The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-12 00:00:00

SPORT

*G INTELLIGENCE,

READING ST EEP :JE CHA SE S—WEDNESDAY.
The genial weather and the promising appearance of the
programme tempted a verl large number of spectators, both
local and metropolitan, to visit the steeplechase ground, ana
the company present were well rewarded, for the sport was
of a fair average description, and the general management
of the meeting unexceptionable. The line of country was
the same as last year, awl one mile and a half from the
town of Reading ; and tie fences, without being particu-
larly formidable, were suficient to test the stamina and
racing qualities of the competitors. It will be perceived,
from the return of the sport given below, that the well-
known Ben Land was in " great form," winning three of
the events, and running second for the fourth, with horses
from his stable, The betting ring was tolerably were filled,
and daring the afternoons demonstration was made in fa-
vour of Satellite for the Liverpool Grand National Steeple-
chase, who, after being backed for all the money that could
be got on at 100 to 8, closed at no higher offers than 10 to
1; Jealousy was also supported at 25 to 1, and finally 20 to
1 was the longest price obtainable.
Mr.W. Hibbard, the clerk of the course, deserves especial
credit for the manner in which the whole of the busines of
this capital afternoon's sport was conducted. Subjoined are
full details of the running :
A Sweepstakes of 5 sovs each, 1 ft, with 25 added; gentle-
men riders ; 13st each, winners extra. About three miles.
8 subs, one of whom declared.
Mr. Fetherstonehough's Windsor, 13st. ... (Owner) 1
Mr. T. Duffield's Skirmisher, 13st 71b (inc. 71b extra)
(Owner 2
Mr. G. R. Gross's Gameboy, 13st (Mr. Henry) 3
The Dutchman and Lemon Oliver also ran.
Betting-6 to 4 agst Windsor, and immediately after start-
ing he was backed at evens against the field. Directly the
flag fell the favourite went to the front, and leaving his
horses whenever he pleased, sometimes taking a lead of a
hundred yards, ho went on from end to end and won by a
distance. Lemon Oliver stopped after going little more than
half the distance, and The Dutchman fell at the brook
jump near the finish.
The Great Berkshire Open Steeplechase (Handicap) of 15
sovs each, 5 ft, and only 2 ft if declared, with 100 added ;
winners extra. About three miles and a half, 22 subs,
13 of whom paid 2 sovs each.
Mr. B. Land's Ascot, 12st llb (13. Land, jun.) 1
Mr. T. Redford's Omar Pasha, list llb (Palmer) 2
Capt. Cooper's Cockatoo, list 41b .. (John Istightingall) 3
The following also ran :—Playman, Supperton, and Wil-
ful.

Betting-2 to 1 agst Ascot, sto 2 agst Omar Pasha, 3to
1 agst Cockatoo-100 to 15 agst Sapperton, and Bto 1 agst
Playman.

Ascot rushed to the front, Sapperton lying second, and
the rest close together, led by Omar Pasha. After passing
the Stand, Sapperton, at a merry pace, headed Ascot, who
was followed by Omar Pasha, Playman, Cockatoo, and
Wilful, in the order named. No alteration occurred during
the first mild and a half, until ascending the hill beyond the
Stand, where Sapperton, who had just previously been
passed by A scot, again assumed a clear lead, Cockatoo hav-
ing taken third place, being at the time completely in a
white lather. The Playman at this time occupied the fourth
place, Omar Pasha fifth, and Wilful many lengths in the
rear. At the jump out of the ploughed land, Ascot went
to the front, whilst Sapperton suddenly stopped, evidently
beaten, and dropped into the fourth place. Ascot was fol-
lowed by Omar Pasha, Cockatoo being third, Sapperton
fourth, with Playman and Wilful bringing up the rear.
About three fields from the finish Ascot held a strong lead,
the only other horse near being Omar Pasha. Without any
effort Ascot maintained his own, and won easily by a dozen
lengths; Cockatoo was a bad third, and Sapperton walked
past the post fourth; Playman and Wilful trotted in some
minutes after.

A. Selling Steeplechase of 5 sous each, with 25 added, for 4-
ilyr-olds and upwards. Selling allowances. About three

miles, 3 subs.
Mr. B. Land's Deceiver (EGO), 12st .......... (J. Land) 1
Mr. John islightingall's Orkousta, (£10), llst 91b(Owner) 2
The Tatler also ran,

Betting—Even on Deceiver, and 6 to 4 each against The
rater and Orkousia, The latter made play until passing
the Stand, where Nightingall eased his mare, and Deceiver
ascending the hill took the lead, with The Tatler in close
attendance. On the opposite side of the course The Tatler
momentarily held the front position ; but half a mile from
home was beaten. Orkousta made bar final effort after
passing the cottages, but never got up, and was beaten by
20 lengths. The Tatler walked in. The winner was bought
in for 66 guineas.

The Whitley Stakes (Handicap) of 5 soya each, in case of
acceptance, with 30 sous added; entrance 1 sou; winners
71b extra. Two miles and a half.
Mr. Milton's Gladiator, aged, lOst 121 b.. (J. Nightingall) 1
Mr. B. Land's Oliver Twist, list 21b .. (B. Land, jun.) 2
Mr. It. I'Auson's Glautias, lOst 71b. (Headland) 3

The following also ran : —Corkscrew, Alma, Python,
Long Odds, Gamecock, and Fairplay.
Betting-7 to 4 agst Oliver Twist, 2to 1 agst Glautias,
100 to 15 bar two, 10 to 1 agst Fairplay,
Fairplay, after going a short distance, took a command-
ing lead, but before half the distance had hpori
neaten ; ulacuator, half a mile from home, came out, and
after an excellent race with Oliver Twist in the last quar-
ter, won by two lengths; Glautias a bad third; Long Odds
fell early in the race and except the first three nothing else
passed the post.

LATEST BETTING ON THE COURSE.
LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
10 to 1 agst Satellite (take 12 to 1 freely)
12 to 1 agst Jealousy (takes)
LINCOLN HANDICAP.
10 to 1 agst Libellous

SCARBOROUGH STEEPLECHASES—WEDNESDAY.
The Scarborough Open Steeplechase (Handicap) of 10
sovs each, 5 ft, and 3if declared, with 50 added. About
three miles and a half. 15 subs., 6 declared.
Mr.G.Sinif son's Red Robin, aged, list 101b(W.Simpson) 1
Mr. A. Dunhill's Endor Witch, aged, lOst 71b (Marson) 2
Mr, J. Cadman's Cherry Bounce,azed, lOst 71b(Christian) 3
Mr. J. Hickes's Wild Flower, 6 irs, lOst 71b (Dixon) 4
The following also ran :—Joe Maley, Jessamine, and
Multum in Parvo.

Betting-2 to 1 agst Endor Witch, 3to 1 agst Jessamine,
5 to 1 agst Red Robin, 6 to 1 agst Joe Maley (off.)
Won by a length and a half; four lengths between se-
cond and third ; a bad fourth.

The Innkeepers' Plate of 1 soy each, with 15 added ; sell-
ing allowances. About two miles and a half. 10 subs.
Mr. Tindall's Crookshank, list (X2O) (Mr E. Crawshaw) 1
Mr. J. F. Leighton's Sam Weller, list 7lb (X3O)
(Mr. Leighton) 2
Mr. Wellburn's Cato, 12st (II0) (Mr. G. Pearson) 3
The following also ran :—Widewake, Paddy, Seawar
Lass, Lord of the Tees, and Jeanie Deans.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Wideawake, 4to 1 agst Sam
Weller, 5 to 1 each agst Crookshank and Lard of the Tees.
Won by a length; a bad third.
The Yorkshire Hunters' Stakes of 5 sous each, 2 ft, with
50 added ; second to save his stake; weight for age;
selling allowances, &c. About three miles and a half.
13 subs.
Mr. W. J. Simpson's Rarey, aged, 12st 21b (J, Hopper) 1
Mr. Fernandez's Rook the' Gardener, 6 yrs, 12st 21b
(Mr. Skipworth) 2
Mr. A. Dunhill's Endor Witch, aged, 12st 21b
(Mr. Leighton) 3
Mr. T. J. Smith's Sportsman, 6 yrs, 12st 91b (in. 31b ex.)
(Mr. Crawshaw) 4
Brompton and Cherry Bounce also ran.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Rarey, sto 2 agst Rook the Gar-
dener, 3 to 1 agst Sportsman.
Won by a length; six lengths between second and third .
a bad fourth.

A BRIGAND'S COUP.—Italian letters and news•
papers contain excited accounts of the capture of
Marquis Avitabile bylone's band of brigands. Here is
one of the most graphic versions we have seen :--" The Mar-
quis Avitabile, president of the Neapolitan Bank, was on a
visit to one of his estates, situate on Mount Vesuvius, near
Tone del Grecco. On the morning after his arrival the
Marquis proposed to one of his bailiffs to accompany him on
a shooting excursion in the neighbourhood. The two had
not proceeded far when they found themselves surrounded
by a company of armed men. The bailiff had scarcely time
to cry, Here is Pilone's band 12.1 when one of the party,
approaching the Marquis, inquired, if he were M. Avita-
bile, and on receiving an affirmative reply, added, I will
trouble you to follow me.' The Marquis accompanied his
guide to a secluded spot upon the skirts of the mountain,and
was forthwith conducted into the presence of an individual
dressed in a rod shirt, a hat ala Italiana, and displaying
three decorations on his breast. Be was attended by about
35 other persons accoutred in the same fashion as the first
batch. The protagonist, no other than the redoubtable
Pilone himself, then addressed his prisoner in the following
terms :—' Marquis,—l am the conimander-in-chief of the
outposts of 'he army of occupation, in the service of his
Majesty Francis 11. Without further preamble, I beg to
inform you that as you could spare 60,000 ducats for Gari-
baldi, you certainly will not grueße the same sum to us.
You need not fear any ill treatment. We have orders not
to touch the persons of you dots of Liberals ; but as
you do us much harm, intercept cur correspondence, and
take our money, it is but just that you should be mulcted
in your turn." To this the Marquis replied that such a
sum as (0,000 ducats was out of the question either for
Garibaldi or any one else. To be blief, after some haggling,
it wa, agreed that the Marquis should pay 20,000 ducats,
£3,240, for his release. A messork;er was sent to Naples,
and the family of the hostage, after obtaining a promise
from the authorities that no attempts should be taken
against Pilone and his followers btfore the safe return of
the Marquis, proceeded to collect the money. 12,000
ducats were furnished by the bank, and the remaining 8,000
were raised by notes of hand signet by some of the Mar-
quis's The brigand seems to have treated his
visitor with great respect, invited lina to dinner at a road-
side tavern, and in a convivial menent showed him a de-
cree bearing the signature of Francis
, and nominatin g
the possessor, in fact, as he had stited, to the post of com-
mander losts, and among other
curiosities in
the chiefb roifghnthde
d advancedi3pla
y ed
diploma investing him
oiLlivhtth all the money-
e
payment of the
money, allis
with the d iuty of a
a rI napoleons,cav ilier.
fo
_e
cliangers' shops in Naples hactbefn
home in
the Mar•
quis was set at liberty, and returned in the main
of the day of his capture."