ENGLISH SPORTING.

Evening Star, Issue 9473, 18 August 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

ENGLISH SPORTING.

[From Our Special Correspondent.]

London, June 30. A RUNNING RECORD. The hard-working Ashton Harrier, Fred. E. Bacon, added another leaf to his laurel crown on Monday by beating Sid Thomas's record for five miles on a grass track by six seconds. Bacon was helped to his magnificent performance by Thomas and the Southern Counties cross-country champion, H. Watkins, of the Walthamston Harriers. The venue was Plumstead, and the occasion the Spartan Harriers'sports, of which the five-mile level race between the champions named was the final and most attractive item. The runners were sent on their journey to a dead level start, and Bacon, though anxious to set the pace, was only a yard ahead at the end of the first lap. The trio alternated at the head of affairs thereafter, Watkins leading by a foot or so at the mile (4min 33 3 ec). Thomas then took first place, and was in front (a bare yard) at two miles (9min SBsec). Watkins again took up the running, and the third mile was reeled off in Hmin 56 2-ssec. In close company the trio negotiated the fourth mile, all running apparently well within themselves. '' Twenty minutes seven seconds, said the time-keeper as Bacon passed him at the head of affairs, with Watkins and Thomas m close attendance. The last mile was a sprint all the way. At a terrific pace Bacon took his game opponents along, but it was not until the last lap was entered that he could get away even a yard. From that point the Ashton man improved his position inch by inch until, thoroughly baked, he broke the tape 2jsds in front of Thomas and 6yds in front of Watkins. Bacon's time was 24min 47sec. Thomas's previous best was 24min 53sec, so that all three were within the previous record.

THE END OF A BLACK ASCOT. Backers have seldom experienced a blacker Ascot than the once just over. From the Stakes ou Tuesday to the Hardwickc ou Friday good thing after good thing was steadily bowled over. Perhaps the Hunt

Cup afternoon was the worst, for, in addition to bad luck, punters enjoyed bad weather, the rain pouring down in torrents all the time. Nevertheless, the usual number of " absolute certainties" were whispered about in the dripping enclosures, and the bookies under their umbrellas seemed as busy as usual. The ultimate winner proved to be the one animal of the twenty-three never mentioned. MrWorton, the owner, contented himself with two bets of 1,000 to 15, and the trainer had a solitary wager of 500 to 10. In the race itself Victor Wild (4 yrs, 7.7) slipped the field, and though the Jubilee winner, Avington (4 yrs, 9.2), got upsides with him a few yards from home he couldn't quite get in front, and was defeated by half a length.

Iu the rich Coronation Stakes, of 2,600 sovs, for three-year-old fillies, the penalised Oaks victress Amiable (9.10) M'as not so much fancied as Mr Mantou's Jocasta (8.10) and the Australian - owned Glare (8.10). Neither, however, had anything to do with the finish, Sir F. Johnstone's Throstle winning by a head from Mr Maple's Royal Victoria, and Jocasta and Amiable making a dead heat for third place. Betting 10 to 1 against Throstle. On Thursday the historic New Stakes, of 1,790 sovs, for two-year-olds, fell to au outsider from Kiugsclere. The Duke of Westminster's Kissing Cup (by Hampton—Sterling Love) had been beaten in her trial, and ran unbacked, starting at 100 to 7. When, however, it came to racing she beat the favorites, Nipper and Kirkconnel, easily, winning by half a length from Mr Houldsworth's Cheery (by St. Simon —Sunrise). Kissing Cup is a sister to Wedding Bell, and was purchased by the Duke as a yearling for 2,400 guineas. The Gold Cup (value 1,000 sovs, with 2,000 added) proved the good thing it looked for La Fleche (5 yrs, 9.1), who had only the French Callistrate (4 yrs, 9.0) and three commoners to beat; and Baron Hirsch's grand mare easily landed the 5 to 2 plungers laid on her. She should thereafter have retired from the turf, but the Baron foolishly started her for, the Hardwickc Stakes, of 2,000 sovs, against the unlucky Ravensbury on Friday. It seemed all llic odds of 5 to 1 the Ring invited "the talent" to lay on St. Simon's daughter. Probably, however, she was stale after the Cup race. Any way, the mare could not beat Mrßose'B horse in a severe finish, and stalling her off the latter won by half a length. Another "big pot" went down iu the Rous Memorial, when Colonel North's El Diablo (5 yrs, 8.12) was easily beaten by Lord Cadogan's Court Ball (3 yrs, 7.9), three others being behind. Odds of 5 to 2 were laid on El Diablo, 6 to 1 being betted against Court Ball. On Friday Aborigine followed up his Stakes victory by winning the three-mile Alexandra Plate, Callistratro, who was favorite, suffering defeat, mainly through Dodge's bad riding, by half a length.

The only other feature of the meeting I need refer to was the success of the Royal colors in the St. James's Palace Stakes and Thirty-third Triennial, the Prince of Wales's Florteell carrying off both, to the delight of the mob.

NOBTHUMBERLAND PLATE. Since the removal of the venue of the Northumberland Plate from the Town Moor at Newcastle to Gosforth Park the great summer handicapof the North has lost much of its vitality. This year Red Ensign, who ran. so well at Ascot, was made favorite directly the weights appeared, and, with I'Anson's Newcourt {6 yrs, 8.3), who won in 1892, practically monopolised the wagering. On Tuesday evening Sir R. Jardine's colt was backed down to 6 to 4, Newcourt standing at 4 to 1. On Wednesday morning, however, the former was scratched, having lamed himself in his box, and Newcourt became a raging hob favorite.

Eight animals went to the' PP» w •Neweourt finished whilst 6 to 1 was bettedC wood's Xylophone (4 yrs, ,S>%rS t&h Mr Sherwood's Hawkeakry 10 to IMr BothsohUd's RodwnoW yrs, 7.0), and 100 to 6 any other,/ -.-.:* - The race requires little desCTtpfioßi as Neweourt always held a niee plaw, and;, shooting to the front at the distance, von in a canter by Wo lengths froflrHawkesbuiy, Mr Wilson's Tilton (4 yrs, 0.0) third. • Neweourt won both the Northumberland Plate and the North Autumn Plate in 1892, and was just beaten by Faddy for the Manchester November Handicap* Last year the only race he won was the Lewes Handicap, but he ran unplaced in several.