The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-08 00:00:00

EPSOM SPRING MEETING,

THURSDAY,

Epsom, replete with the most exciting reminiscences
of past racing seasons, has added largely to its reputa-
tion by the success of this meeting. When first con-
ceived the project had to encounter strong prejudices,
and objections were raised on all sides, The undis-
couraged spirit of enterprise which animated Messrs..
Beeton and Dorling to increased exertions, and the
warm liberality with which the licensed victuallers of
the metropolis substantially aided them in obtaining
the means and appliances have now permanently estab-
lished the meeting in popularity.i
Dark lowering clouds had occasioned uneasy doubts
respecting the weather, but before noon they cleared off,
and the sun shone forth with power and brilliancy.
Special trains were, dispatched in quick succession from
London-bridge station, and were well filled. The
arrangements for the safe and expeditious conveyance
of visitors were complete, and were carefully carried
out. The high fares, however, produced much grumbling
and dissatisfaction. _ _

The grand stand and betting inclosure were very nu-
merously attended, the company comprising the prin-
cipal professional speculators and high-born patrons of
the turf. Each side of the running ground was thickly
thronged, but the display of vehicles was neither
numerous nor gay. _

The varied programme promised ample sport, and the
expectations which it excited were' ost pleasantly rea-
lised. The proceedings commenced at 1 o'clock with
the Trial Stakes, to which, on this occasion, unwonted
interest attached. The entry included the names of
Frantic, Bird-on-the-Wing, Ephesus, Weathergage, and
Hobbie Noble ; and the meeting of these turf celebrities
was eagerly anticipated. The withdrawal of Weather-
gage, however, occasioned considerable disappointment;
still the race was regarded as one of peculiar importance.
Hobbie Noble, the favourite, figured somewhat inglori-
ously; never once showing in front.
The City and Suburban Handicap brought out a strong
field, and produced an exciting contest. Ethelbert and
Pancake ran a dead heat—an event of rare occurrence
in such a race. It imparted additional and unexpected
interest to the proceedings. In accordance with custom,
the deciding beat was not run until after the other stakes
had been disposed of. 6to 4 was betted on Ethelbert
for the second encounter, and he fully justified the par-
tiality of his supporters. He waited upon Pancake
until near the stand, when he challenged, and, after a
most interesting set-to, he beat her by a short head ;
thus establishing indisputably the correctness of the
running in the first instance.
Twenty-one horses started for the Metropolitan Stakes.
The winner, Gadabout, was only introduced into the
betting on Saturday last, but so numerous were the in-
vestments on her that she quickly advanced to a promi-
nent position amongst the favourites. At Tattersall's
on Monday, and at Croxton Park on the following day,
the outlay was something considerable. Although a
strong prejudice existed against Contentment on Wed-
nesday, he remained first favourite to the close of the
betting. His defeat occasioned great disappointment.
By the appended details it will be seen that, in the
aggregate, the number of competitors for the various
stakes was, for the Spring Meeting, unprecedently large.
The business was most efficiently conducted. Mr. Dor-
ling, the clerk of the course, being, as usual, assisted by
the experienced race officials—Mr. James Manning,
clerk of the scales; Mr. Hibburd, the starter, and Mr.
J. F. Clark, judge.
EPSOM TRIAL STAKES of 5 sous. each,_ with 50 added ;

for 3-yr-olds and upwards ' • mares allowed 51b ; geld-
ings, 31b. One mile. (12 subs.)
Mr. Howard's Lascelles, 3 yrs, 6st 121 b (Wells) 1
Capt. Lane's Ephesus, 5 yrs, 9st .....(Bartholomew) 2
Mr. Greville's Frantic, 4 yrs, Bst 71b (Flatman) 3
The following also ran :—The Secretary, Polly, Bird-
on-the-Wing, Cassique, Miss Delamere, b g by Don
John out of Cara, and Mobbie Noble. Betting-6 to 4
agst Hobble Noble, 2 to 1 agst Frantic, 3 to 1 agst
Ephesus, 8 to 1 agst Lascelles (taken only to a little
money). A fine race with the three placed ' • won by
half a length, a neck between second and third. Hobble
Noble, beaten off, was fourth.
CITY AND SUBURBAN HANDICAP of 15 sovs each, 10 ft,
and only 5 if declared, with a bonus of 150 sovs
added ; the owner of the second horse to receive 25
sovs. out of the stakes. Winners extra. Mile and a

quarter. (81 subs, 23 of whom declared.)
Mr. Oliver's Ethelbert, 3yrs, sst 131 b (Wells) 0 1
Mr. Rogers's Pancake, 4yrs, sst 21b (Steggles) 0 2
M. Lupin's Jouvence, 3yrs, 4st 121 b (carried sst 51b)
(T. Sherwood) 3
- .. _ .. .... . _ _.

The following also ran :—LongboW, Prime Minister,
Conmore, Glenluce, Evadne, Convulsion, Allegro, Calcot,
St. George, Jack Leeming, Surprise, Charley, Stam-
ford, Ida, Madam Landeau, The Varmint, Snarry,
Jullien, Appleton, Miss Emma, Little David, and Sister
to Singapore.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Ethelbert, 7to 2 agst Long-
bow, 5 to 1 agst Pancake, 10 to 1 each agst Jouvence
and Madame Landeau, 12 to 1 agst Varmint. A
straggling start. Stamford jumped off with the lead
but after the first hundred yards was deprived of it
by Calcot, who carried on the running to the mile-
post. Little David, Jouvence, and • Jack Leeming
then went in advance with the favourite, and Pan-
cake in close attendance. At Tattenham Cor-
ner Little David and Jack Leeming dropped off, and
the favourite and Jouvence went on together, followed
by Pancake. At the Stand, Pancake beat Jouvence
and challenged Ethelbert, in the last stride reached him,
and the struggle ended in a dead heat. Jouvence was
a length and a ha't: behind him. The others scattered.
Deciding heat.-6 to 4on Ethelbert, who waited on
Pancake to the Stand, where he began to gain upon her,
caught her when close at home, and beat her by a short
head.
TWO-YEAR-OLD STAKES of 10 sot's. each, with 50 added ;

colts, Bst 6lbs : fillies, Bst 41bs. Half-a-mile. (11 subs.)
Mr. Gullivar's Village Lass, Bst 41b (Crickmere) 1
Mr. Y. King's Mouser (late Ellen) Bst 41b (Charlton) 2
The following also ran :—Ch c by Napier, Nightshade,
Pollard, Epaminodas, Spinaway, Himalaya, Winkfield,
Citizen.

Betting-2 to 1 agst Spinaway, 7to 2 agst Nightshade,
4 to 1 agst Mouser, 4 to 1 agst Himalaya, 5 to 1 agst
Epaminondas, Village Lass made the running through-
out, and won very cleverly by a length and a half.
Nightshade was third, and Spinaway fourth.
GREAT METROPOLITAN STAKES (HANDICAP) of 25 SOY&
each, 15 ft, and only 5 if declared, with a bonus of
350 sovs. ; the owner of the second horse to receive
50 sovs. out of the Stakes ; winners extra. Metro-

politan Stakes Course, two miles and a quarter. (12G

hubs., 62 of whom declared.) _
Sir C. Monck's Gadabout, 3 yrs, sst 71b ....(Carroll) 1
Mr. C. Peck's Richmond, 4 yrs, sst 91b ...(Ashmall) 2
Mr. J. M. Stanley's Contentment, 3 yrs, 4st 71b
(Fordham) 3
_ _ _ _.

The following also ran :—Cariboo, Candlewick, Miss
May, Terpsichore, Allegro, Defiance, Exact, Abdallah,
Madeline, Pug Orrock, Happy Joe, Snowdon Dunhill,
Ireland's Eye, Peggy, Psaltery, Pantomime, Deerhound,
Tobolski.

Betting-5 to 4 agst Contentment, Bto 1 each agst
Gadabout, Snowdon Dunhill, and Ireland's Eye, 10 to
1 agst Pug Orrock, 20 to 1 each agst Richmond, Deer-
hound, and Terpsichore. A good start. Snowdon Dun-
hill immediately went to the front and made strong run-
ning, Pug Orrock and Gadabout being alternately second
and third until they passed the Old Mile Post ; the for-
mer then gave way, and Deerhound, Richmond, and
Defiance took close order in the wake of Gadabout, now
second. At Tattenham Corner the favourite, who had
been lying seventh or eighth, began to draw forward.
Snowdon Dunhill maintained the lead to the road, where
he was beaten. Richmond then went on closely attended
by Gadabout and Contentment ; the latter was beaten
on reaching the Stand. Gadabout caught Richmond in
admirable style, and at last defeated bim by three-quar-
ters of a length. Half a length between the second and
third. Defiance, beaten off, was fourth.

SELLING STAKES of 3 sous. each, with 50 added; optional
selling weights. New T.Y.C. Three-quarters of a
mile. (16 subs.)
Mr. Darling's, jun., Puritan, 4 yrs (501.), Bst 71b

(Marlow) 1
Mr. T. Fryer's Shipwreck, 3 yrs (301.) 75t...(Ha11) 2
The following •also ran :—Palma filly, Katty Darling,
Sabra, Wedlock filly, The Varmint, Lady Isabel, Uncle
Sam, the Violet, Polly Burns, General Gilbert, Sweet-
heart, Merriment.

Betting-5 to 4 agst Puritan, sto 1 agst Shipwreck,
6to 1 agst Polly Burns. Puritan led to the distance,
where Shipwreck went ahead, but in the last five or six
strides Puritan caught him, and he was beaten on the
post by a head. Polly Burns a bad third. The winner
was afterwards bought in for 1891.
RAILWAY PLATE of 50 sovs. (handicap), for all ages.
New T.Y.C. Three-quarters of a mile.
Mr.-Y. King's Narcissus, 6 yrs, Bst (Charlton) 1
Mr. Gulliver 's Chilton, 3 yrs, 6st 4lb (Wells) 2
Mr. Darling's Union Jack, yrs, bat 21b...(jaggert) 8

LATEST BETTING.
TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.
sto 2 agst West Australian.

CHESTER CUP.
16 to 1 agst Richmond (taken).

DERBY.
9 to 1 agst West Australian (offered).
10 to 1 agst Honey wood (taken).
14 to 1 agst Pharos (taken).
16 to 1 agst Umbriel (taken).
500 even on Orestes agst Honeywood (taken).

FAMILIARITY AND TAMENESS OF THE RED-BREAST.—
In the last number of Kidd's Journal of Natural
History, are some very interesting anecdotes of the
robin, contributed from many sources. In addition,
the editor records a very pleasing as well as curious
fact connected with a pair of these tame birds now
"sitting" in his own greenhouse. After detailing their
many pretty attractions, the editor adds :—" This same
pair of robins, about which our pen has been so often
eloquent, are now 'sitting.' They have built their
nest on a shelf in the greenhouse, close to the dwelling-
hcuse. It is in one corner, based on an old japanned'
dressing-box, over which a pair of garden shears, in an
upright position, are carelessly placed. Between the
handles, is the place of entrance and exit. It was as
good as a play to watch the construction of that nest,
and see the large mouthfuls of dead leaves, hay, and
hair, that were carried in. We were invited to look,
and we did look ; and no doubt we shall see, as we have
before seen, the exodus of the happy family' when
fledged. Our wrens, dunnocks, and thrushes are all
equally tame ; and we look daily for the nightingales
and blackcaps to complete the band' that always
Sojourns with us in spring and summer. If we could
•nly prevail upon our neighbours to lay aside their mur-
derous guns, who could be more happy than we and our
little families I' "