The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-21 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCLVII.

INTRODUCTION TO THE ANALYSIS OF
SEVENTY-FOURTH DERBY.
Early on Friday morning last, amid the grumbling of
the elements—rather unusual at this period of the year

—which were evidently with the opposition, and, after
a splendid oratorical race between Disraeli and Glad-

stone, by which the former; in all probability, lost the
Chancellorship of the Exchequer, and the latter gained

it, or something equally good, the fate of the Derby
Ministry was sealed. The fate of one Derby having
been decided to the satisfaction, I presume, of the read-
ers of The Sun, whethei sporting or otherwise, the
former class will now be on the look out for my annual
Christmas production—the analysis of the great race
of the year ; in which it will be perceived that
I have not, as was heretofore the case, rested
altogether on my own opinion, but brought the
opinions of certain knowing and extensive speculators
and every scrap of information I could oollect, to bear
upon the subject, so as to enable my readers to form a
judgment for themselves, somewhere about the mark, of
the fate of another Derby.
At the risk of iteration, it is my intention, in order to
render the present introduction as complete as I intend
the analysis shall be, to glance at the foundation and
gradual progress of the stake, the alteration of the con-
ditions, the levels of the course, and such other memo-
randa as may be interesting to the turfite.
" The blue riband of the turf," as Disraeli and that
great reformer of turf abuses, the late Lord George Ben-
tinck, were agreed in calling the Derby, had for its
sponsor that thoroughbred turfite and sportsman the
grandfather of the present Earl-of Derby. It was created
in 1779, and the first race run in the following year.
The conditions then were fifty guineas each, h. ft., for
three years old—colts, Bst. ; fillies, 7st. 111 b. It was
then only over the mile course. Thirty-six subscribers
were obtained to the stake ; nine started, and all
were placed. The race was won very easily by
Sir Charles Bunbury's Diomed, ridden by Sam
Arnull. From that time until Charles won the Stake
again, with his Smolensko in 1813, the number of sub-
scribers in no instance exceeded fifty ; in this and the
three following years fifty-one subscribers put down their
names. For ten years the subscription-list showed but
a very slight increase ; but, in Mameluke's year (1827),
the number improved to eighty-nine, and remained, curi-
ous to relate, at this specific figure for four years ; the
first and, fourth (Mameluke's and Priam's years),
being remarkable for the production of fields of any size
—three-and-twenty starting on each occasion. In 1831,
the subscribers numbered one hundred and five, and from
this time gradually increased until, in Attila's year
(1842), they amounted to one hundred and eighty. The
three following years the list was not so well filled, but
in 1846 had again increased to one hundred and ninety.
three ; and in the Flying Dutchman's year stood at two
hundred and thirty-seven—its maximum number. The
present year had two hundred, three of which, however,
are void by death.
To revert to the alteration in the conditions in 1782,
the owner of the second horse received 100 guineas.
In 1784, the weights were altered to colts Bst 31b,
and fillies Bst ; and the course to the last mile and a half,
which was the one run over up to 1848. In 1801
the fillies' weight was altered to 7st 121 b. Two years
afterwards the weights were again shifted to colts Bst 51b,
and fillies Bst ; and it was not until 1807 that the weights
were finally settled at what they have remained ever
since—colts Bst 71b, and fillies Bst 21b. In 1831 the
owner of the second horse merely received back his
stake, and the winner paid 100 sovereigns towards the
expenses of the course, &c. In 1832 it was, resolved that
the owner- of the second horse should receive 100 sove-
reigns. In 1838 the day of running was altered from
Thursday to Wednesday. In 1848 the New Derby Course,
exactly one mile and a half in length, and which was made
on the proposition of the late Lord George Bentinck,
was used for the first time ' • and, curiously enough, Sur-
plice, who was bred by his lordship, out of his celebrated
mare Crucifix, was the first to travel over it a victor.
He afterwards accomplished that feat that was thought
impossible, namely, winning the Doncaster St. Leger.
This reputed impossibility was repeated the two
following years by the Flying Dutchman and Voltigeur.
In 1850 it was adjudged that the winner should pay
fifty sovs to the judge. In 1820 the race was run in a
hurricane, and in 1839 in a very heavy snow storm.
The levels of the course are as follow :
In the first 100 yards it rises 1 foot in 18.

In the next 120 yards it rises 1 foot in 16.
In the next 130 yards it rises 1 foot in 17.
In the next 160 yards it rises 1 foot in 18.
In the next 215 yards it rises 1 foot in 40.
In the next 155 yards it rises 1 foot in 25.
(Here it joins the old course.)
In the next 120 yards it rises 1 foot in 48.
(Here ends the hill.)
The next 720 yards are nearly flat ; then a gradual
descent of 1 foot in 75 for 280 yards ; then 1 in 45 for
the next 280 yards; then 1 in 52 for the next 104 yards;
then nearly flat for 116 yards, and ends on a steady rise,
from the distance to the beginning of the Stand of 1 foot
in 30, and from the Stand to the winning post of 1 in 22
—a remarkably severe finish.
(To be continued. )
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

TATTERSALL'S.—MONDAY.
METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.
30 to 1 agst Muscovite.

CHESTER CUP.
1,000 to 12 Cardinal Wiseman (taken).
1,000 to 12 Confessor (taken).

DERBY.
13 to 1 agst West Australian.
100 to 6 —• Cineas (taken).
17 to 1 Umbriel (taken).
1,000 to 30 Ninnyhammer (taken).
1,000 to 30 Brocket (taken).
3,000 to 60 Rataplan (taken).
3,000 to 60 Lord Fauconberg (taken).
1,000 to 20 Orinoco (taken).

WEIGHTS FOR THE GREAT METROPOLITAN.

• •
The following are the weights as settled for this great
race :
- -•

---- -
Eighth year of the Great Metropolitai? Stakes (handi-
cap) of 25 sovereigns each, 15 forfeit and only 5 if
declared on or before the Ist of January, with a
Bonus of 350 sovs. added by the contributions of the
Lovers of the National Sport of Racing, resident in
the City of London and Metropolitan districts, to-
gether with gratuities from, and subscriptions received.
by, the Licensed Victuallers of the Metropolis; the
owner of the second horse to receive 50 soya, out
of the stakes. The winner of any handicap of 200
sovs. value, subsequent to the publication of the
weights, to carry 51b, or of two such races or more, 101 b
extra. The winner to pay 30 sovs. towards the expenses,
10/. 10s. to the Licensed Victuallers' School, and 10/.los.
to the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum. Great Metropoli-
tan Stakes Course, two miles and a quarter, to start at
the Winning-chair.

Kingston
Weathprgage

Yrs at lb
~ 4 9 0
..4 9 0
.. 5 8 10
.. 6 8 7

Yrs st lb
Follow-me-Lads ...•• 5 6 2
'Madeline 4 6 0
4 6 0
Isabella
4 5 13
Cleveland
Carrier 4 5 13
Valour 3 5 12
Michaelmas Maid 3 5 12
Charley 3 5 12
Defiance 3 5 12
Lord Faucouberg 3 5 12
Pug Orrock 3 5 11

Newminiter
Cariboo
Chief Baron Nichol-
son 4 8 7
Joe Miller ............. 4 8 6
Little Harry- ......... 4 8 5
Goldfinder ............ 8 1
Knight of the Shire 4 8 1
Prime Minister 5B 1
Leopold 4 8 0
Grey Tommy 4 8 0
Hungerford 5 8 0
King of Trumps 47 13
Lucio 4 7 13
Le Jnif 5 712
Adine 4 7 11
Frantic., 4 7 11
Bellewstown 5 7 10

g -by Paragone
Pauline (h b)
Cotton Lady

3 5 11
4 5 10
3 5 10
..3 5 10
..3 5 10
. 4 5 10
4 5 9
.. 3 5 9
..3 5 7

Tickton

Corybantes

Sally Warfoot c
Homebrewed
Poodle

4 7 10
4 7 10
4 7 10

Si;.To Batteraway 5 7 10
Timid. Fawn 5 7 10
Merry Bird 4 7 9
Attack 4 7 8
Lindrick 4 7 7
Bardoilph 4 7 7
Candlewick 6 7 6
Lady Amyott 44 7 6
Muscovite 4 7 6
Colsterdale 5 7 5
Miss May 4 7 5
A a 7 3
Alp '
Butterfly 4 7 3
Trifle (h b)
Little Davie
Bishop
Ammonia
Kate
Redmond O'Hanlon 4 7 0
Terpsichore 5 6 13
Allegro
Mimi
Exact.
Lambion 3 6 10
Burndale 4 6 7
St. George
King of Troy.
c by Theon—Rebecca
Benita 4 6 6
Abdallah 5 6 5
Now or Never a 6 5
Ninnyhammor 3 6 4
Brocket 3 6 4
Sextus 3 6 4
Galvanism 4 6 3
Hirsute, 4 6 3

Lady Harriet
Maria

4 6 3
4 6 3

f by Venison—Wed-
ding-day

4 6 2