The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-08 00:00:00

THE REIVER

finding his way home an easy winner.
A Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h ft, for three-year-
olds, a mile and a-half, will, I should say, be competed
for by Alamode, Cobnut, Defiance, and perhaps the
Golden Plover. DEFIANCE is just capable, I think, of
winning this Stake ; but if his engagement in the Em-
peror's Plate should prevent his showing, I must look to
Alamode and Cobnut to produce the first and second, a
close finish taking place between them.
The winner of the New Stakes of 10 soya. each, 100
added, T.Y.C., as Ruby does not run, must be looked
for in AUTOCRAT or Sine qua non.
The Emperor of Russia's Plate, value 500 sovs., added
to a Sweepstakes of 20 soya, each, is the grand centre of
attraction of the week. The field said to be likely to be
seen at the post to contest it will be composed of Stock-
well, Teddington, Kingston, Ninnyhammer, Beverlac,
Defiance, Exact, Lambton, and perhaps two or three
others, but which is very doubtful.
STOCKWELL, whose slashing stride we have not seen
since last autumn, and whose memorable win of the St.
Leger we cannot have forgotten, has, considering his
stride and the nature of the course, seemingly everything
in his favour, and cannot very well be beaten.
TEDDINGTON will be one of his most dangerous oppo-
nents.

NINNYHAMMER can have no chance whatever here.
DEFIANCE has had too much steel taken out of him
this spring to win such a race as this.
BEVERLAC, if he runs, will be of no use.
KINGSTON is said to be going to the post, and if such
is the case, will help to make a splendid race.
There are only two others that I have any observation
to make upon, and they are Mr. Merry's couple. EXACT
is not exactly the thing ; but LAMBTON is in tolerable
order. I have a most reasonable horror of these animals
when they are in first rate form, and nothing would sur-
prise me less than to see them well up, or even getting
a head in front.

To close, I have a decided preference for, and must
place

STOCKWELL .
TEDDINGTON

(Norman) . 1
(Marson) 2

and ono of Merry's three-year-olds third.
The Windsor Town Plate 'of 50 sovs, for two-year-
olds and upwards, straight half mile, it is almost i►npos-
sible to select the winner of, on account of the previous
running, or else I should say that Hyacinth or the
Lioness have as good a chance as any.
This winds up the grand day's sport.
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

ASCOT HEATH RACES.—TIIESDAY.
THE QUEEN'S VASE AND ASCOT STAKES.
The royal race meeting at Ascot commenced to-day,
under the most favourable auspices as regards the wea-
ther. The absence oP her Majesty, who has hitherto,
except when prevented by' unavoidable circumstances,
honoured the races with her presence on the opening
day, when the Queen's Vase is run for, somewhat les-
sened the interest and attraction of the meeting, although
in point of numbers and respectability, the attendance,
both in the Grand Stand and on the Heath, came quite
up to the average. The' Great Western and South-Wes-
tern Railways, as usual, conveyed the great bulk of the
visitors as far on their way as Windsor—the travellers
selecting one or the other line, according as the con-
tiguity of the terminus rendered it convenient.
From Windsor to Ascot the transit was made by the
road in the good old-fashioned style. An immense num-
ber of vehicles of every description was collected at the
railway terminus, on the Castle-hill, and in the High-
street of Windsor ; the supply being much greater than
the demand, no difficulty was therefore experienced in
procuring a conveyance, at a moderate charge, to the
Heath.
Nothing could exceed the beauty of the road and the
park. The dry weather had, however, the effect of ren-
dering the course extremely hard, and, notwithstanding
the sward was tolerably thick in some parts, and that
considerable pains had been taken to improve its condi-
tion by spreading tan on the road crossings and much-
trodden parts, it was still, in the technical phrase,
" very hard going."
Several improvements have been effected by the Stand
Committee since last year. A new carriage approach
has been made ,to the Royal Stand for her Majesty,
whose carriages will now turn close round the saddling
enclosure, instead of being obliged as formerly to pass
round the line of booths extending from the Trainers'
Stand.
Access to the Jockey Club Stand has been facilitated
by the erection of a flight of stairs outside the stand, and
a handsome raised roof of iron has been placed over the
Royal Stand, Some minor improvements have been
made, all tending to increase the comfort and conveni-
ence of the visitors.
The absence of her Majesty, as we have observed,
dimmed the usual splendour and interest of the scene.
There was, however, a strong muster of the magnates of
the turf, and a large number of fashionable and distin-
guished visitors, amongst whom were the Duke of
Genoa and suite, who seemed to take much interest in
our national sport. They were conducted by the Earl
of Bessborough, the master of the Buckhounds and
principal steward, into the weighing-room to see the
jockeys return to scale after the exciting contest for the
Queen's Vase.
The vase, which was displayed in the Grand Stand,
created general admiration for its elegant design and
beautiful workmanship. It is elaborately wrought in
oxydised silver, by M. Antoine Vechte. On the sides
is a bas-relief representing Thetis bringing the armour
forged by Vulcan to her son Achilles ; the handles are
female Tritons disporting with cupids, and the cover
sustains a figure of Zephyrus.
Amongst the distinguished and fashionable company
in the Royal Stand, the Stewards' Stand, and the
Jockey Club Stand were the Duke of Genoa and suite,
the Marquises of Worcester, Dorchester, Exeter, Down-
shire, &c., Marchioness of Ailesbury ; Earls of Jersey,
Powis, Cesterfield, Countess of Chesterfield, Earls of
Wilton, Cardigan, Granville, -Uxbridge, Strathmore,
Bessborough ; Viscounts Clifden, Maidstone, Newport,
Canterbury, and Exmouth ; Lord George Manners,
Lord C. Manners, Lord John Scott, Lord H. G.
nox, Lord Stanhope, Lord William Powlett, Lady
Bruce, Lord Burleigh, Lord Southampton, Count
Hnsoonn,.
BCoultolon
re 1J Co
1( cni -1
lion. Major Macdonald, Sir G. Armytage,
J. Hawley,
Admiral Rous, Sir Watkin W. Wynn, Sir
stone, Colonel Peel, Captain Clement Hill, Mr. C.
FGoerneesrtaelr,AHn soonn.,
Greville, Mr. G. Payne, Mr. J. M. Stanley, Mr. Sloane
Stanley, &c. &o.
CMarpst.ainanSdomMei:ssetA,
The sport was of a highly interesting character, most
of the races being closely contested by good fields.
That which appeared on paper a certainty for Lady
Evelyn—namely, the winning of the Ascot Stakes—
turned out quite the reverse, for it was one of these turf
surprises which sometimes occur to upset the calcula-
tions of the shrewdest judges. Buckthorn, against
whom 100 to 2 was betted whilst running, achieved the
victory very cleverly by half a length. He is the pro-
perty of Lord Palmerston, whose success was hailed
with very cordial satisfaction.
Her Majesty's Vase was won in excellent style by
Rataplan, who ran fourth for the Derby. 1,300 to 200
was taken directly afterwards about him for the St.
Leger.
The races were decided as under :
The TRIAL STAKES of 5 sovs each, with 50 added, for
two-yr-olds, and upwards ; the winner to be sold for