The Press.
London, England, 1853-05-14 00:00:00

porting.

May 13.
Sir,—The hot fit of Chester has been succeeded
(physically as well as metaphorically) by the cold tit
of Newmarket. In racing, as in all other storms,
there are periodical ; and it is lucky there are,
for the mind cannot be kept up, week after week, to
that pitch or excitement which it roaches on the
great occasions. The meeting at Chester is one of
the most exciting epochs in the racing year. In that
week a great event comes off which determines the
speculations of thousands of people; causes thousands
of pounds to change pockets ; and gives either plea-
sure or pain to the spectators and the public at large,
according to the way in which it is conducted. The
Chester racing committee have insisted (up to the
present moment) in pitting their own starter, their
own judge, and their own handicapper against the
world, with poor success but rare obstinacy. Things,
however, when at the worst usually mend. The
starter has fallen, the judge, I believe, has been
changed, and the handicapper may yet fall, if he does
not turn over a new leaf. Mr. Topham's handicaps
(though lauded after the most fulsome fashion by
writers upon sporting, add the press in gencral) are in
reality exceedingly defective. They are, in the first
place, very arbitrary in their construction ; are based
in many instances upon a supreme contempt for
public running; and are in others liable to the charge
of fileouritistn—an imputation which is enough to
damn any handicap.
These things must be mended, or the Chester Cup
will descend, like Darius, from its high estate. Even
as it is, a new handicap has been set on foot for the
Spring Meeting at York, which, with the advantage
of a racecourse instead of a cockpit, bids fair to be
a troublesome and perhaps a victorious rival.
After Chester we have a fortnight of comparative
calm allowed us, preparatory to the Derby, the wildest
and most ungovernable carnival of the racing season.
Although 1 promised you some observations on
the leading horses and their respective merits at the
end of this week, I shall, with your leave, defer them
to the next ; for great changes have happened before
now iu that all-important week which immediately
precedes the Derby, and may again.
And here I may as well tell you that I do not pre-
tend to the gift of prophecy; a gift which, like all
other gifts, has been much perverted of late ; p. o-
phob4 and stable•mice writing and squeaking accord-
ing to book rather than conviction. I shall do little
more than place before your readers the merits and
performances of the leading horses, and, after I have
summed up, leave the verdict to their decision.
I am glad to say that the whole of the touting
fraternity have received " a heavy Um/ and great
discouragement•• in the complete success of the new
trial-grntad at Newmarket; and, unless they work
like moles "i' the dark,' they must now retire from

MAY 14, 1853.

the salubrious occupation of watching trials. Good
luck attend them in any honester calling!
The racing at Newmarket was extremely uninter-
esting. The Suffolk Stakes was only remarkable tin•
ending in a dead heat; and the other races were
confined to horses of little value, and small account,
with the exception of the 10 soy. Stakes for two-year-
olds. Alas, another of the Melbournes, won easy ;
but the pace was bad, and it remains to be seen
whether she is really as good as that running makes
her. If she is, we need not despair of seeing
Ruby collared and beaten before the end of the year.
Next week we are threatened with the appearance,
at Bath, of the mysterious Cineas. Bath has told a
tale before now, and may again, if they send hut;
but in my opinion those who are anxious to see him
will have to wait till the Derby day.

Pmurrus.

NEWMAIIKET SECOND SKIING MEETINCi.
TIL'EsDAN.
Firm PoeNns. The winner to be sold tOc .20) sovs.
if
demanded.
Sir R. Pigot's Kohinoor ( Wells) 1
Mr. Barnes's Wavetiey :Z
Six ran.
Betting-6 to 4 against Kohinoor. A wry strag.:lmg
affair. Won by half a length.
SwEErsrAxEs of 25 sovs. each, with 200 ulltal by the
Jockey Club. Twelve subs.
Mr. Oliver's Ethelltert (Wells) 1
ltuke of Richmond's Harbinger
Betting—Even against Ethelbert, 4 to I against Har
binger. A line race in with the first two. Won l a
head.

Firry Pi D', for three-year-obis.
I)ithe of lietlfnl's Fevenohato (F. limier) 1
Mr. Westrope's St. Faith 2
SwKKer4VAKES of 10 KoVS. kaell. FiVC silbs.
31r. ()liver's Nightshatle ( Flat Mato ) i
Mr. Rogers's ()bunt° .)

WEDNEsDAY.
SWEEPSTAKES of 50 sovs. each, tar fourleur-olds,
Four subs.

Mr. Greville's Frantic (Flutmtm)
Lord Exeter's Ilex
Betting-1 to 4on Frantic. Won easily.
HANDICAP SWEEPSTAKES of 10 sovs.
Mr. Combe's Brawn (S Rogers) I
Mr. J. Arber's Convict
Sir R. Pigot's Jack the Want Killer
Betting—Even on Convict; 2 to 1 against each of the
others. Pretty race—won by a head.
SWEEPSTAKES of lit soya. each, for three-year-olds.
Mr. Coopers Desdemona (Norman) I
Mr. Suffling's Polly
TIIE SUFFOLK STAKES of I.) was. each, with 5:1 added
from the Town llace Fund. :to sobs.
Lord Exeter's Nutshell (Norman) a w.
o.
Lord H. Lennox's Chief Baron Nicholson
Lord Clifden's Hothorpe
The following also ran :—Hirsuta, Sabra, Dame Tattle,
Madrid, g. by Vernlam out of Madrinella.
Betting-7 to 4 against. Nutshell, sto I against Dame
Tattle and Chief Baron Nicholson, 7 to 1 against Sabra.
A tine nice up the hill with Chief Baron Nicholson and
Nutshell ended in a . dead heat. Nutshell afterwards
walked over.
HANDICAP PLATE of 50 KIM
Captain I). Lane's tiny Maunering (E. Sharp) 1
Sir R. Pigoes Jack the 4 Killer
The following also ran :—ltht. Khatlidjah, St. Faith,
Cotherstoue, Ada, Crease, Tittle Tattle, and Warbler.
Betting-5 to 2 against Warbler; Ito 1 against Guy
Mannering; fi to I against Khadidjah. Won by a length
and a half.
Lord Exeter's Hex walked over for the Jockey ('lob
Plate.

THURSDAY.
HANDICAP SWEEPSTAKES of 20 goys. Five subs.
31r. W. E. Hughes's Sophistry (Cluulton ) 1
Mr. Harris's Ada
Mr. Rogers's Leybourne .. 3
lletting-3 to 4 against Ada, and 0 to 4 against Leyls sortie.
A close race. Won by a ltetal, anti a head only between
the seemill and third.
SW) EPSTAKIN of 10 sovs.
Lord Clifden's Oleaster
,'aptain Lane's ('yrus
swEEesTAKEs of JO son:., with tat added, fur two-year olds.

Twenty-two subs.
Captain D►. Lane's Alas
L,►d Brace's f by the Libel out of Splitvote
Lord Clifden'a Nightshade
The following also ran The Martinis of Sevigne,
Macdaff, Margaretta, Adeline, Mary, Dianne, Sheffield,
and Red Bose.
Betting--3 to 1 each against Nightshade and Splitvote
filly, 5 to I against alu.. 6 to 1 against Red Rose, S to 1
against Dianne, and 1)) to 1 against Rally.
HANntcAe PLATE of :PO ~ovs.
Mr. Cooper's I testlemona (S. Stems) 1
Mr. Wigrnu's Peacock
The follow log also ran :—Beauclere, Poodle, g. by Drome-
dary out of Apricot, and Anvil.
Betting—q to against Desdemona, 3to 1 agoi•e4 Apri-
cot gelding, and 5 to I each against Beattelere anal Peacock.
An excellent race with the first two.
In point of sport this has been decidedly the best Second
Spring Meeting ever remembered, hint in point of betting
tmlnestionably the very wrest: although almost the
shadow of the great event at Epsom, scare, a bet wi:s
laid worth quoting.
DoscAsrEa RAcr.s.—On the recommendation of the
stewards and the town council, Mr. .1. F. Clarke is ap-
pointed judge for the Autumn Meeting.