The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-29 00:00:00

THE MEETINGS IN THE NORTH.

TO THZ EDITOR or THE CLPILISB.

SlR,—The recent drought bad its effect on the
late meeting at York, the • ground being so hard, that the
fields were in some instances sadly reduced, nevertheless
the bipeds were more strongly represented, the " upper
ten" especially, and it was undoubtedly a good meeting,
its prestige being greatly enhanced by so many good three.
year-olds performing during the three days, the doings of '
Miner, Ely Blair Athol, and Claremont putting quite a
new complexion on the Dmicanier St. Leger. Miner
undoub tly defeated the Derby winner with ease
for the Great Yorkshire Stakes, sod as the 71b
there was between them would just about bring them to-
gether, it becomes a question as to which will improve the
most Suring the three weeks that have yet to elapse before
the St. Leger, as far as their respective pretensions are con-
cerned, supposing there was no mistake in Blair Athol',
race ; sod there appeared to be none, beyond the horse
impel, towards the rails and preventing Ely getting
throw but for which the latter might alto have been
before him, as he was dearly entitled to beat Miner after
giving him the 31b, and a bead beating on • previous occa-
sion at the meeting. Blair Athol looked well, with just
enough extra flesh on him as will allow of his being got
ready for the Its, Leger almost to the day; but there is not
so much room for improvement in hint, as regards
condition, as in the cases of Miner and Ely, and
thus his defeat was the more extraordinary. That it
was no " fluke," the long way Claremont was beaten sup-
plies • proof, and not to include Miner and Ely among the
best horses of their year over • distance of ground would
now be sheer obstinacy, in despite of Miner's previous
running, and the defeat of Ely at Goodwood, where he was
so dead amiss that his succumbing to !Seraph went for
nothing. The two-year-old racing was not quite so interest-
ing as that with the threes, as it did not throw the faintest
light on the Derby, notwithstanding the winner of the Con-
vivial, Olmar, is engaged therein, for he received a consider-
able weight from Gontran, and could only beat him • neck,
and the distance was hardly sufficient for Wild Agues.
Still, both Gontran and Wild Agnes subsequently
won very easily et the meeting, besides another, St.
Magnus, that was behind Olmar; and being one of
the improving sort the latter may yet take
somewhat higher humus, for Gootran easily gave 121 b to
Wings of the Wind, who afterwards won the Nursery just
as easily ; and Wild Agoes's defeat of Oppressor puts the
latter quite behind Olmar for the Derby. Zambesi ten in a
worse plight than he did at Goodwood, since which meeting
the roan filly by Tozophilite out of Phynalis has so vastly
improved that she opal, the good thing intended by Lord
Coventry sod his connexion in the Black Duck Stakes, •
rich prise it was pleasant to see fall to the lot of such •
sportsman as Lord Glasgow. The Duke bad all his work to I
do to win his engagement., • colt by Wiodhound out of
Lioness making so good a tight of it that he will certainly be
heard of again hereafter, and it must now become •
moot point again whether the Duke or Koenig
is the best of the Danebury Derby lot, for the
latter had no difficulty in winning he Colt Sapling
Stakes from King Arthur. Concerning the other events, it
could not fail to be remarked that Lord St. Vincent is still one
of the moat unfortunate of sportsmen, for the overworked
Little Stag being lamed in the race for the Zetland Stakes, .
he lost all chance of successfully competing with the slash-
ing Marigold ; and East Lancashire prevented the Ebor
Handicap going to Telsoombe through overpowering
Osborne (as be said) in the early pert of the race,
his making running having spread quite a coo-
stereatiou among the numerous backers of the favourite.
Not knowing the cause, they thought themselves sold, as it
was downright suicide to make play with a horse giving con-
siderable weight to everything ; and he would probably have
won hadthe rue been run underdifferent tactics, for a more
moderate lot seldom ran in a great handicap, the game little
Raglan only getting home through thepace being made just to
suit his light weight, although something is due to Morris's
superior jockeyship. East Lancashire made as good • fight
of it with Caller Ou and Rapid Rhone for the York Cup, 1
and his 210 penalty for running second in the Goodwood
Cup may have lost him that event also ; so that be is a
most unfortunate horse as yet for his new owner, although
he promises to well repay his lordship some day, and if not
too hardly dealt with in the Cesarewitek he will be " heard
or in that race. The Fort of Westmorland has been just
as happy in his purchases this year im Lord St. Vincent
hu been the reverse ; another of his recent acquisitions
Echo, winning, the first time of asking, for him, and his
performance in the Chesterfield was • very fair one.
The Stockton meeting is the only one of importance to be
held during the current week, and it might tell the world
something more than was learned at York with reference
to the St. Leger if certain horses performed. Commencing
OD Tuesday, it extends over three dam and the pro-
gramme is quite a monster ogle, thanks to the large number
of horses engaged io nearly all the events completed, there
being nearly four dozen in the Cleveland Stakes, a two-
year-old event, in the six furlong T.Y.C., that may fall •
prey to ow of the as yet unknown lot, if that comprises
anything of above the average stamp, for the best of the
public performers is Olmar, and he is penalised 71b.
The Stockton Handicap, two miles, is one of the
flattering sort, and at first sight Moodie, Early
Purl, Major, and Glenduak look favoured; at any
rate, the two old ones first named may fight it out between
them, the Major and Glendusk having just as rich a prize
to look after in the Seventh Biennial, where the distance,
one mile and a half, is more to the liking of Gleodusk
(21h extra), whilst the Major takes a 7th allowance, which
should almost insure his victory, as Claremont is penalised
81b. The latter bag • far better prospect before him in the
Great Northern St. Leger (second day), for he is unpecalised,
and neither Blair Athol nor Ely may be vent to Stockton,
Claremont being superior to everything else in the list but
his stable companion Bangui, The Hardwick, Stakes, for
two-year-olds, six furlongs, will probably be won by Wild
Agnes or Olmar, the latter baviog • richer prize to
look after on the same day io the J.ambton
Plate, seven furlonge, when he has only Oppressor
to fear. The four-year-old Claret Stakes is unfortunate in
the forty •four entered, having nearly all turned out mode-
rate or incapable of getting the two miles, which may be
too far for Old Orange Girl, ate:Moder, Erin-go-Bragli, and
National Guard, who will leave Fanfaron to win. The
Stockton Cup, are mile, has Brindisi tied Flirtation very
nicely weighted, but they have both prior engagements ;
and the remaining event of importance in the last day's list
is the two-year-old Zetland Biennial, which is altogether
subject to the previous performances of Wild Agnes,
Ohmura, Oppressor, and several others.—l am, kc.,

~HE'IBOR.

LONDON BETTING —BiTtrIDAY.
Considering the importance of the York meeting just
past, both as regards the amount of speculation thereon and
She results of the running as effecting the St. Leger, the
muter at the Victoria Club to-day was small. But while
racing men can manage to escape from the " ries," and in-
hale a whiff of fresh air at the seaside, they are always
read♦ to do so when their absence from their sphere of
operations it.es not seriously or directly affect their inte-
rests. There was no feature of the day's transactions calling
for especial comment beyond the healthy return of &rajah
to 12 to 1 t tken, after 1000 to 70 and 1000 to tiO had been
previously laid. The Miner was also in good odour, 1000 to
100 having been accepted before the clue of business.
Closing prius :

-
LEGVIL.
15 to 2 agst General Peel t 10 to 1 agst The Miner A
ant orf. I 12 to 1 Hannah A;
to 2 BlalrAthol ,off to 100 to I Ely 'off t2n toll
t3to 1 33 to 1— Cimino A otf;
50 to 40 on Blair Athol bens one of the first three A,
125 to 25 ant Ely being one of the first three Ai
25 to 20 on The Hiner agA Hannah t)

BEITECG AT MANCHESTEB.—SArciDAT.
ST. LEGER.
sto 2 agst General Peel t 20 to 1 eget Ely
sad MP 25 to 1 5 to 2 N Claremont
air Athol off) 40 to 1 Maxtor Richard
10 to 1 Miner ,off t itaken)
12 tot (freely) 50 to 1 Vanonlaber t)
100 to 8 Rentals 3,