ENGLISH RACING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XXIII, 4 June 1904, Page 21

ENGLISH RACING.

LONDON, April- 22. Glorious spring weather favoured the Epsom meeting, which opened on the famous Downs last Tuesday, and excellent sport throughout was witnessed by what appeared to be a record attendance. Time and space forhfd mention of move than the two big events of the meeting—the Great Metropolitan Stakes of £IOOO, run over 2'l miles, and the City and Suburban Handicap of £2OOO, decided over a mile and a quarter. For the former event 13 good handicap performers sported silk, and a warm favourite was found in Mark Time, 4 yrs, B.7—a smart all-round performer which has gained distinction over hurdles, at steeplechasing, and on the tint since the close of last season. So warm was the support accorded to this versatile racer that at flag-fall it was a case of “evens on.” Next In demand were Lovat, 4yrs. 8.9, at sevens: Parody, syrs, 7.8, at 100 to 9; and Rightful, syrs, 8.2, and Lord Cadogan’s mare Elba, syrs. 8.7. a daughter of Prisoner and Simson, at 190 to 8. Backers proved to he well “on the spot,” for this quintette supplied the first four home. The race was altogether an exciting affair —unpleasantly so for some of the jockeys engaged. After running a mile, Mark Time came to the fore, followed closely by half a doSon rivals. Shortly afterwards St. Patrick’s Day struck into the heels of Induction and fell, bringing down the latter and •also Grey Tick. Happily all the jockeys escaped serious injury, though Otto Madden had a “close call,” one of the horses, following, grazing the skin off his forehead with its hoof. Grey Tick, Madden’s mount, and the winner of last year’s Cesarewiteh, had a leg broken, and was subsequently destroyed. The accident left Mark Timo clear of Elba, but below the distance Lord Cadogan’s mare challenged In vigorous fashion, and wearing the favourite down In the run home won a splendid race by a bare half length, five lengths separating Mark Timo from Lovat, Rightful tilling fourth position. Elba, by the way, Is the mare that inflicted a sensational defeat on Sceptre in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster. The City and Suburban, run on Wednesday. produced a mild ante-post betting sensation. On the previous day, prior to racing, a whisper went abroad to the effect that NTphetos, an Australian-bred five-year-old daughter of Bill of Portland and Tea Hose, belonging to Mr L. Robinson, and

trained by Sain Darling, had done something smart at home. The man* had done nothing in the Old Country in public to warrant rhe supposition that she could win the City aikd Suburban even under the light burden of 7<t 21 hs; Indeed, in moat of her engagement* sh ehas been left at the post. Her name had hardly been mentioned in the betting, but on Tuesday there was a tremendous rush to back her, nnd at the close of the day the best offer against her was 11 to 2. On the morning of the race, though money bv the bushel was going on itackler's Pride, 4yrs. 8.11. the Australian mare quickly headed him in the quotations, and before flag-fall was a firm favourite at 3 to 1. Hackler’s Pride being at 11 to 2. with Prince Royal. Burses, Kroonstadt.Achaicus, and Cerisler well backed at from 100 to 12 to l<»0 to 7. There were 21 runners, and siiwe ISB3. when Roy st ere r won, the rare has produced no bigger “turn up.’’ Only one of the fancied candidates managed to get placed even, the race being won in hollow fashion by the 40 to I outsider, Lord Carnarvon’s Robert le Diable, by Ayrshire—Rose Bay. syrs, 8.2. which cantered home three lengths ahead of Dean Swift, 3yrs, 6.5, which started at 25 to 1, with the 100 to 7 chance Cerisler. 4yrs, 6.5. third, a length and a half away. Niphetos was one of the first to cry content, and finished with the last half dozen, whilst Hackler’s Pride got no nearer than seventh, a position which was filled by Robert le Diable when he started favourite at K.K) to 30 for the same race last year. It was a fast-run race, the time being 2m 8 3-5 s a second slower than the record. Niphetos, for once in a way, got off well and ran well for about a mile. Then she shut up like a knife, and on her performance appears to be a non-stayer. Sam Darling, her trainer, who seldom makes an egregious blunder in estimating the capabilities of his charges, w:is confident of Niphetos’ success provided she got off well, and like the trainer of Hackler’s Pride is utterly at a loss to account for his horse’s display. SPORTING NOTES FROM LONDON. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, April 15. The Craven meeting at Newmarket, which opened on Tuesday, was favoured with delightful spring weather, and ns usual at this meeting some excellent sport was witnessed. On the opening day the chief item on the card was the 45th Biennial for three-year-olds. worth £750, and decided over the Rowley Mile. Tin’s stake has been notorious for disastrous upheavals of form, and since 1800 only one. favourite has justified its position in the betting. On Tuesday only half a dozen competitors faced the starter. 11l ewe included Mr L. de Rothschild’s St. Aniant <9.5). whose performance as a two-year-old left him winter favourite for the Derby. Opposed to this son of St. Frusquhi were two other candidates for Epsom honours, namely. Lord Deiby’s His Majesty iMelton —Silver Sea). 8.7, and Lord Wolverton’s Golden Touch (8.7), the field being completed by Sir E. Cassel’s St. Legcr entry. Love Potion (8.3). and Sir Waiflie Griffith’s filly by Isinglass—Therese IT. In spite of St. Amant’s disadvantage in the mar ter of weight, backers tumbled over each other to lay 7 to 2 on Mr Rothschild’s horse, whilst a few favouied His Majesty’s chance at 8 to 7. or Love Potion’s at a shade longer odds, the rest being friendless. The result of the race was in accordance with its traditions. After Love Potion had piloted the field for half a mile. His Majesty took up the running, followed by St. Amant. The pair drew clear away from the rest, and a fuilong from home the favourite challenged. To the dismay of bis backers St. Amant’s effort made no impression on the leader, and His Majesty landed home a clever winner by three parts of a length.