ENGLISH SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1157, 4 May 1894, Page 23

ENGLISH SPORTING NOTES.

From Our Special Correspondent. London, March 10. The Grand Military Meeting at Saudown Park on Friday and Saturday was a brilliant success, fine weather and good sport rejoicing the hearts of the past and present army men, who rolled up in tlioir thousands from Windsor, Aldershot, Woolwich and town. The Grand Military Gold Cup (three miles), as usual, formed tho piece dc resistance, eight “swagger” chasers competing. Of these the famous Midshipmito (aged, 13st 71b), probably the best animal in England over tho distance, opened a strong favourite at 3 to 1, but Captain Hu ghes’/Esop (aged, list 121 b) and Captain Gordon’sLeybourne (Gyrs, list 71b) wero soon, by weight of the _ “ oof bird,” brought to similar rates. Finally, 5 to 2 was laid Leybourne, 3 to 1 Midshipmite, 7 to 2 iEsop, 5 to 1 Colonel Gough’s Playwright (4yrs, list), and 10 to 1 others. The field, bar two outsiders, wero all in it for two miles, in fact until reaching the last ditch. Here VEsop led over, and Playwright, Seaside and Dalkeith came down, Leybourne blundering badly. Midshipmito then waited on iEsop till three fences from home, whoro he took tho lead, and seemed about to win easily. ‘After, however, clearing the final hurdle, iEsop came again, and fairly wearing Midshipmito down, won by a length and a half, Leybourne ton lengths off third. iEsop is by Chippendale —Fable, and ran second to Cloister for last year’s Grand National.

The death is announced of Mr H. P. Bromhead, well known to sportsmen all over tho world as “ Boris,” of the Referee. “Brum,” as ho was called by friends, seemed a big, strong fellow, in the prime of life, and not the least likely to hand in his checks for 30 years to come —yet in less than a fortnight typhoid had laid him low. He was an- admirable sporting writer, and as a tipster far more successful than many pretentious comrades. Everybody liked him, and —what is more important with a man in his position—trusted him. R.I.P.

The first important race tho present Prime Minister won was tho City and Suburban of 1874, with Aldrich, who started at 40 to 1. The result was voted a fluke, as rounding Tattenham corner Petition fell, bringing down the favourite, Bull's Eye, and several others as well. In connection with this race an oft-told and woll-authonticatod dream-story is related. Riding down by train to Epsom Spring Meeting, Lord Rendlosham remarked to Sir Frederick Johnstone that he had dreamt a horse called Tho Curate won the City and Suburban; “But,” lie went on, “1 see there’s no such animal in the race.” “ Oh, yes, there is,” was the unexpected reply; “Lord Rosebery’s Aldrich was originally called The Curate.” Lord Rendlosham sought out Lord Rosebery and asked if this wero so. “ Certainly,” His Lordship answered, “ but I wouldn’t back him if l were you. We tried him not to have aSO to 1 chance.” Nevertheless, Lord Rendlosham risked £3OO, and landed close on £25,000. Just 10 years later Lord Rosebery again won the City and Suburban with a horse that had been badly beaten in its homo trial. This was Roystorer, who, after coming to 20 to 1, fell back after his trial to 50 to 1. Charles Archer and Lord Ellesmere’s party hoped to pull oft a big coup with Lowland Chiof on this occasion. Fifty yards from tho post the latter had won, but Roysteror, who had boon shut in, came through on the inside just in time, and won by a head.

One of the best horses Lord Rosebery ever owned was Controversy, who won him the Lincolnshire Handicap and Liverpool Summer Cup, and was matched against tho champion miler of 1874 to 1870, the brilliant Lowlander.

The Bend Or—Lily Agnes cross became a dead failure after Ormondo astonished us all. Since the champion was foaled, no fewer than six of his brothers and sisters have entered the world. Of these, only one (Assory, in 1885) proved ablo to win a race, and the majority could not even be trained. There is now at Kingsclere a two-year-old brother to Ormonde called Orelis, who seems as hopeless a 9 the rest. Let us hope the colt foaled at Eaton a month ago may prove worthier of his lineage. Supposing, by the way, the Duke of Westminster had auctioned these brothers and sisters of Ormonde as yearlings, how much richer would he be ? Well, I should say between £12,000 and £IB,OOC. • • • • Lord Alinas has V99H moflt plutfy

with his mares, Thistle (tho dam of ;

Common) having been barren throe years in succession, and on each occasion to a 230guinea sire. This season, too, Flower of Dorset (dam of Friar’s Balsam) has also failed to produce anything to Ayrshire. Match Girl, however, is in foal to Donovan.

The Duke of Portland’s young Donovans were so good looking as foals that he engaged them heavily, and fully hoped that Anax (by Donovan —Dodona) would be cherry ripe to carry the black and white colours prominently at Lincoln. He was, however, badly beaten in a by no means high trial, and will not start till much later in the season.

Mr MacCalmont has decided not to run Isinglass for the Ascot Cup, but to reserve him specially for the Hardwicko Stakes (£2000) at Ascot, the Princess of Wales’ Stakes (£10,000) at Newmarket in July, the Eclipse Stakes (£10,000) at Saudown, and the Jockey Club Stakes; of £IO,OOO, at Newmarket on Ist October. In all these, Ladas, Matchbox, Son o’ Mine, Raeburn and Ravensbury are likewise engaged. Tho only Derby winners who have (lone well at four years of ago in the last 20 years are Bend Or, St. Gatien, Ormonde and Ayrshire.

If Mrs Butterwick, the sensational victress of last year’s Oaks, is in form, the Lincolnshire Handicap will be won by the Duke of Westminster’s Grey Leg. What weights the pair carried in last week’s trial only Geo. Dawson and tho two ducal owners know. As, however, all three smile at the idea of the son of Pepper and Salt’s defeat, tho test must have been a pretty high one. I cannot, nevertheless, help recalling the fate of Bread Knife and Bird of Freedom, both exceptionally good three-year-olds, at Lincoln. The latter, a month later, won tho City and Suburban, and at Epsom Summer Meeting the Grand Prize. Yet at Lincolu, in a far worse field, he could only get second. This was likewise the position occupied by I’Anson’s Bread Knife, like Grey Leg, an unbeaten two-year-old, and a tremendous “ pot,” backed right down to 2 to 1.

Those who are taking 15 to 8 about Cloister rfgain beating tho record and winning tho Grand National with 12st 71b on her aged back must bo sanguine souls. Why, in a big field it is quite 4 to 1 against a good chaser getting the Liverpool courso without disaster, let alone winning. Last year the ground was all in Cloister’s favour, but this it looks liko being heavy and holding. Of course, should next week bo fine and tho going good, Cloisters chance would improve; but even on tlio courso on .a dry day I would rather lay than take 2 to 1. If I betted, 1 should prefer to take 100 to 5 iEsop.

As was to be expected, tlio anecdotard is terribly busy with our new Premier, The fables and stories now going tho rounds of club smoking rooms and other centres of “authoritivo intelligence ” are not all now. Some of them, indeed, havo already done prodigious service attached to tlio names of other political lights, but a sporting legend, current in racing circles just now, is good enough to tell again. Air Harry Ulph, a leading “ bookie,” is tlio authority, and George Washington has no better reputation for veracity. Tlio story goes that one day at Newmarket, en route to the course, Lord Rosebury asked Ulph wliat price ho would lay against a certain horse for one of tho big races. The “ bookie ” named a figure rather under than over the current market odds. Lord Rosebery rode on a few paces; and then pulling, said confidentially to tho bookmaker, “Ulph.” “Yes, m’Lord,” replied the ever ready ponciller. “ I ought to have told you that such prices as satisfied Lord Daimeny will not do for Lord Rosebery.” And with this gentle hint the future Premier rode oil.

Mr Ulph is an ardent Gladstonian, and on one occasion, it is said, left a race meeting in order that 110 might record liis vote for the Gladstonian candidate in a remote constituency. The journey involved the loss of a profitable day’s pencilling (outsiders rolled home in almost every race), but as it turned out, Ulph’s political patriotism saved the election, for tho Home Rule candidate won by one vote. Ulph had his reward. Lord Rosebery heard the story, and a favourable opportunity occurring, introduced the bookmaker to the Grand Old Man.