The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-01 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

be deemed necessary. On the summit of the bill to the
north of the course is • huge palace, empty as yet, but
intended by the proprietary to become a duplicate
Crystal Palace; but as this erection Ma no bearing on the
sports of the day no further reference to it is necessary.
The course in itself is peculiar in shape. It is in the form
of • figure 6, the "loop" presenting such abrupt tures
as are only to be met with at Chester, and loose it
may be inferred that the careering the circle is
somewhat difficult for both horse and rider, although the
straight run in is good, and there is a capital plot iu which
to pull up after • severe race, the run home, in fact, lead-
ing direct into the saddling paddock, some two hnadred
yards to the west of the Grand Stand. In frog of the
'steed is a gravelled slope, not very wettable to walk
upon, and here the members of Tat Ps congregated.
A little further westward, opposite the offices of the
officials, is a plot of ground cover with tan, enclosed with
ridings, in which the winners are unsaddled after a race.
'lhe tan was to-day much bettor appreciated than the
rough gravel, and it would, perhaps, have been wise if
the betting-rang had been surfaced with a metaled less
berth and grating. These, and other details, will, how-
ever, probably be remedied, ofd with the promises hold out
by the management, we mares:poet better things in future,
Ihe committee resolved toisnercise their discretion as to
people they admitted to the grounds, and certainly
if the number of police prosout could be any guarantee
for the respectability of the attendants the meeting must
be set down as very select flare were mounted officers
at every point, and foot police guarded all approaches,
while Inspector Tanner had • careful eye over the
welshers, who had dared to penetrate the ring by stealth.
The grand stand nay be considered one of the finest of its
kind, its several terraces affording an almost uninter-
rupted view of the course; and ea the Prince of Wales
was expected • royal box had been set apart and gaily
decorated for the occasion. Royalty, however, WPM ab-
sent to-day; but the Prince and the Duke of Edinburgh
are expected to attend t3-morrow. The course, as may
be supposed, was of adamantine hardness, and it seemed
dangerous to run valuable horses on such dried up clay.
Hence the limited fields. One objection may be inter-
posed, which is, that when running long races the horses
are for a time hidden from view of those on the stand by a
clum pof 12 ces in the cricket ground. Hew these down at
once and a fair view of the whole course is obtained, and as
these trees seem to serve no purpose beyond useless °ma-
nn Irtation, and as the future success of the Park Company
would seem to depend upon their races, the sooner an
unobstructed view is made the better. The arrival of
visitors before the hour for commencing the sport was
slow, although the Great Northern Railway Company had
evidently made ample provision for any pressure upon
their resources at King's-cross ; but by the time of the
fixture for the first race an immense HAECMilbige had
gathered within the grounds, carriages being pretty nume-
rous both at the stand and alongside the course, not a
few four-in-hands gracing the scene. It is computed that
fully 40,000 people paid the Is. gate-money 'before the
close of the day, and the visitors in vehicles must
have considerably enhanced these numbers. The
Trial Stakes, for which there were only three
'ulster iptions, was a rather inauspicious opening
of the meeting, as Mr. Porter's Haymaker walked over
for the stake, neither Pirate Chief nor Milton caring to
face Fordham's mount. The Alexandra Plate brought
out seven runners of the thirty-two coloured, and at the
opening of the betting Goodfellow and Lily were made
equal favourites, but at the close Lily 'secured more friends,
and a trifle less was accepted about her than about Good-
fellow. The distance scarcely seemed far enough for The
Clown, although he managed to secure second honours;
another furlong might have altered the result. Mexico
carried off the Palace Handicap, and did a good turn for
the backers. An unnamed filly, by Wallace, the choice of
the talent, easily bowled over a number of other 2 and 3-
yr-olds, including the Jade, Valentin. and Bouquetiere.
The Two-Year-Old Stakes was expected to prove a good
race, and throw some light on the future—Martyr. Elec-
tricity, and Flower Girl being the pick of the
lot. Before this race Mr. Stephenson laid 10,000
to 300 against Captain Machell's colt for the. Derby,
and this would seem to have installed him as
favourite for hie present race. As Mr. Morgan sent a
couple of youngsters to the post, he declared to win with
Electricity, the doubtful victress of Masaniello at Windsor.
Fordham, however, disposed of the lot easily with the
Danebury filly, and scarcely ever stirred on her. The last
race was won easily by the favourite, Mr. Edwards adding
another to his long list of victories among the welter
weights. There was some little speculation on future
events, more especially on the Goodwood Stakes, for which
Gcmera was very warmly supported. The returns will,
however, be found appended, as well as the details of the
racing.
Ter. TRIAL li .of 5 Will each, with 50 added, for all ages;
weight for age, with penalties and allowances ; the winner to be
sold for 1,000 sows • if not to be sold to carry 101 b extra. About
one mile. (3 subs.
Mr. A. Porter's asmaher, by Leamington—lnhere Maid,
3 yrs, fat 1011 (Fordhaml w.o.
Tar ALM/IDEA PLATE (Handing, of 100 WV& foe all ages;
winners extra. T.T.C. (about five fur gs).
Mr. F. Braylcy's Lily, by Cape Ftyaway-82frida, yrs,
7delb (Butler) 1
Sir F. Johnstone's The Clown, aged, fat Mb tine 7lb ex.)
(Parry) 2
Mr. Beadman's Goodfellow, 4 yrs, 7d 71b (Clement 3
Mr. Hamner* Amour Propre, 4 yrs, 7iit 7lb (Peppier 0
Mr. Piper's False Alarm, 3 yrs, eat 12Ib (H. Covey 0
Mr. Rrerrownire'a lienefactresa, 3 re, es t 711, (Jeffery) 0
Mr. T. V. Morgan's Traviata, 3 yrs, nit 41b (Wyatt) 0
Betting : 5 to 2 each agst Goodfellow and Lily, 5 to 1 eget The
Clown, 6 to 1 Rest False Alarm, and to to 1 agst lienefactresii.
The three placed lay in front throughout, Lily, who got away
with a strung lend, winning in a canter by two lengths from The
Clown. Goodfellow was a bad third ; Benefactress was fourth,
close up; Traviata, fifth; Amour tropre, sixth; and False
Alarm, last. _ _

-- -
ALEXANDRA PARK RACK.
In those " Cockney adventures and talcs of
London Life," which formed the chief comic
literary pabulum of the metropolitan public before
the advent of Mr. Charles Dickens and his nume-
rous followers, the delights of tea-gardens
and
open-air amusements intim northtirnsuposomburbe :deal
described with all the graphic pewee
that time by descriptive writers. In those not
was scarcely a mile of
vgerlTuund"thtallatthad4Yni tothrtea- gardon " hoensed pur-
suant to Act of Parliament of the 25th of Xing
George the 2nd," planted with the regularity of
turnpikes along the old pathwaysthat led from the
City, through Horton to Hornsey. First came the
" Rosemary Branch Tavern," which has long since
given place, like " Vauxhal-gardens," to right-
angled streets; then " Canonbury Tavern," whose
flower-beds and bowling-greens are now repre-
sented by a colony of semi-detached villas; then
" Highbury Barn," which, mutilated and altered,
still remains. Then the " Sluice-house," on the
old New River bank, which still raises its head as
a public-house, amidst builders' encroachments;
and lastly " Hornsey-wood House," with its lake
of water, its little forest, and its pigeon-shooting
matches, which has been sucked into the vortex of
railway cuttings. The present, however, compen-
sates for the past, and greater than all these
" places of amusement " put together, is the new
Alexandra-park, Muswell-hill, two miles farther
north than the last point above-mentioned,
which was formally opened yesterday with
a great race meeting. The scheme of
the Alexandra Palace and Park Company has been
several times described at some length in our
columns, and the only thing, therefore, necessary
here is to briefly point out the chief facts in its
history. About five years ago, shortly after the
Great Exhibition building of 1862 was refused by
the House of Commons at the price put upon it by
its friends and owners, a company was formed to
transport it to en estate held by Mr. Rhodes, at
Muswell-hill, and erect it as a rival to the Crystal
Palace at Sydenham. The building was success-
fully removed; but the company sank under its
exertions, and the task of completing the scheme
was left to a second company, formed, to seine
extent, out of the ruins of the first. This second
existing company, possessed of an estate about
equal in extent to the oue at Sydenham, have
built and decorated their house, and have
laid out their grounds. but have not suf-
ficiently completed their arrangements to
open more than their race-course this year,
with which they propose to make their first expe-
riment in show keeping, and the acquaintance of
the great British public. Starting with the expe-
rience of the Crystal Palace Company to guide
them, they will doubtless avoid many mistakes
that were inevitable at Sydenham. In 1832 every-
body thought, or affected to think, that the public
wanted instruction instead of amusement, and it
was not until the rope-dancer and the firework
maker had to be called in to the aid of the art-
teacher that this mistake was discovered. The
Alexandra Park Company have begun at the
other extreme. They promise art next year,
but in the meantime their magnificent
weather-proof Palace is unfurnished, and
they open their show with horses and their
followers. Their great difficulty, at present, is a
want of adequate railway communication. Only
one main line, the Great Northern, enters or
touches their property, and the managers of the
Great Northern have neither the rolling stock, nor
the experience required to deal successfully with a
large pleasure traffic. The short distance of the
palace and park from centres in London (about
six miles " as the crow flies") and its almost im-
mediate connexion with the populous northern
districts of Holloway, Islington, Hoiden, &c., are
points in its favour that will doubtless tell upon
the prosperity of the property when it is completed
and opened as a" People's Palace."
The Alexandra Park is about two hundred acres
in extent, well wooded, and laid out as pleasure
grounds, the Palace being erected on Muswell-hill,
with its whole length facing the south, and the
racecourse, about two miles in length and shaped
like a battledore, lying at the foot of the slope, in
the Hornsey valley. This part of the property has
been constructed under the superintendence of the
Jockey Club and the highest racing authorities,
and it is only fair to assume that it answers all the
purposes for which it is intended. Looked at
impartially, it appears to be too close to the
southern boundary of the company's
property
and too complicated in shape to allow o fair
quick running, or a fair view of the running. The
enclosure reserved for carriages between the south
side fence, and the racecourse is miserably in-
sufficient, and so full of deep ruts that several
valuable vehicles were literally broken in two.
Anything like the siding provided at Epsom,
Ascot, or even Hampton, is not to be found here,
except, perhaps, in the shilling enclosure, where
most of the cabs, vans, and greengrocers' carts
were assembled. The grand stand, at the western
end of the racecourse, is alight and pleasant-looking
structure, fitted up in the interior like Mr. Spur-
geon's chapel, and coloured white and blue on the
outside. It is reached by a somewhat precipitous
incline, and the managers, we think, have com-
mitted a grave mistake in substituting gravel
and pounded brick for turf in the
betting and jockey-club enclosures. The
garden-slopes of the park, running down
from the Palace to the racecourse, are largely
devoted to refreshment booths, under the canvas
roofs of which the usual food and drink are dis-
pensed at the usual prices, and this part of the pro-
perty bore yesterday the aspect of a country fair,
without the noise of the brass and speak-
ing trumpets. The regulations of the directors
were doubtless framed with a view of keeping out
many of the recognised vulgarities of the ordinary
racecourse, but if so they were scarcely success-
ful. The same female singers of improper songs,
with the same " ends" to encourage them, the
same doubtful gipaies, accordion players, fire-
kings, and photographers lined the course as
at any open race meeting at any part of
the country. The " cock-shy " men were
certainly not allowed to ply their trade,
and faith was kept with the public by the
rigid exclusion of dogs ; but as the police were
present in large numbers, it is doubtful if many
dogs attempted to gain admission. The " fun "
of the racecourse, what little fun it attracted, was
confined to the once rural lanes of Hornsey and
Crouch-end, outside the limits of the company's
property, and ginger beer stalls, refreshment
tents, and sarsaparilla carts were driving a pro-
fitable trade amongst thirsty and dusty pedes-
trians. A few familiar omnibuses were seen in the
line of carts and carriages, with " Alexandra
Park Races" plastered over their sides, but the
" road" generally was a little dull, compared with
the glorious blackguardism of Epsom. Dolls,
peas, veils, and even hampers, were either scarce or
not seen at all, and in some respects the race re-
sembled a sporting meeting in the Bois de Bou-
logne. with everybody hurrying back to town
for a six o'clock dinner. The attendance on the
amuse was very large, amounting probably to
between fifteen and twenty thousand persona,
amongst whom it was not difficult to recognise a
large number of distinguished and notorious turf
supporters. The Palace on the top of the hill
appftred to be neglected for the racecourse at
the bottom, and the South Kensington propa-
gandists were beaten on this occasion by the
superior attractions of horse-flesh and rowdyism.
How far this curious mixture of museum and
" Appy " Ampton can be moulded into dividends
remains to be seen, but the large interests at stake,
involving more than half a million of capital, will
compel the directors next year to exert all their
skill and energy.

----'
Tat PALACZ HANDICAP of 20 sow. each, 10 ft, and 2 only if
declared, with 200 sous. added; winners extra. About two
miles. (23 subs, 12 of whom pay 2 move. each to the wand.)
Mr. Hamilton's Mexico, by ' Wish, 3 yrs, Sat 71b,
(inc. 31b ex) (Wyatt 1
Mr.E.Buekley'e Success, 6 yrs, fist (enlist 21b) (J.liinowden
Mr. Samuel's Feodor, 4 yew, 74 21b (PeWer
Mr. Proctor's Goodwood, 4 yea, tist 121 b (Rirry 0
Lord Westmorland's g by Vedette—Vixen, yr*, 74
dyer,on 0
Krel.Trimmer's Virginia Creeper, 4 yrs, Set Illb (J. Clark) 0
Mr. E. Brayley's Prince Regent, 3 yrs, bat 71b (Butler 0
Betting : 4 to 1 aged Mexico, 9 to 2 snit Prince Regent, 6 to 1
each eget Virginia Creeper and Vixen gelding, 6 to 1 and
Feeder, 100 to 16 eget Buenos, and 10 to 1 (at flat S to 1) eget
Goodwood. The Vixen gelding cut out the work, closely attended
by Mexico, Success, and Virginia Creeper, Feodor, and Good-
wood lying next, Prince Regent bringing up the rear. In this
order they the stand, but before a quarter. of • mile had
been Suoceastook up the running—Mexico, Feodor,
and V' Creeper lying in claw attendance, the Vixen geld-
ing the remainder, of whom Prince Regent end Good-
wood were still in the rear. &weer retained the lead until they
had gone half a mile, when he gave way to Feeder, Mexico and
Mr. Bucklers home going on second and third, some distance in
advance of the Vixen gelding. Excepting that Goodwood en-
deavoured to emerge from the rear half • mile from
home, and for a. moment appeared at the quarters of
the Vixen gelding, from which position, however, be soon retired,
no change occurred until rounding the lad " loop," when Mexico
headed Feeder, and having both him and Banner settled outside
the distance won in • center by three lengths, Somme defeating
Feodor • head for second place. Prince Regent was fourth, the
Vixen geldin4Littice., Virginia Creeper sixth, end Goodwood last,
beaten some
Tea Pelt PLATS of ao ROTC, for all ages; weight for ern; with
ruing and other allowanan. Half a. mile.
Mr. J. pryor'e filly, by Wallace, dam by Sir Hercules—
Prestige (470), 2 yei, bed 181 b (Wilson) 1
Mr. H. Weight's Valentin (£7O), 2 yes, fit 131 b (Barker) 2
Mr. It. Porter's g by Prime Minister—Pluck (CO), 2 pre,
fat 131 b (Resell)
Lord Vivian's Lord Falmouth (£7O), 2 yrs, fat 21b (Butler) 4
Mr. Bromegrove's Bouquetiere (470), 3 yin, 74 lolb
(Jeffery) 6
Mr. Wallett's Proctor, by Oxford—Honor's dam (CO), 3 yre,
7st War (Corlett) 6
Betting : Even on the Prestige filly, 4to 1 and Bouquetacre, 6
to 1 and lord Falmouth, 100 to 16 nod Valentia, and ti to 1
and the Pluck gelding. Bouquetiere and Lord Falmouth side
by aide lay slightly in advance of the Prestige filly for bull the
distance, when the latter took up the running, and won in a CLO-
UT by a length. Three-quarters of a length separated the second
and third, Lord Falmouth war fourth, Bouqueticre fifth, and the
Horror's dam gelding last beaten off. The winner was sold to
Mr. W. G. Bennett for 370 guineas.
Tut Two-v Srser.s of 16 move. each ; 5 ft, with 200 added;
colts, bat lulb ; 6llies, list 71b. T.Y.C. About five furlongs. 170
subs.)
Mr. Padwick's Flower Oirl, by Orlando Bouquet,
hit 71b (Fonlham) 1
Captain Machell's Martyr, tait 1016 (thetanee) 2
Mr. T. V. Morgan'm Electricity, fist 10th (J. Snowden 3
Mr. Bromegrove's Hinton, Eid I.olb (Cannon 4
Mr. T. V. Molgan'e Dryad, Bst 71b (Marsh C.
Mr. Headman 'a Rmmgg of the Rovers, tad bib ...(Clement 6
Mr. Morgan declard to win with Electricity.
Baling : 6to 4 eget Martyr, 3to t and Flower Girt, 100 to tta
aget Electricity, End 8 to 1 snit King of the BONDI'S.
Tin Waimea Cue, value 60 sous., added to a sweepstakes of 6
sees. each, 2 ft to the second ; winnow and profonional
71b extra. Alexandre Course (about I mile and a quarter).
Mr. Samuel's Feeder, by Ivan—Blarney's dam, 4 yrs,
10e4 rdh (Mr. FAwards) 1
Mr. J. Coney's Distaff, 4yrs, lOst 9th (ine 71b extra)
(T. French) 2
Mr. P. Wickham's Pevener7, Oyes, 104 71b ... (Owner) 3
Betting : 6to 4 agst Feodor, 7 to 4 and Distaff, end 6 to 2 eget
Pereneey.

BETTING ON THE COURSE.
GOODWOOD STAKES.
100 to 30 apt Goners (t) 25 to 1 apt Powderluun(t)
100 to 7 Romping OM 50 to 1 /Gm Havelock
(t) (t)
10 to I Our Mary Ann 1000 to 10 Clioraldliamits
(t) coupled (t)
_

10000 to 900 mot ifaryr.

the 2-7 r-old race) (t)

MANCHESTER.
ID sTAXI3B.
100 to 5 mot Comm Ball (t)
100 to • itotleratinottr

BETTING AT
GOODWOOI
100 to 80 sot Go 7
to 2mm) (off, t
100 to 8 Romping Girl (t)
ft) 500 to—
-100 to 8 Papillon (t) 200 to 16
Thom (t]
100 to 6 Stendbroke (t)

THE
1000 to SO 1

IHRBY.
;at Martyr (t)

(rit(l2l OUR WOWING CORRESPONDZAT.)
In the two years that have elapsed since a race meting
was proposed to be held on the Mu.well-hill estate great
changes have taken place on the ground and alao in the
proprietary; but after many drawbacks and disheartening
cirrumstaneee usually incident to them speculations, a
race meeting bee at last been inaugurated, and was com-
menced yesterday with what, under the difficulties of a
Aar racing fixture, may be called "tolerable promise."
Before, however, detailing the main incidents of the sport
a fist words relative to the course and its buildings may

ADMIRALTY, JUNE 30. Arronrrinzarr.—
Commander Lord Walter Kerr, to the Formidable.
We are requested to inform the large body of
volunteers who shoot at Wormwood fir-Tubbs that the
ranges are reopened for rifle practice.
THE Rims AND FETEB.—Ladies who visit these
fashionable resorts are most earneetly recommended to make •
free use of the cool and fra=prez= so widelY reputed—
namely, the Italydor and Soot in airier to
obviate thee, ry serious effects of dust and heat, with their eon
ecenitantit tan, heckles, eruptions, and the liks.--(Adverthement)

TEE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 1, 1868.