The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-23 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.
No. CLXVIII.
A GLANCE AT THE SEVENTY-FOURTH OAKS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—Raving analysed the great race of the year, it
is my intention, before touching upon the great spring
handicaps, to take a passing glance at the great filly
race of the year, which was established by the same
Earl of Derby who created the Derby Stakes. The first
Oaks was run in 1779, and was won very easily by Lord
Derby's Bridget. The number of subscribers on that
occasion amounted to seventeen, the number increasing
but very rightly until 1811, when Chifney tooled the
Duke of Rutland'e Sorcery to victory; there were then
twelve runners, out of forty nominations. This number
ruled the average until 1827, when the Duke of Rich-
mond's Gulnere had the pleasure of beating a field of
eighteen, out of a subscription of seventy-nine. The
increase in the number of subscribers was gradual but
steady, with the exception of Poison's year (1843), up
to 1845, when the Duke of Richmond's Refraction beat
a field of twenty; that year the subscribers counted one
hundred and twenty-eight. The following years the
number of subscribers and starters have ruied parti-
cularly good, and are as follows:
Subs. Starters.
1846 Mendicant ... .. 140 24
1847 Miami ... ... 152 23
1848 Cymba 152 26
1849 Lady Evelyn 172 15
1850 Rhedycina ... 128 15
1851 Iris ... 131 15
Among the curious coincidences attendant upon racing,
it is remarkable that Frank Butler has ridden the winner
the
The Oaks, when first established, was a sweepstake
of fifty guineas each, Bst 41b, mile and a half. In 1782
the forfeit was first introduced at forty guineas, and
the owner of the second horse to receive one hundred
guineas out of the stakes. In 1785 the weights were
altered to Bst each. In 1787 the conditions were, fifty
guineas each, h ft. In 1807 the weight was altered to
Bst 31b, and in the following year to Bst 41b. In
1831 the owner of the second horse received one hun-
dred sovs. out of the stakes, and the winner paid one
hundred soya. towards the expenses of the course.
In 1841 the weight was altered to what it has
ever since remained-B,t 71b. In 1848 the New
Derby Course was substituted for the Old, and in
1850 it was determined that the winner should pay
thirty sovs. to the judge. Out of the hundred and
twenty-three nominations to the Oaks of the present
year, six are defunct, one wrongly nominated, and
three dozen out of training, leaving eighty animals from
which the field and the winner is to be selected.
I shall not examine the contents of the various stables in
the minute manner I bestowed on the Derby, bat merely
consider the chances of those horses that take the lead in
my estimation.
The Duke of Richmond's b f RED HIND, by Venison,
out of the Soldier's Daughter, as being the favourite,
shall have my first attention. She started six times
during the past season, beginning at Ascot, where she
won the Triennial Stakes with ease, beating Songstress,
Moultan Lass, and four others; she next ran second to
Bay Rosalind for the 13entinck Memorial Stakes, at
Goodwood; she then lay by until the Newmarket First
October Meeting, when she came out and won the Tri-
ennial Stakes in a canter by two lengths, beating Long-
bow (who was anything but himself), Odessa colt,
Caloric, Livermore, Ambrose, Child of the Mist,
and one or two others. In the next meeting at
head-quarters she won the Bretby Stakes in
the most off-hand style imaginable, beating
Glenlace by three lengths. In the Houghton
Meeting she finished her dazzling two-year old career
by walking over for a 50 soya. stake and winning the
Criterion, beating Ambrose, the Knight of the Shire,
Stockwell, and Bilberry, notwithstanding extra weight
which she had to carry. Her past running, without con-
eiderirg anything else, would place her A 1 in my esti-
mation, but when it is taken into account, that she is
improving every day, is in excellent health, and doing*
gentle work, going and looking like an Oaks' winner, I
cannot help awarding her all my confidence for this
great filly race.
Lord Westminster, whose name I am exceedingly
glad to see once more enrolled on the racing lists, has a
couple of splendidly bred fillies (egaged in this stake,
in a br f called PLOT, by Pantaloon out of Decoy, and
a b f ATTACK by Touchstone out cf Ghuznee ;
these are in Fisher's care at Newmarket. Their
qualities at present I know hut little of,
as they have not been thoroughly prepared up to the
present time, and have never appeared in public. At-
tack, to look at, would seem to be the best, as she pos-
sesses signs of speed in her large quarters and springy
action; but, as I before observed, I will not attempt to
give any definite opinion about either until their props-
ration is more advanced.
Mr. Worthington's ch f by Birdcateher, dam by Pan-
taloon, has run several times in public, winning three
races out of four. She is a very promising filly, and
will be heard of satisfactorily towards the midala of the
season. _ _ _

General Anson's b f BAY ROSALIND, by Orlando,
out of Elopement, trained by Fisher, of Newmarket, has
started, thrice and •.von twice, when she lost
being dead amiss. Her performances each time she
started, when up Fe to the mark, were first-rate.
At the Newmarket July Meeting she won the
Claesterfield Stakes, beating Lapidist, Ambrose, and five
others, in the commonest of common canters, flying from
end to end like an arrow from a bow. At Goodwood
she accomplished the feat of beating Red Hind cleverly
by three-quarters of a length for the Bentinek Memorial
Stakes, Houlakin and Happy Joe figuring in very bed
third and fourth places. At Doncaster (out of form) she
ran third to Augur for the Champagne Stakes. This
mare, if in form, is quite equal, if not a shade superior
to her fiend Red Hind; but as her understandings are
not of the soundest description, it, is very dubious whether
she will stand her Oaks preparation. She is not doing
any work at the present time, so I shall defer a decided
opinion respecting her chance.
Dilly's lot is uncommonly strong in Oaks fillies, no
less than three being in training belonging to the Con-
federates, Messrs. Payne and Greville. GREENGAGE, a
b f by Alarm out of Preserve, I consider to be inferior
to the other two, so passing her by shall turn to GLEN-
LUCE, a b f by Slane out of Glencairn, who has run six
times with varying success, beginning at Ascot, where
she was nowhere to Robbie Noble for the New Stakes.
At Goodwood she improved on her previous perform-
ance by running a dead heat for second place
with Harbinger for the Ham Stakes, won by
Claverhouse ; afterwards she ran away with
the Melcomb Stakes, beating Ambrose, by two
lengths, Maidstone, and the Chief Baron being in the
third and fourth places. Her other performances re-
quire no comment. She and her stable companion
FREEDON, by Cotheretone out of Liberty, are much
of a muchness ; and it would not surprise me
were the latter eventually to prove the best.
Loth will sea short quotations before the day.
Mr. Feeney's roan f TROUSSEAU by Gameboy, out of
he 3 been making considerable stir in the betting
circles of late, on what grounds I am unable to dis-
cover; her performances, though good, being by no
means of that quality which would put her on a par with
the two favourites; she is, however, one of those game
animals that will persevere unflinchingly to the termina-
tion of a race, and beieg withal endowed with staying
powers of no ordinary quality, she may run forward in

the race.
Mr. R. Wright's nomination bk f Bird on the Wing,
by Irish Birdoatchor, out of Prairie Bird, by Touch-
stone, in Gill's hands, is not only well bred, but one of the
best two-year old fillies out, always excepting
of cracks.
. She has appeared in public six dines, coal-
men the couple
com-
mencing at the York August Meeting, where she was
not placed for the Prince of Wales' Stakes, won by the
Soralla's Dam filly; she was also not placed for the Gim-
crack Stakes, won by Trousseau. At Doncaster, not
placed for the Champagne Stakes, won by Augur. At
the same meeting, carrying 7st 131 b, ran second
to Euphony (6st llb) for the Nursery Plate, beating
eight others. Up to this time bile had been continually
running uncommonly " raw," being in every instance
i very green at her work, as was evinced in her spins at
York and Doncaster. At Richmond hers had a walk
over. At Northallorton, thoroughly elf in every
respect, she c2me out, aid in the most. off-hand Style
at !met vindicated her pedigree by winngeothurealeoit°,igsil,
I i t
Stakes very easily by two lengths, beating Lucio, Agnes—
Wickfield, and a colt by Malcolm. Ofm
bo said by any person knowing b
mare or her stable, that these performances
e so wberuet
of the
,
mediocre to a degree. I admit theyat
were tl
she is one of those improving animals that come
out to much advantage in their three-year old form. If
lam not egregiously mistaken in
as dangerousP
herY e
reasernitvanl appear-
ance,
thear
Elmo, she promises to be
cracks as Mr. Pedley's Trousseau.
Mr. Bowess ch f by Birde
atcher out of Mickleton
Maid, Lord Clifden's br f Rosary by Touchstone, out of
Crucifix; Lord Zetland'a br f
by Birdeatcher, out of
Cast Steel; and several others
of second-rate account,
shall have their hopes commented on at some future
period.
To sum up in a somewhat curt manner, it is my opi-
nion that one of the two favourites—BAY ROSALIND and
RED HIND--will win the Oaks of 1852, and that the
best of Mr. Pay.ne, 5 couple—Bird on the Wing and
Trousseau--will be the handiest to the winner.
I am, Sir, yours. &c.,
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

Jan. 22, 1852.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S—YESTEIWA.Y.
CHESTER CUP.
2,000 to 70 laid agst Ariosto, 1,000 to 30 agst Nancy,
500 to 10 twice seat Cossack, 1,000 to 20 each agst Koh-
i-noor and Bird-on-the-Wing, 1,000 to 10 three times,
and afterwards 1,000 to 15 agst pue-an-Dhurras, 1,000
to 15 twice agst Unity, and 1,000 to 10 agst Payment-.
Nothing else mentioned.
DERBY.
14 to 1, to 1301, egst Augur. and 18 to 1 each, in
fifties, agat Kingston and Orelio, the takers offering to
go on. The room was thinly attended, and business
very dull.
F OLD SURREY (SUTTON) STEEPLECHASES.
THURSDAY.
The County Stakes of 3 soya. each, and 20 added, 12,t
each; the winner to be sold for 100/, &c. (5 Subs.)
Mr. Gough 'd The li,2ctor (201.), lOst (Archer) 1
Mr. Sait'a Playsician (201.), lOst (Salt)
Mr. Balls's The Colonel (201), lOst (Balchin)
Mr. Turner's Tough Tom
(201.), lOst .........(Ablest) 0
Betting-6 to 4 agst Physician, sto 2 agst Rec:or, and ,
sto I agst Colonel. Won by two lengths.
The Sutton Free Handicap of 5 sous. each, and 30 added.
About three miles and a half. (13 Subs.)
Mr. Gardener's The Screw, 9st 61b ............ (Ablett) 1
Mr. Price's Bullfincher, lOst ................. --(Price) 2
Mr. Bowman's Flytrap, lOst ...........•••• (Donaldson) 0
Mr. Stewart's Orange Girl, lost (Higgins)