The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-24 00:00:00

TO TEI KDITOR OF THI LIPIESS.

Sirt,—The " after-dinner" handicaps made at
Newmarket have occasionally exhibited strange inoonsis-
tencies, excusable, however, on account of the short time
allowed for adjusting the weights of perhaps fifty horses,
but the term inconsistent can hardly be applied to the
recent Stockbridge productions, wherein all the rules of coin •
mon sense and decency were most consistently defied. The
so-called handicaps, as I remarked in my last, were simply
laughable, as was likewise the singular dory afloat to
account for the " discrepancies," for it is hard to conceive
that the donors of the several plates had to " adjust " the
weights themselves. If they really did, we must
not wonder at the displays of gross careless-
ness, which is, perhaps, the fault really to complain of, as
the " mistakes" could not have been made for wrung
purposes, being too palpable for the greenest to be taken
in. Danbury did not win one handicap beyond that
Pantaloon was disqualified for, and over which they
should win their beta, in despite of the Plumper and Neop-
tolemus " precedent" quoted by certain wiseacres, for
that is seven years old, and the new law—laying it down
that where objections are made after a race as to quali-
fication, and there is no fraud, the beta shall not be dis-
turbed—is only six. But the home division spoiled many
I of the richer events with their Lady Elizabeth, See-Saw,
Mameluke, Europa, and Athena, to oppose whom for
ten stakes worth a mint of money" there were only
Innerdale, Ironmaster, Corinne, St. Ronan, Rabican,
Angus ((the 2,500 guinea yearling), Lord Palmerston,
Mortemer, Bearskin, Chic, Carlos, the Faun, Wild
Blood, • Lambton colt, and Maoduff, all the
others that ran in their races being in the
same stable. Most of the lot just named might credit-
ably have been at home, for the chancel' they had, as
they were either backward in preparation or " out for an
airing ;" consequently John Day's Derby lot did not take
such very high honours, and they are not so formidable-
! looking now as they were a week ago, for all the ten vic-
tories achieved. These successes were all prognosticated
in my last, as were likewise those of Lionie in the Hamil-
ton and Mottisfonte, and Innerdale in the Croome, so that
I did not miss one shot at the meeting, except in the
Bibury Handicap—Tumbler, Julius, Vauban, Lord Lyon,
Formosa, and Lecturer being my only other "'elections,"
if any credit is to be taken for them. It was a bold stroke,
at any rate, to stand Matthew Dawson, John Day on his
own ground, for the richest prize of the meeting, the
Hamilton Stakes of 4,b001., (the largest amount ever
run for by two-year-olds) ; but Lennie just beat the great
Athena as I expected, through staying the five furlongs
best. When St. Ronan, Itabican, and one or two others, are as
forward in preparation as Athena and Lady Elizabeth, they
may rival them also ; and it having yet to be shown that
the daughter of Miss Bowser will stay better than her bro-
there and sisters before her have done, the division might
have to depend upon one of their dark things or Mameluke
for the Blue Riband. The last named came out very
" backward," and promises to make a grand horse, if he
will only fine down • bit ; still, St. Ronan, Mr. Chap-
lin's two-thousand-guinea Middle Parker. will be a for-
midable rival to him when he is trained. IL Dawson
won two good stakes besides the Hamilton for his grace
of that name, and thanks to the light weight of the
Duke of Newcastle'. pet in the Beaufort Handicap took
four prizes altogether to Newmarket, the probability
being that " bead-quarters" will ere long civet', a sensa-
tion
with some two-year-olds. Neither the July
nor the Chesterfield were positively spoiled by
the events at Stockbridge, wherein Blue Gown and
Rosicrucian were both unable to perform, being on the
sick list ; and more exciting sport may be expected at the
July reunion behind the ditch than was afforded us last
week, the only event of any importance that came off
after the Bibury Club day being the Cup, for which Lord
Lyon? Ostreger, and Mameluke met.
This week handicaps will comprise the features at the
many meetings to be held, chief of which is that at New-
castle-upon-Tyne, where the Yorkshire stables evidently
mean business. I'. Dawson will be especially busy and
worth following in many instances, his Belmont having
Honesty or Honestish, Sundeelah and Moldavia pretty
safe for the Queen's Plate on Tuesday, and as War will
probably be kept for the great event, there is only Romp-
nig Girl to beat him. A better one than Minster at the
weights should win the Members' Plate, unless Frost is in
season ; and they have a good-looking oolt for the
second Biennial in Donalbain, this nice, however, being
almost too open for me to deal with, as Mr. Eastwood
possesses a good representative' and there is no telling
whether Chelsea or the Proctor will be wanted from the
Belleisle stable—the moat formidable in the field, if in
earnest. Fobert must be handy for the Town Plate, with
Armlet ; and he has already • hot favourite for the
Northumberland Plate on Wednesday in the winner of the
Grand Prix, who ought certainly to follow in the footsteps
of his father, for Underhand never had such an easy task
set him when be won as Fervacques appears to have now.
There are only the Vixen colt, Newland, Man-
drake, or Harrogate, and Fairwind, of the three
year olds, threatening to oppose him at this
writing, arid all but the last-named have to
give him weight, whilst of the elder horses,
Retrousse, War, Lady Vane, Fitzroy, Hawkawell,
and Mirella comprise the probable runners. The latter
has declined from 8 to 1 to four times thaw odds in the
rezofshaouircindtilhdt,:rrt veryre linkceleytg:ttisieplaasif
Ann
filly, as I suspect he will. in !Lady Vane, Mandrake, and
Harrogate all belong to Mr. J. Johnstone, who will pro-
bably be content with running one, which at this writing
looks like being Lady Vane (ridden by Cameron), though
the Dawson tactics have often changed at the last moment.
Her ladyship was of a fair class last year, but is meeting
Fervacques (Butler) with no pull at the weights, nor War
(Hibberd) either, for that matter; Ludas Kenyon may not
get more out of the Vixen colt than he did at Ascot, Isbell
stand by Newland as the second best three year old. But
he has to run War, a good horse when fit and well, at
161 b for • year, so that it appears to be there is
only • chance for the Bowes black to bowl over
Ferracquee, one of the best things Fobert ever had for
a Northumberland Plate, and he has won a few. Stella
is in the Tyro Stakes to oppose whatever the first day's
running may bring forth ; and should Romping Girl win
the Queen's Plate even cleverly, she is not bound to take
the first Biennial, having to give Knight Errant and the
Priest plenty of weight. Tuesday's results, however, may
tell us that Shibboleth in the Freemen's Nursery is good
to follow ; and it will previously be determined whether
Ferracques, Newland, or Honestish can win the North
Derby. A light will also be thrown on the Newcastle and
Stewards' Cup Handicaps, and the Seaton Delaval Stakes,
for which latter prises, nevertheless, the southern stables
might send Ironmaster and Lady Highthorn, and if so
they will both—the former especially—take great parts in
the battle, whatever the Tyro and Biennial may bring
forth. _ _

The arrangements of the clerks of courses will not allow
of my dealing in detail with the Chelmsford, Ipswich, or
Worcester programmes, very few items in them being com-
pleted up to Saturday ; and I can only hint that la Sapeur
and Witchomft may win the two principal two-year-old
races in the south, and fir. Sutton the one at Worcester.
—I am, &c., METEOR.
BETTING IN LONDON.—Serunnsr.

There was only a moderate muster of members, but a fair
amount of badness was transacted. For the Northumberland
Plate Fervacques maintained his position pretty well, for al-
though sato 20 was once laid, 250 to 100 was taken In one bet,
and the same odds were accepted for small ennients. Vixen colt
was m good demand, and found ready backers at IS to 1, while
Lady Vane would also have been supported at 11 to 2, but
layers restricted their offers to half a point lees Although
War was lacked several times be did not appear to go very well,
for after 6to 1 had been taken he receded to 9to 1 ; 2to 1 was
also laid for a place, There were several Inquiries after Fair
Wind, and 100 to 6 would have been accepted, the price offered,
however, did not exceed lid to 7. The only other feature In
connection with this event wu the la) log of as much as 10 to 1
that FereaNum started. Scarcely anything was done on the
Goodwood Stakes, for although the prices of some half-doges
were asked, layers and backers could not come to terms
For the Goodwood Cup Regalia was backed at 6 to 1, Lotharto
at 10 to 1, and Ramos* PM to 7, but the Investments in each in-
stance were not of much account. The odds of 2 to 1 were
offered on the field for the St. Leger, and although neither of the
favourites was supported at the price, 63 to 40 was laid on the
two coupled. The only other transaction was the backing of
Fervacfrues at 1.000 to M. In the course of the morning the
Cesarewitch and Cambridgesbbe were mentioned, the result
being that a fiver was Invested on Bliokhoolie for the one race,
and on Mayonalse Oily for the other. Fur the Derby three hor ea
were backed, St. Ronan, Typhaus, and Herald, but for small
amounts only. The prices at the close were se follow:
NORTHUMBRRLAND PLATE.
6 to 2 apt Fervacquee (t and 100 to 7 east Fair Wind (off, t
off) to
6to I Vixen colt (t) 20 to 1 Mandrake(t) 6to 1 lady Vane (off, t2oto 1 Newland (t)
11 tot) 2 to 1 War 1,2, 2 (t)
9 to 1 War (off,afteril to
1 had been t)
GOODWOOI
10 to 1 aget Blinkboolle (o)
100 to 7 Jezebel (of;
100 to 7 Vixen colt off)
100 to 6 Dulcimer (of!

ID /MAXIM.
20 to 1 apt Wild Briar (off,
12S to 1)
20 to 1 Viet (off)
25 to 1 Cloy of War.
ff)
Canaan Ball, coupledwick (t)(o
/OD CUP.
I 100 to 7 apt Rama (t)
20 to 1 lady Vane (t)
COM
1 1000 to 16 opt Newlaud (of)

£5O to 28 opt Lucifer sb
000DW(
Bto 1 vat Itogalls (t)
10 to 1 totharlo it)

to 1 oat the Sold (011)
1000 to 20 apt Yervacques
66 to 60 on tleruilt and Vauban, coupled (t)

CESAREWITCH STAKES.
1.00 to 6 apt BlInkhooll• (t)
CAMBRIDGESHIRE STALES.
800 to 6 apt Mayonalas ally, 4 yta (t)
DERBY.
20 to 1 apt Athena (off) 1000 to 30 apt Typhon(' ;0)
et to 1 Mt. Ronan Al 1000 to 2.1 Harald (t)
30 to 1 °Gant des Sa-
tanist ,t)

BETTING AT MANC
NORT111311B2:1
to 1 Yana:qua, (t)
0 to 2 Vixen colt (t)
6 to 1 Lady Vine (t
0 tot)
8 to 1 War (t)
100 to T Yak Mod (t;
20 to 1 Hawk/ in Ca)

AND PLATL
115 to apt Homed& (t)
100 to Challenge (t)
50 to Violet (total)
50 to Newlan,. (off)
100 to )A !rat' (of)
100 to 'horny (el)