ENGLISH RACING NEWS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 49, 2 July 1891, Page 2

ENGLISH RACING NEWS.

NEWMARKET FIRST SPRING MEETING.

The Heath is not what it once used to be ; only a place that genuine lovers of racing used to attend. Anyone now attending a meeting after an absence of some years would hardly recognise the place; stands have been built, refreshment rooms, saddling paddock, etc., and wherever you go you are asked for money. Unless walking you are first charged for your carriage entering the course, then you have to pay for the ring and the saddling paddock—the latter being £l—then you do not see all the horses as some are still saddled at the Ditch stables. The old booth under the hedge, where one used to enjoy a snack of cold roast pork and a glass of home brewed, is now a thing of the past. The town of an evening is comparatively deserted ; Morris’ rooms with the champagne suppers are no longer there ; while little is doing in the rooms of a night. All this is owing to the Great Eastern and Great Northern putting on faster special trains, which bring down hundreds of persons, including betting men, from London, who return in the evening; while the road is fairly patronized, numbers preferring to stay at Cambridge and Bury to being fleeced by the Newmarket people; therefore the people you meet on the Limekilns, Severals, or elsewhere in the early morning, who are out to have a look at the horses, are generally the old school, who have had houses or lodgings in the town for years past. The weather was more spring-like than at the Craven meeting, still it was cold, and great coats were required. The Great Eastern and Great Northern brought down crowds on the Two Thousand day, thus showing that the public still take great interest, in the classic races. The sport, with the exception of the two classic races and that Amphion showed that he retained his form by winning the newly-formed March Stakes, was not of a very interesting character. Wednesday, the Two Thousand day, proved the best day, and there had not been a larger or more influential company present in the Bird-cage for a good many years. Great disgust was expressed by many who had paid for an admittance to the saddling pad dock to find that the favourite Governeur and Orvieto, another greatly fancied candidate,' were not there, they having been saddled at the Ditch stables, on account of their fretful temper. Peter Flower was the gentleman of the party, being a neat well-set colt, Common is quite unlike his sire, and did not at all please the public. He is unlike his sire, Isonomy, being a big horse, standing 16h 2in, ratherjiigh on the leg, also inclined to be coarse; but when set going his splendid stride and sweeping action soon changed their opinions. Governeur is a handsome horse, but like his sire is nervous, with great turn of speed, but cannot stay, as he was done with at the Bushes. He started a hot favourite at 5 to 4, while Peter Flower, who had a record of five wins and one defeat, started second favourite, while Common went back to 9 and 10 to 1. The race is easily described—Governeur was beaten at the Bushes, while Common, striding along, won easily by three lengths. The One Thousand Guineas produced a better field than the Two Thousand, but little interest was taken in it. Symphonia and Belvidere were the favourites; but Mimi, who started at 7 to 1, and Melody, at 20 to 1, finished first and second. Mimi stalling off Melody’s resolute challenge in the Abingdon dip won easily by a length and a half; Sephonice three lengths away third. The two first were trained by old Matthew Dawson.

The March Stakes of 20 sovs. each, with 1000 sovs. added, Rowley mile, brought out a small field of seven, but it was a select one. Amphion, syrs, lOst lib, proved what a good horse he is over all courses, as he won easily ' by a length and a half from Mark Price, 4yrs, Bst; Mons Meg, 3yrs, a neck off, third. With the exception of these three races there is little to interest those not connected with English racing.