THE RECORD AGAIN BEATEN.

Evening Star, Issue 7652, 30 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RECORD AGAIN BEATEN.

HUNTING'S EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE, SCENE AT KEMPTON. [Fkom Our Special Correspondent.] London, May 14. It has been my luck to witness many great races and extraordinary performances during the last five years—first one animal and then another having astonished us by beating the record—but never have I seen, nor (I suppose) shall I again see anything at all like Minting’s victory at Kempton Park last Saturday. It was not that the great horse won, carrying the unprecedented weight of 10st. Bendigo’s performance under 9st 71b had prepared us for that possibility. But it was the way the victory was secured. In the first place there was a delay of half-an-hour, and seven false starts at the post. No joke this for an animal carrying lOst. So convinced, indeed, did many of the oldest and most experienced bookmakers become of the impossibility of Miuting’s task, under the circumstances, that they overlaid the favorite many times. At last, when the field did get off, little Chandley, who was on Cobbler, and had given the starter most of the trouble, managed after all to steal about three lengths. These he quickly increased to ten ; in fact, so big did the gap presently become that most oi us on the stand thought Mr Haughton’s colt would never be caught. Half-a-mile from home Cobbler was still careering on ahead. Then, however, the favorite emerged from the ruck and essayed to catch him. This was the supremely anxious moment of the race. Fortunately it was only a moment, for Minting’s immense stride soon began to tell its tale. Sailing along as though lOst were a feather, Mr Vynor’s great horse quickly closed up the gap, ana, heading Cobbler opposite the stands, won in a common canter by three lengths, which Webb could easily have made four or five. To realise the full significance of this performance one requires to remember that the nineteen runners for the second Great Jubilee Stakes represented the flower of our handicap horses. Never, I should think, were there more genuine triers in a big race than on the present occasion. Florentine, Tyrone, Thunderstorm, Ashplant, Diavolo, GalUnule, and Cobbler, had each large parties behind them, who considered defeat impossible, Captain Machell told his allies be had tried Florentine higher than he had ever tried any horse of his before. “ Diavolo,” whispered Robert Peck to a pririledged few, “ represents Harpenden at fist 101b ” ; while Ashplant’s supporters averred boldly that their long bottled-up one could do anything with the Chester Cup winner Kinsky. In the paddock Thunderstorm was pronounced over-trained, and Diavolo sweated profusely. The latter, I may here mention, finished absolutely last. Maxim ran well, and so did Tyrone, whom the judge erroneously placed second instead of third. With Minting out of the way, Cobbler would have landed a very nice coup and Maxim have got a place. The public and the plungers are the biggest winners by Minting’s victory. To the former Bendigo is always Bendigo, and Minting Minting, without regard to the weights carried. The plungers, too, like hot favorites and generally stand them. Mr Benzon won L 35,000 by Minting’s success, and Lord Dudley L 15,000. The race, however, was a capital betting one, and bookmakers who betted to figures and refrained from taking liberties with the favorite must have got nearly round. Mr Vyner was in grand form at Kempton, as, in addition tq the Jubilee Stakes of 3,000 sovs, ho won the grand priae with Crowberry, The cheering which greeted Minting’s victory was of the heartiest description, and must have done much to console Mat Dawson for the 2,000 guineas disappointment of 1886. It will be remembered that prior to that race the popular trainer declared Minting the grandest animal he had ever had through his hands. Then came Ormonde’s easy victory over the “ crack,” and Mat was much upset. Later, the son of Lord Lyon won the Grand Prix de Paris without an effort, and seemed likely to vindicate his reputation by carrying off the Eclipse States. On the eve, however, of the race his leg filled, and Bendigo was left to score a semi-bloodless victory over St. Gatien and Candlemas. Last Ascot, Minting (himself again) came out a grand looking four-year-old, and defeated St. Mirin and the great Bendigo over the severe new mile. This was evidently such a mere exercise canter to him that Ormonde’s backers for once trembled, and even Porter for a moment hesitated wlrther to risk defeat in the Hardwicke Stakes. How the two equine giants met again at level weights, and how after an Homeric struggle the Two Thousand Guineas’ form was triumphantly vindicated, you all know. It remained only for Minting to win on Saturday to show what an incomparable animal Ormonde was. By the way, it is now clear Bendigo’s Ascot form was about right. Minting, according to Saturday’s race, must have been 141b in front of Bendigo, and Ormonde we know was from 51b to 71b in front of Minting.