SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Marlborough Express, Volume I, Issue 4, 8 January 1880, Page 3

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

It is believed that it was Mr John Smith, draper, and not His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, who offered 500 guineas for Libeller. The English Derby of 1880 will be run on Wednesday, May 26. Ascot will commence on Juneß, and Goodwood on July 27. •‘Robin Hood” says:—“To show bow bad an animal may occasionally win a good race, it may be instanced that Charibert, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, has been privately sold by Lord Falmouth for 350 guineas, and that Sir Bevys, the Derby winner, has become now so confirmed a roarer that he has been turned out of training ; and one writer, I see, says he is under orders for Mr Rothschild’s seat, at Mentmore, to be trained as a carriage horse. Fancy a Derby winner in the park.” Some days prior to the Newmarket-Hougbton meeting great excitement was caused from the announcement that Lartington, a very prominent favourite, had been scratched. This was announced by Messrs Weatherby to those who called at their office lately to be quite correct. On the same evening, however, the horse arrived at Newmarket, looking wonderfully well, and Osborne, his trainer, who had come with him, was perfectly thunderstruck when he heard the news—and, in fact, absolutely refused to believe it. On -Sunday Mr Bragg, the owner of the horse, arrived at the headquarters of the turf, and at once said he had never scratched the horse, or authorised anyone else to do it. It was afterwards ascertained that Messrs Weatherby had received a letter signed “Mary Wilson f" which said Mr Bragg was tcib ill to

write, but had asked her (his housekeeper) t ■ write, and scratch the horse. This seemed perfectly genuine, but the whole affair turned out to be a forgery, and Mary Wilson an imaginary being. This is the second time this sort of a hoax has been played on Messrs Weathcrby, and it is intended now to arrange a code word with each owner, so that every letter or telegram must bear the magic word on its face.