The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-16 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

The annual aristocratic gathering at Ascot will again
this year be deprived of the presence of her Majesty in con-
sequence of the death of Prince Albert, which must affect _
the attendance in no slight degree, as the Sovereign's pre-
sence has ever attracted to the royal course the dlite of the
beau monde, besides troops of her more humble subjects,
who have always regarded the Thursday of the meeting as
one of the gala days of the year. The absence of the Court
will not, however, militate against the sport, of which there
is excellent promise, though the entries for some of the
races show a considerable falling off, particularly for the
Queen's Stand plate, which exhibits the startling decrease
of 19, or more than a half compared with the previous year.
For this, however, the new three par old race, the Prince
of Wales' Stakes, makes amends, as it secured the brilliant
entry of 106, whilst for the Queen's Vase the number of
horses entered is far in excess of the three preceding years.
The two year old races, and others in which the young-
sters are engaged, are, however, much less affected by
previous running than last year, consequently their issue
will be regarded with great interest ; and, from all I can
learn, a rich treat may be anticipated in the contest for
the New Stakes, if not for the Biennial. The list, taken
altogether, though not so promising as last year, is in every
way worthy of Ascot, the total amount added to the diffe-
rent races amounting, in the aggregate, to £3,225, exclusive
of the value of the Vase and the Royal Plate, being an in-
creas' of £325 on the previous year.
Six of the eight races in the list for f first day (Tues-
day) are already completed, leaving the Trial Stakes and a
Plate of 100 sous for two years olds, yet to be named for.
Of the closed races the Ascot Stakes first claims attention.
The following may be calculated upon among the
--

--- - -
PROBABLE STARTERS AND JOCSEYS-
Rappsree, 4 yrs, Bst 91b J. Osbozue-
Knutsford, 4 yrs, Bst
Paste, 4 yrs, Bst 51b., S. Rogers.
Frailty, 4 yrs, Bst llb ....
Investment, 3 yrs, 7st 121 b Challoner.
Balharn, 4 yrs, 7st 121 b
Schism, 6 yrs, 7st 121 b.... Adams.
Conundrum, 4 yrs, 7st 51b.... Roper,
Fitz-Eva, 4 yrs, 7st 31b T. French.
Boabdil, 4 yrs, 7st Martin.
nnotone, 3 yrs, Est 101 b Daley.
Canary, 4 yrs, bat 81b .. Whiteley.
Shipwreck
Emma Middleton filly 1
Splitvote colt
Turn of Luck, 3 yrs, 6st llb J. Grimshaw.
Rapparee has on several occasions shown good racing form,
and, even with the steadying weight of Bst 91b, will be diffi-
cult to dispose of; but I would rather trust to Paste, who
will be steered by Sam Rogers, without exception the most
artistic jockey of the day. The next deserving of attention Li
Schism, who has been going to do a good thing for the last
18 months. She has only to carry the same weight as Invest-
ment, the top weighted three-yr-old. The money of the
stable is now on, and if she fails to pnll through, the
sooner they turn her out of training the better. Canary is
the pick of John Day's lot, and was backed for heaps of
money before the acceptances, but has since gone fishy. If
the money is all right on the day, I shall not look further
for the winner. Fitz Eva will represent Godding's stable.
Shipwreck, 4 yrs, 6st 41b, is literally turned loose, but he
has on all occasions run so badly that I must hold my vote
from him on the present occasion. Knutsford I hold in the
highest esteem, and if the money is shifted off Canary I
shall be prepared to see
KNUTSFORD
the winner. Next to 111 m I fancy Salon.
The Gold Vase has a more numerous entry than last
year, as the following are nominated :.--
A Age st lb
Age st lb
Asteroid .. 4 8 10 Tim Whiffler. ..... 3 7 7
Croagh Patrick.... 4 8 10 Malek 3 7 7
Carbineer
Fairwater
The Roe 4 8 5 Hurricane 3 7 2
Silverhair
The race will be a match between Asteroid and Carbineer.
The distance being only two miles will suit Asteroid.
The popularity of the Queen's Stand Plate would appear
to be on the wane, as there are only eighteen horses
entered, a great falling off compared with the two previous
years, when they numbered respectively thirty-seven and
thirty-five. The different penalties and allowances cause
the weights to stand thus :
Age st lb Age st lb
General Hess
King of Diamonds 6 9 8 Battery
Lerd of the Manor 6 9 5 Ossian
Shillelagh ........4 9 5 Vivid
Lady Clifden .... 4 9 2 Event colt 2 6 12
Ripon 5 8 12 The Orphan 2 6
12
6 12
Birdhiil 3 8 12 Cairncastle .. 2
Merryman 6 8 8 Amazonian ...... 2 6 9
Argonaut .. 3 8 5 Lady Stafford .... 2 6 9
It will be recollected that in 1860 no fewer than sevsti-
teen horses ran, the finish being left to the Queen of the
\ ale and Brown Duchess, and last year, with twenty
runners, the two year olds were again in the van, Buck-
stone and Marignan occupying the two first places. The
weights have since been altered, and are now not quite se
favourable iv the youngsters. ARGONAUT, who has a 71b
allowance, and who ran extiemcly forward in the Derby,
should have no difficulty in crediting the stakes to Sir
Joseph Hawley. In his absence I will trust LADY STAF•

FORD.
Twelve very moderate 3-yr-olds are engaged in the And,
Derby, including the colt by Windhound out of Splitvote,
Gemse colt by Voltigeur out of Typee, Brother to King of
Diamonds, Lacydes, Xurullo, and Carisbrook, The latter
is entitled to the most consideration, as.he stayed well in
the race for the Newmarket Handicap, for which, it will be
recollected, ran a good third, receiving only 241 b for the
year from Carbineer, while he gave to Sappho, who finished
two lengths in advance of him 111 b.
The Prince of Wales Stakes, with its munificent addition
of 500 sovs, obtained a splendid entry of 106 3-yr-olds, in-
cluding, with the single exception of Caractaous, all the
best horses of the year. Those from which the field is likely
to be selected are as follows :

st lb
Marquis
Feu de Joie 9 0
Buckstone
Caterer
Wingrave
Duke Rollo .. 8 13
Neptunus
Z Aland
Lord Burleigh
The Knave 8 10

at lb
Hurricane
Laughing Stock 8 10
Ace of Clubs
Typee colt
Farfalla
Splitvote colt
Balder
St. Alexis
Town Councillor
Lord Stanley
Carisbrook
Silkstone .. 8 5
Pigdon
Piccador

Ensign .. 8 10
Hubert 8 10
Alchymist
Brighton 8 10
Harlequin
The distance being one furlong longer Than the Derby
course will be nothing in favour of any of the horses likely
to take part in the contest. The Marquis is held Ottfe by
Buckstone, which will occasion him to be among the ab-
sentees, so Mr. Merry's colours seem likely to be in the
ascendant. Although Ensign, the Typee colt, and St.
Alexis lost start in the Derby I do not think they will show
to better advantage here. Piccador takes the maiden
allowance, but will not be able to lower the colours of Mr.
Merry.
To attempt to pick the winner for the Royal Hunt Cup
is simply ridiculous, but from the amount of money put on
Croagh Patrick on Saturday last it looks as if his party
consider the race all over but shouting. The Coronations
Stakes should be won by Gorse ; the Fernhill by Living-
stone; the Two-yr-old Triennial by Lord Clifden ; and the
Three-yr-old Biennial by Buckstone.
Thursday, the grand day, will unhappily for the second
year in succession; be shorn of the grand pageant always
attendant on the Queen's visit to Ascot, and which adds
such interest to the scene. The entries for the all-attrac-
tive event of the day, the Cup, are two less than last year,
notwithstanding which it would not surprise me to see at
least as numerous a field at the starting post. Thormanby
is said to be amiss, or there would have been an immense
amount of speculation between him and Asteroid. The
latter has held the pride of place in the betting ever since
the entries. His performances this year have been of the
highest order ; but, as he must now be getting stale, I shall;
even in the face of the market, look elsewhere for the winner.
Besides, some well-known bookmakers keep laying against
him. The distance wileuit Carbineer, and he is certain to
finish first or second. tland had quite enough of it in
the Derby to be of much use here. The only other, in my
opinion, that has a chance is Caller Ou, last year's winner
of the St. Leger. Kettledrum, two days after he suffered
defeat by Caller Ou, gave Brown Duchess, the winner of
the Oaks, 71b, and run a dead heat with her in the Don-
caster Cup. On these grounds, and knowing the mare to
CeALL winnerE
of
be well, I shall expect to see
R
O the
eo
Ascot
sCoAo
tRCBuIp.
NE E R
th
proclaimed
If Mr. Merry brings out his Wasp colt for the Now
Stakes, I shall look no further for the winner. Unfortu--
nately he is not engaged in next year's Derby.
The St. James's Palace Stakes Costa seems likely to
credit to Mr. Merry's account, and Argonaut will enjoy a
walk over for the 50 Sovs Sweepstakes, in which he is en-
gaged, Ploughboy being dead and Mr. Crawfurd's nomina-
tion a wrong one.
The Royal Stand Plate will go to Ten Broeck with his
chosen representative, oither Optimist or Umpire.
The races for the concluding day have not yet closed.
A FRESH MAN.

PERPETUATION OF A HIGHLAND FEUD.—A cor-
respondent informs us of a now happily rare occurrence
which took place at Fort Augustus towards the end of last
month. It seems that two elderly worthies, named respec-
tively F-- and M'D—, residing in or near that Tillage,
had been enjoying themselves together in a neighbour's
house over the indispensable aqua sacred to convivial occa-
sions, when one of them happening to sing a particular
song in relation to a domestic passage in the history of their
clans, was so violently assaulted by the other that a fight
ensued. Blood was spilt ; the doctor had to be called, and
the matter reported to the police. The obnoxious song or
songs had reference to an occurrence in clan history some
hundred of 3 ears ago, when a branch of the F—s and
the were at mortal enmity, and so keenly did
the clansmen identify themselves with the misdeeds of
their remote forefathers that, as we have said, a blood!,
battle was the consequeuce,—AV(rnessackOrtisor.