ENGLISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 17 June 1887, Page 24

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN.

Haggin, the California!? millionaire, who is rapidly obtaining the most extensive 'stable in the world, announces positively that he will continue to nominate colts' for the English Derby till he gets what he considers a winner and will soon send a stable across the Atlantic. A fearsome legend is current just now in the villages surrounding ' Newmarket. Heath (says the London correspondent of a' Duue'din daily). Every night at 12 (so'the story goes), the ghost of poor Fred Archer, wearing the Manton scarlet, rides frantically across, the Heath, mounted on a grey ' thoroughbred. Hundreds profess to have seen the spectre, and any scepticism on the point is very ill-received. v. ' . It is said that the owner of Roquefort' gave the well-known " amateur " E. P. Wilson £500 10 days before the Grand National Steeplechase not to ride anything in the meantime for fear of accidents. In the English Racing Calendar the name of the Prince of Wales appears at the head of the list of nominations' for the Derby and Oaks, but it is a remarkable coincidence that in each'instance his nomination is returned as' " dead." Fiery French bookmakers and their numerous patrons do not submit gracefully to interference by the police with their business and pleasure in the matter of laying and taking odds. 'The cable informs us that a scene of great excitement, which might < have resulted seriously, was witnessed at the Auteuil races recently, Amid' cries of " down with the police!" and " restore betting!" a mob, led by the bookmakers, 'surrounded the commissaries of police and tried to force them toward the river. A scuffle ensued, during which some of the crowd were pushed into the river, but escaped with a ducking. The police got off uninjured. Five of the mob were taken into custody. The attempted stealing of J. D. Astley's watch (narrated b> us recently) had the' following sequel: —" At Epsom police court yesterday,' John Reading was charged with stealing a gold watch, valued at £60, the property of Sir John Astley. The prosecutor stated that, as he'was going into the paddock on Tuesday afternoon, he saw a disturbance, and in a minute the roughs surrounded him, and seeing that one of .them had snatched his watch he ran after him. • H« ultimately succeeded in affecting his'capture, when the prisoner took the watch out of the; thief's hand and ran away with it. He ran after him, and on reaching him knocked him down and applied a little pressure with his knee on the man's stomach. (Laughter.) At this juncture somebody within the court sang, *In came M'Gillitop and sat upon his' chest.' He was immediately ordered to leave the court. Sir John got his watch again, and then he gave the' appropriate- a little tap on the right eye so that he might l<e sure of recognising him. (Laughter.) A prudent policeman then came up, and though, perhaps, it was not his business to say it, Sir John thought that he might have put in an appearance before. (Laughter.) The police were • find and large' on the course, but they were not much good on that occasion. (Renewed laughter.) The prisoner, who at first said he ran after the first man to arrest him, but afterwards pleaded 'guilty,' was committed for three months."