ENGLISH,

Otago Witness, Issue 1765, 19 September 1885, Page 21

ENGLISH,

In the absence of anything extraordinary in the way of racing during the July meeting at Newmarket, the feature of the week v was, of course, the somewhat sensational sale of the Blankney yearlings. A total of 19,560 guineas, giving an average of 1630 guineas, or £1711 10s for each of the 12 lots offered, is decidedly something out of the common even in these goahe»d days, and shows that Mr Chaplin was not awarding undue praise when he declared Hermit — 10 out of 12 yearlings were by Hermit — to be the best friend he ever had. The high estimation in which the stock of this famous sire is held was also shown by the extravagant price of 3900 guineas — the highest price ever paid for a yearling filly — realised by the daughter of Hermit and Adelaide. To uou-racing persons giving such fabulous sums for baby racehorses may seem not very . far removed from buying a pig in a poke, but it is enough for the racing man to know that " nearly all the Hermits can run," although some failures must now and then occur, as in the cases of St. Honorat and Qupen Adelaide, the latter an own sister to tlje 3900 guineas heroine. In comparison with the Blankney average, that of other studs seemed small, though Lord Wolverton's 10 brought 5160 guineas, giving an average of 516 guineas each; while the Park Paddock youngsters, seven in number, averaged 410 guineas, the total being 2870 guineas. Thirty years ago the most ambitious breeder would have been satisfied at a sale resulting in the figures of the Iwerne or Park Paddock studs. In 1830, 350 guineas was called by the Druid an apocryphal average. In 1849, General Anson, with the help of Hernandez, received an average priceof 244 guineas for each of his eight yearlings. 1853 appears to have been the palmy time for the royal yearliugs, as fourteen of them averaged 441 guineas, — 142| was the figure this year. In 1855 M* .JohnstonVs averaged 311 guineas each

for fifteen, but for this he was indebted to Lord of the Hills, who, after being put in at 200 guineas was sold for 1800 guineas. The late Mr Stirling (Jrawfurd was the buyer of that unlucky youngster, aud broke the record in tho matter of price. Formerly yearlings might have gone for better averages, but, the Druid tolls us, people were not above taking part in a " knock out," and then dividing the plunder afterwards by tossing up for the several lots. The Kedger and Weatherbit, the same authority informs us,/ were brought under one of these organised swindles, " Lord George Bciitinck losing the toss for both of them." There is still, perhaps, a certain amount of ramping at some sales ; but in the main we have improved on the knock-out principal, as anyone could see for himself at the late sales at NeWmarket. Middle aged racing men have not yet forgotten the year 1866, when the Middle Park yearlings averaged 403 guineas, or the following year when on the Bth of June and the 6th of July, 77 of Mr Blenkiron's yearlings brought 32,185 guineas, giving an average of 418 guineas. At this sale six yearlings were bought at prices between 1000 and 2000 guineas, and one for 2000 guineas by Mr Padwick. Then again at the sale of 1871 there was scarcely less talk when Mat Dawson secured a son of Macaroni and Reginella for 1650 guineas, a colt by Saunterer— Bess Lyoh for 1150 guineas, and a third, by Knowsley — Isilia, for 100 guineas less. Yet such prices are common enough now. The Derby of 1845, sensational enough in all conscience so far as this world is concerned, did not pass without adding a spice of the supernatural to its other wonders. Upon the night of the third Sunday before its occurrence, Mrs Clifton, the wife of a wine merchant in Old Jewry, dreamed that she saw the Derby won by a very bay horse, upon whose back was seated a jockey in a brown jacket with crimson sleeves, and with a green cap upon his head. So vivid was the dream that ' rapt into future times,' the prophetess tormented her husband into borrowing a • Racing Calendar,' in order that she might ascertain whose colours she had seen in her sleep. The book was carefully examined, but no such colours could be found in it. Having ridiculed her vision, Mr Clifton thought no more about it, until, upon the following Sunday night, it was repeated with still more distinctness. The lady became intensely excited, and consulted several racing men, who could throw no light upon the matter. For the third and last time the dream came again upon the Sunday night, before the race, and then Mrs Clifton resolved that she would accompany her husband to Epsom, and see the Derby horses take their preliminary canters. She went, and was told by some habitue of the racecourse, that since the publication of the ' Book Calendar,' Mr Gratwicke had changed his colours from drab and green sleeves with green cap to chocolate and crimson sleeves with crimson cap. Doleful cantered past with Harry Bell in the new colours upon his. back, but failed by reason of his red cap to correspond withthelady's vision. Immediately behind hini* followed Frank Bell upon Merry Monarch, who carried Mr Gratwicke's second colours — chocolate and crimson sleeves with green cap. ' That's my horse !' screamed Mrs Clifton, excited beyond expression — 'the very horse that I have thrice seen in a dream !' The husband ran down to invest her £10, and reported, with an unconcealed sneer,thathehad found no difficulty in obtaining 1000 to 10." As the world is aware, the colt won.

Pluck is, of course, a great element of a jockey's success, and in this Archer is conspicuous (says an English writer). On the Thursday at Newmarket July meeting Rosary bolted with Archer, and he was absolutely powerless to stop her. She got her tongue over the bit nnd galloped on in spite of his efforts — and it takes a puller to get away with Archer. He could get her head up ; indeed, he almost had the bit in his hands, but she showed a strong desire to go to Cambridge in spite of all he could do to keep her at Newmarket. As she flew past the plantation Archer, with a mighty tug, pulled her round, and heided her for a place where big trees grew thickly together. He "thought that would stop her," as he afterwards explained to Jewitt, and so it did. But fancy galloping deliberately into a wood on a wild runaway mare ! In Australia horses make their way in and out of trees at a wonderful pace, but these are not two-year-olds. The mere thought of the awful smash there might have been makes one shudder.

With his win in the July Plate at Manchester The Bard, the unbeaten son of Petrarch and Magdalene, scored his fourteenth success, the value of the races he has secured amounting to over £8000. F. Archer has steered him on twelve occasions, and C Wood on two.

Of the seven races decided at Leicester, F. Archer had mounts in half a dozen, and succeeded in winning five of them, only missing the sixth when C. Wood, on Minx, in the Tuesday Selling Plate, beat Panic by the shortest of heads.

"It would heem," say& Truth, " that the Prince of Wales intends to take seriously to racing, as he has entered one yearling for the Derby of 1887 and another for tho Oaks, the pair having been purchased for 1500 guineas dtxring the Newmarket July sales by Porter, of Kingsclerc, who is to train them. 1 hold a very strong opinion that the Prince would have done better to abstain from the manifold perils of ownership. It may be hoped, however, that he will be more fortunate in all respects than were his grand-uncles, for the racing career of George IV. was disgraceful, and ca,used a succession of flagrant scandals, while the Duke of York's connection with the turf was not only utterly ruinous, but was fruitful in highly equivocal transactions ; and it is at least certain that turf morality has not improved during the last sixty years."

The old-established event, known as the Goodwood Stakes, first run for in 1823, has this year fallen through owing to there being fewer than ten acceptances, the conditions having stipulated that number should remain after the declaration of forfeits. To the nine horses accepting the stewards offered the sum of 300 soys. to be run for on the same conditions as the original "stakes," providing six stai-ted, and the event received the name of the Goodwood Plate.