The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-02 00:00:00

SPOETING INTELLIGENCE.

THE TWO-YEAR-OLDS OF 1862
LETTER 1.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE =MESS.

SIR,—Now that the legitimate sports of 1862
have concluded, Mr. Merry having brought off the
"bastard" meeting at Warwick after two postponements,
we have seen the last of this year's 2-year-olds, three of
them being attracted by • selling race on Friday last, in
despite of the most dismal 11114 L doubtful weather, the fog
and the frost between them very nearly putting an extin-
guisher on the meeting altogether. The season opened
very differently at Lincoln on the 20th of February,
the elements being unusually propitious, as for
several weeks previously the weather was so mild
and open that horses went to the post pretty well
prepared, and for the first two.year-old stake, the Brock-
lesby, there were a baker's dozen of starters. There was
nothing A 1 in the lot, the first three being Din Cheap,
Vindicta, and Princess Louisa, and, in most instances, they
coufirined their superiority throughout the season, although
Marmion may give a better amount of himself next year,
when he is nicely haadicapped. Ho managed to get placed
by the judge for the Little John Stakes at Nottingham the
following week, Princess Louisa (now gooe abroad) being
only fourth ; but the winner, Livingstone, won with so
much in band, that it was bard to determine whether
Marmiou (third), Herdsman, the Princess, or Battery (fifth)
was second beat, this lot; being undoubtedly the pick of the
basket. Liviugitone, • descendant of Fandango and
Margaret of Anjou, took the ring by storm
the moment he was seen, as he appeared wonder.
fully well set for • horse of such size, and
it will be difficult to get him beaten next year over short
distances, which Lord Stamford will have to confine him
to, unfortunately, as be is • meet unmistakeable rarer.
The Staunton Harold Stakes at Derby were contested by
another numerous field, and Don't Come Late, a daughter
of Ellington, managed to beat Herdsman, who did nut run
over game, by a head, thus plainly showing there was
nothing within • atone of Livingstone in the race. Liver-
pool was not so fortunate as either of the three meetings
preceding, the Tyro, although a much richer stake than the
Brocklesby, Little John, or Staunton Harold, producing
but five runners,• and of these only the little Erythia was
fit, she being eo much at home in the dirt that the race was
over after they had gone two hundred yards. Blithtield and
Oscar, however, improved during tho year, and neither will
ever allow the filly, who FOOD went off, to beat them again,
while the neat filly by Windhound out of Catherine Hayes,
that has not been to public Mums would also turn the tables
if ever they met again on fair ground. The Hopeful at
Doncaster, that was once the 2-year-old event of the early
spring meetings, was not mach better off than the Tyro at
Liverpool, and the bib penalty could not stop Dirt Cheap,
all her opponents being moderate except Bohemia and
Avenger, who were so backward in condition that they
could hardly be expected to win a five furlongs race against
one so forward, notwithstanding which Bohemia made a
rod fight of it. In the Betting-mom Stakes, Erythia met
Dirt Cheap, and cut her down without an effort, the fact of
the 3-year.old,Brahmin being only third,affordieg an example
of what condition will do for homes moderately good. The
Two-Year-old Stake' at Warwick was merely • repetition of
the Little John at Nottingham, Livingstone carrying a
41b penalty, and again defeating Manion without
an effort, Kennett (whose descent is uncertain) both
Elcot and Lonp-garou having been pot to his dam, a Bey
Middleton mare) finishing • good third, considering his
backward condition, with the Derby heroine, Don't Come
Late, fourth. Livingstone had previously defeated Dirt
Cheap " in • walk" for a minor stake, and the performers
in the other races are unworthy of mention. At Shrews-
bury Harmion met with no great opposition for the Members'
Plate, which he won as he pleased ; and thee the illegiti-
mate meetings of the spring brought to light but one first-
cleas animal, .Livingstone, for, respectably as Dirt Cheap and
Erythia performed, they Dever looked like training, and
neither Bohemia, Kennett, Oscar, nor Blithfield was
trained sufficiently to display their good qualities. all having
subsequently shown themselves superior to either Itiu-inioo,
Princess Louisa, Vindicta, Herdsman, Sentry, and Don't
Coins Late, that comprise the best of the remainder.
Northampton, as usual, fairly set the ball rolling, and
many juveniles with good reputations assisted at the meet-
ing. a couple opposing the eight three-year-olds for the
Whittlebury, and running second and third to the three-
year-old Biondella, who had such an advantage in the chit,
and a 51b. allowance, that her defeat of Blue Mantle would
ham been nothing surprising bad be run fit, which he cer-
tainly did not, the diminutive &mita, who went over the
ground like a hare, fairly beating him for second place,
owing to her splendid condition. Sanita came out again
next day for a 20 son. sweepstakes, and defeated Judea, •
useful-looking colt of Mr. Parr's, pretty cleverly, Falcon
showing such • disinclination to face the atm ting flag
that be was left too far behind ever to have a
chance, and thus lost the opportmiity of proving
whether his form was equal to big looks, which were
superior to either of his opponents. A splendid field
contested the Althorp Park Stakes ; and among the
runners were Erythia. Dirt Cheep (both penalised bib), and
Bohemia, who bed distinguished themselves before, but so
highly had Caritas (a stable companion of Livingstone)
been tried that at the close of the betting odds were laid on
her against the remaining fourteen " without compunction,"
a oonfieence that was not misplaced, as she won with the
greatest ease, moving through the heavy ground with as
great • relish as Erythia, who finished second. Villafranca,
Bohemia, and Revolver, all finished before Blue Mantle, the
three bong noticed for their good looks, as were also Lady
Superior and the Naomi filly ; and each gained a reputation
afterwards, with the exception of lady Superior, whose day
may not have arrived yet, for I can hardly believe in the
&irate exhibitions of such • racing-like fill Ceristha,
we-
ertheleas, was decidedly the best in the field, and for perfec-

(TWOPENCE

Ron of shape her equal is seldom seen, she being a worthy
companion of Livingstone, who is built oar somewhat
larger male. At Grortou-park Erythia first showed signs
of falling off, the 3-year-old Zelle never giving her a chance,
and we had quite • afresh lot to contest the old Two-Year-
old Stakes at Epsom Spring, the Orphan and King of
Utopia proving themselves a long way the superiors of
their ten opponents, of which neither Golden Dust nor
Bateman were ripe enough to show in their true colours,
while Royal Stag, Oentilhommo, and Lady Superior, good
as they were, had to suffer defeat on their to," its. The
Orphan was not thought so much of beforehand except by
a select few, who " knew the trial," as she its only •
descendant of the unknown Fregmore, a well-bred
horse enough, being • son of Toatone, but rendered
unfit for racing purposes owing to an accident that
betel him when two years old ; and the King of Utopia,
though equal to her in looks, wanted more time before
he could hope to win in such company. For the New Two-
Yeer-old &ekes, W. Day brought out a colt just good
enough to beat the Orphan, called Muezzin, the filly's 51b
penalty being rather too much for • three-quarters-d-a-
mile race, especially as she was not ridden with much judg-
ment, to which many good judges attribute her defeat. Re-
volver finished very close to the pair, and Le Mancha', con-
sidering he was not so fit es either of his opponents, did
wonders to finish • good fourth, although there we.= nothing
behind him of any note. After • fortnight's rest the game
was resumed at head.quarten cn Easter Monday ; but there
is no good stake for the juveniles ever put into a Craven
week's programme, sad few good bones met. Mr. Ten
Bro,:k made a mistake when bringing oat Vivid for • claim-
ing Sweepstakes, as the French ocitifedszacy got penalise of
her for 150 f. when she beet then nap Attraps-qnl-
=and for the 41geskiw mut inek tried her very
the nultiltithhered, as she wee backed with that
spiritdisplayed when Tornado, the sister to Avalanche, op-
posed Lady Fanny fora match next day, this being booked
all the certainty for the Yankee colours that it turned oat.
A SW. Plate afforded Livingstone another opportunity of
making an example of Battery, who got second to him, am
Fantestic was not in a winning humour or comfit i.,n ; and
the only remaining 2-year-old rem wee one in which Leldare-
dial beat the Northampton victren, Sanita, without an
effort. Catterick Bridge climbed with Newmarket, and I
had thus no opportunity of taking stock of the young per-
homers, of which Zapateado and Tramp Queen were the
best, Faafaroa showing in bad colours compared with his
subsequent doings. neither was I at Minsk to see Bo-
resin, a filly out cf the celebrated Blink Bonny, polish off
Westminster, Princess Louisa, lac., the second racing month
of the year closing without bringing into notoriety
one candidate for the Derby, 1563, for King of Utopia was
beaten too easily by the Orphan at Epsom .to be much
thought of at that time, and Le Itareobal was not fortunate
enough to be engaged, or he would assuredly have found
favour, there being no " roaring" objections option him,
u in the case of Livingstone, who would never hove been
introduced into the market if he wero in the mos. Muezzin
did not do sufficient with t heOrphan andßevolver to be made
• favourite ; and except Livingstone the beet two-year-olds
we maw up to the end of April consisted of Cerintha and
the Orphan. Nevertheless, besides those who figured in
public before the legitimate season opened, we saw some
bones of the useful sort in Sanita, Judea, VilLfranca,
Revolver, Muezzin, King of Utopia, Vivid, Tornado, Le
Mancini, &paned% Borealis, and Trump Queen, not jos-
getting the promising Blue Mantle, Falcon, lady Superior,
the Naomi filly, Golden Dust, Bateman, Royal Stag, Gentili-
boinme, and Fanfaron ; and • better lot of two-year-olds, on
the whole, has never bees seen in public before the Two
Thousand week.—! am, Sm., METEOR.