The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-22 00:00:00

SETTLING FOR THE DERBY

AND OAKS.

This indispensable sequitur to the two great races con-
summated last week, took place yesterday, in Messrs.
Tattersall's yard, which was provided with the usual ac-
commodation for the subscribers. The doors were closed
according to custom, and Messrs. Leadbitter and Gardner
were in attendance, to prevent the intrusion of improper
characters. Before we speak of the settling it will be best
to dispose of the Bloomsbury question, which has created
so much anxie`y, and which, we fear, although settled by
the Stewards, is likely to lead to a vast deal of litigation.
It appears that Mr. Ridsdale waited on the Stewards
at Epsom, on Monday afternoon, and after stating
that he had all his witnesses in readiness to verify
his horse's pedigree, as given in the Calendar,
prevailed upon them to appoint eleven o'clock
the following morninw (yesterday) to go into the case ; a
letter from the stewards was immediately forwarded to Mr.
Fulwar Craven, who received it late that night ; its con-
tents were to the effect, that as they were anxious to pre-
vent the confusion which any further delay would create,
they had appointed eleven o'clock the following morning,
at the Spread Eagle, Epsom, to proceed with the inquiry,
at which they hoped he would attend either to substantiate
his objection or admit Mr. Ridsdale's proof. At the time
fixed, Mr. Ridsdale and his witnesses were in attendance,
but no one appeared on Mr. Craven's side; the stewards,
therefore, after a fair allowance, permitted Mr. Ridsdale to
adduce evidence in verification of his horse's pedigree. The
groom who had the care of Mulatto proved that that stallion
covered Arcot Lass twice that year (1835), that no other
horse covered her, that she foaled in 11 months, and that
Tramp had not been near the place since the early part of Ja-
nuary. This evidence was corroborated by that of an under
groom. Mr. Newton, to whom Mr. Ridsdale had given Tramp
at Christmas, stated that be received the horse early in Jan.
1835, that he covered six or seven mares that season, but
that Arcot Lass was not one of the number. Taylor, then
Mr. Ridsdale's stud groom, declared that he never gave
Orton any information at all that year of Mr. Ridsdale'.s
mares, and that he was at Newmarket at the time Orton
had stated him to have described Arcot Lass as having
been covered by Tramp or Mulatto. Orton was again
examined, and admitted that his former statement was a
mistake; in fact, his own stud-book was produced, in
which he had struck out " Tramp or," and made a memo-
randum of its being an error Mr. Ridsdale's book of
mares was also produced, and so clear did the proof appear
to the stewards, that after waiting a short time for the
opposing parties, they gave a decision in favour of Mr.
Ridsdale—a decision, which we take upon ourselves
the responsibility of asserting is in accordance with
the opinion of ninety-nine out of every hundred conver-
sant with racing matters. Armed with this decision, Mr.
Ridsdale proceeded direct to Mr. Weatherby, the stake-
holder, and demanded the stakes ; they were re-
fused—we know not on what grounds—and he has now
to go through the agreeable process of a law-suit to re-
cover that which the stewards have declared he is entitled
to. A copy of the decision was posted up at Tattersall's,
and was received as it deserved—the settling commenced
as if no objection had been made, and continued, without
interruption, until near five o'clock, when Mr. Craven
added a little excitement to the afternoon's proceedings by
reading two letters—the first was that he had received
from the stewards the preceding night ; the other was his
answer to it, but which did not reach the Stewards until
after their fiat had been sent to town. It stated that the
notice was so short that it was impossible he could pro-
duce his evidence at the time mentioned, and requested
that the inquiry might be postponed till he should have an
opportunity of doing so, After reading the letter, of which
we profess to give the substance only, he announced his
intention to proceed at lav‘ fur the recovery of the stakes,
at least such we understood to be his intention ; tut the
crowd around him was so thick that we were obliged to
leave something to hearsay. The lawyers, therefore, wig
have a good per centage out of the Derby. This declara-
tion had no effect upon the settling, except as it regarded
one or two of Mr. Craven's personal connexions, who re-
fused to pay bets lost against Bloomsbury, unless they
received an understanding to return the money, if the
mare should get the stakes. As this is a case in which the
public are interested, we shall not hesitate to give an
opinion it. It is perfectly true that the proof rested with
Mr. Craven, but if there were not some limit to the time
of producing it, bow easy would it be to disturb every
settling for the Derby, or any other race; it is only
to wait till the race is over, and then tender an ob-
jection to the Stewards that the mare was covered by
two stallions, and, admitting that the case must stand
over until the objection is substantiated, what would be
the result? Any non-scrupulous owner of a bad second
horse might stop a settling, and keep the winner out of the
stakes for a year. Taking this view of the case, and look-
ing at the evidence on which the stewards have acted, we
feel ourselves justified in asserting that their decision is a
just one, raid as far as it regards the bets, final. A court
of law is a very improper place to discuss the pedigrees of
race-horses, and should its ignorance of the laws of racing
and breeding deprive Mr. Ridsdale of the stakes, it cannot
affect the bets—the two stewards are worth a dozen judges

in the eyes of betting men. To corielud, the settling Was
not a good one; three or four parties, whose names we
withlaold for the present, were non est, and others paid only
in part; nor did the resolution of others not to pay their
bets against Bloomsbury at all improve the state of
affairs. _ _ .

The following is a copy of the stewards' decision :
" Epsom, May 21, 1839.
" We, the stewards of Epsom Races, considering that
although by rule 58, when the qualification of any horse is
objected to after the race, the onus of proof lies upon the
party objecting, yet, that we are not thereby precluded
treats receiving proof of such qualification from the owner
of the horse objected to if he shall see fit to tender it, have
this day at the request of Mr. Riisdale, examined the evi-
dence tendered by him in support of the qualification of his
horse Bloomsbury, and are of opinion that the entry is the
calendar is correct, that Bloomsbury seas qualified to start
fur the Derby. and that his owner is entitled to sakes.
(Signed) " GILBERT I-lEATHCOTE.
" DE TESziIER.
" To Messrs. Weatherby.

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORE

LAND WRESTLING.

The Cumberland and Westmoreland Wrestling Society
yesterday held their second and last meeting for the season.
The institution has for its object the instruction of the
young and maintenance of the aged of the two counties,
and in order that the funds for those laudable purposes
may be increased by the residents in London, for many
years Good Friday and Whit-Tuesday have been the ap-
pointed days for the collection of subscriptions, and in or-
der to draw as great an assemblage as possible, and en-
courage their national sport of wrestling, various prizes,
consisting of watches, snuff-boxes, and silver guard-chains
have been given to the successful combatants.
The Whit-Tuesday's match, inferior to that at Easter in
the value of the prizes, has hitherto taken place at Chalk
Farm, but Mr. Wales's, the Bayswater Tavern, was the spot
selected for yesterday's sport, and at three in the day, when
the pastime commenced, there was a very considerable
muster of the youth of each county, and many well-dressed
females. The system of wrestling is over and under,
kicking of course prohibited. There were three classes :
—Those under eleven stone, those not exceeding twelve
and a half, and men of all weights, amongst the latter of
which were many private soldiers in the Guards and Blues.
After a very good day's play, which lasted till sun-set, the
principal prizes were thus awarded :
Light Weights—First prize, J. Plaisiat, value 51. ; se-
cond ditto, W. Faulder.
Second Weights—First prize, J. Faulder ; second
ditto, .1. Caruthers ; third, J. Armstrong.
All Weights—First prize, Jas. Hague ; second ditto,
Thompson.
The confusion was so general that our reporter found
much difficulty in obtaining any information whatever
on the subject. Franklin, the officer of Marylebone, and
his assistants, were found very useful in protecting the
property of the visitors. The prizes were of small value.