ENGLISH SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 4, 23 August 1890, Page 3

ENGLISH SPORTING NOTES.

A testimonial was recently presented by a number of well-known sportsmen to Lord Durham, in recognition of his efforts to purify the turf. As a result of his recent accident Donovan has been taken out of training, and will forthwith retire to the stud, where he will lord it in company with St. Simon, Ayrshire and St. Gatien, a goodly quartette. The weather at Derby improved after the Derby Day, and so did the sport. The Grand Prize brought out seven runners. St. Serf was made favourite, and, by a clever piece of riding on the part of T. Loates, was enabled to justify expectations, and win the race for the Duke of Portland. His Grace was again in luck next day, when Memoir won for him his first Oaks. The Duke, who made no declaration, was also represented by Semolina, and she made the pace so hot that the race was run in the best time on record. Signorina was second. Other events to be noted were the Great Surrey Breeders’ Foal Stakes, secured by Baron Rothschild’s Mahadi Gras; the Acorn Stakes, won by Baron de Hirsch’s Romance; and the Glasgow Plate, which Lady Yarmouth placed to the credit of Colonel North—his fifth victory during the week. The gallant Colonel’s luck was not yet exhausted, however, for at Brighton he carried off the Sussex Plate, again by the aid of Lady Yarmouth, and the Bevendean Two-Year-Old Stakes with Nitrate Queen. At Auteil Lord Dudley’s Royal Meath carried off the Grand Steeplechase de Paris, much to the disgust of the Frenchmen. The first day at Ascot was a good deal spoiled by the frequent showers which fell. However, the' Royal Procession was held as usual, and the sport was quite up to the average. Backers, indeed, thought it most satisfactory, for favourites were successful all through the day, with two exceptions. One of these was rather an important exception. Surefoot was made favourite for the Prince of Wales’ Stakes, but ran nowhere. Mr. Houldsworth’s Alloway was first, and the Duke of Westminster’s Blue Green second. After this, Surefoot, who had been backed at as little as 3 to 1 for the St. Leger, beat a hasty retreat to double those odds. The Coventry Stakes, a new race for two-year-olds, attracted nineteen runners. Mr. J. B. Leigh’s The Deemster was made favourite, with justice, as it proved. Lord Lome, as last year, secured the Ascot stakes. Simonian won the Thirty-Third Biennial, and the ever-vic-torious Tyrant landed the Gold Vase for Mr. Singer, beating L’Abbesse de Jouarre and the Labyrinth filly. Next day Surefoot took the Thirty-Second Biennial from a weak field. Another “crack” disappointed expectation at Sandown in the person of Signorina. She was strongly backed to win the Electric Stakes, and so recover her reputation, but got beaten by Mr. L. de Rothschild’s Lactantius- It is now stated that Signorina will not run again till the Autumn. Of the remaining races at Sandown we may note the victories of King of Diamonds in the Robert de Witville Handicap, and of Mr. A. Taylor’s filly by Exile ll—Lady Charlie in the British Dominion Two-Year-Old Stakes. The Lewes meeting was chiefly remarkable for the success of that old deceiver, The Baron, and the death by lighting-stoke of a man on the course. Le Nord was made a

strong favourite for the Grand Prix de Paris, but ran nowhere, and the winner turned up in , Baron A. de Schickler’s Fitz Roya. At a recent meeting the Jockey Club altered Rule 45, to the effect that half the added money at any meeting should be devoted to races of a mile and upwards. The racing at Stockbridge does not call for much remark. Events were many, but fields were small. Several owners not hitherto seen in the racing-saddle were among the jockeys, and Tom Cannon was, as usual, in great form. Mr. Brodrick Cleote’s Cereza won the Hurstbourne Stakes, and the Duke of Westminster’s Adieu the Stockbridge Foal Stakes. At Gosforth Park the chief event was the Northumberland Plate, or “ Pitmen’s Derby,” for which there were twelve runners. Of these Mr. J. Lowther’s Houndsditch was made favourite, and justified public confidence by winning cleverly from Colonel North’s Royal Star. By the : way, the “ Nitrate King ” must be rather tired of running se.cond for important stakes. Mr. H. Milner’s Shall We Remember won the North Derby, and Mr. J. Lowther was again successful in the Seaton Delaval Plate, secured by.Cleator. At Windsor the Royal Plate might have puzzled Sam Weller, for while the favorite was “ novhere,” Noverre was first. The Summer Handicap fell to Freemason, and the Athens Plate to St. Cyr. The St. Leger market has undergone no change of importance. Heaume, Memoir, Qddfellow, Blue Green, and Right Away have all been accorded a good measure of support. Owing, doubtless, to the successes of Memoir and, Sainfoin, both of whom hailed from Hampton Court, the Royal yearlings disposed of on June 28th brought unprecedented prices. A sister to Memoir was bought by Lord Marcus Beresford, (acting for Baron Hirsch) for 5,500 guineas', the highest price ever given for a yearling in England; the same bidder gave 1,000 guineas for a sister to Sainfoin; Lord Randolph Churchill gave 1,750 guinea's for a half-brother to Fitzhampton; and the Duke of Westminster secured a nice filly by Hampton — Gallantry for 400 guineas less. Altogether the twenty lots fetched £15,000, an average of £750 each.— Graphic. [How the Royal sales at Hampton Court have altered since the days when the Prince Consort had the management. Then, the average was about but after his death Colonel Maude assumed the reign of government, and he secured fresh blood. This year brings the highest average ; thanks to the sister of Memoir, the being the highest yearling price in England, and the highest in the world for either a filly or mare.—Ed. S. R.J