading themselves that their selections were in the finest condition possible, and that victory was certain. The amount of money depending on tke event was certainly greater than on any race ever before run in Australia. The ring stood very badly against the favourites, and anxiously looked for the unknown outsider that was to help them out of their difficulty. The field was reduced to 22 starters, a smaller number than lias contested this race for the last four years. In the paddock Progress was very firm, and lie left off first favourite at 3to 1. Grand Flaneur and Lord Burghley were well supported at 4to 1. Mata retired to 7 to 1. Darriwell was fancied by many, and he advanced considerably in the betting, it being thought the state' of the ground would suit him. Richmond found a good many admirers atthelast. Elastic went to the front as the horses got away, Auckland, Napper Tandy, and Lothai* being next. Eichmondand Secundus were very slow on their legs. Lothair had gone up to first place by the time they reached the stand, the lot going well within themselves. After rounding the turn the pace improved greatly ; Totalisator showed m front for a while, and Chester was running just behind the leaders. Riverton then came up with a spurt, but was soon passed by Lord Burghley, Progress, Mata, and Grand Flaneur. From the abattoirs the race was between Progress, Lord Burghley, and Grand Flaneur, the last-named winning by about a length, Progress and Lord Burghley being next, and close together. Lothaix ran much better than anyone expected, and Richmond took a respectable position at the finish. Mata failed in the last quarter of a mile, and Auckland was never really dangerous in the latter port of the race. Secundus was never in the race from the start, and Darriwell, who got a severe Mck be/ore starting, retired from the main body at the far turn, and finished last. Napper Tandy ran woll forward fq* a little over a mile. The race was run in very good time, though not so fast as last year's Cup by Sisec. The victory of Grand Flaneur will be a heavy blow to the ring, who stood to lose heavily by him."