The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-15 00:00:00

SPOR'

►TES.

A PARTHIAN GLANCE AT CHESTER,

"More last words" on the merry May Meeting at
Chester will be neither superfluous nor uninteresting.
To the members of the executive department in general,
and Messrs. Topham and Hill in particular, the warmest
commendation is due for the ability, zeal, and untiring
energy with which the proceedings were conducted. In
the management, indeed, few serious shortcomings were
displayed, and it is a legitimate cause for surprise how
the business of so large a meeting was got through so
creditably. The different officials were fully up to their
work, and discharged their respective duties with that
tact and efficiency which their long experience renders
habitual. The starting was certainly better than has
been seen for many years at Chester. Still, whilst
acknowledging Mr. Hibburd's fitness for his post,
yet I am compelled to state that he evinces to-
wards the jockeys a studied rudeness and severity
which at times uncalled for. He should learn
to use that authority which is vested in him with
discretion, and not for every venial error, real
or imaginary, punish with " suspension " every
jockey who may be unfortunate enough to merit his dis-
pleasure. Alderoft, Basham, and Wood were not, at
the instance of the starter, allowed to ride at Chester
after the race for the Cup. Mr. Hibburd made his com-
plaint to the stewards, who gave effect to his wishes, and
the suspended jockeys were not even heard in vindication
of their conduct. Indeed, the Jockey Club law deprives
them of all right of appeal against any decision of this
nature, however tyrannical and unjust that decision may
be. Were the starter to exercise his authority before
some great race, the inconvenience which would attend
it, would be most intolerable.
Backers of horses were more fortunate at Chester than
the layers. Indeed, the success of Epaminondas, " out-
sider' as he was, was no extraordinary slice of luck for
many book-makers. The winner, indeed, was somewhat
heavily backed. Report, however, states that his owner
was the least confident of his numerous supporters, and
that his winnings, in addition to the stakes, amount to
little more than 3,0001. The Newmarket touts were
sadly out in their estimate of Epaminonclas's preten-
sions, and another proof was afforded of their inability
to discover when they really have a " good thing"
among them. The game that was played with Aldford
was disgracefully evident. The accident which hap-
pened to Joe Miller, however, somewhat detracted from
its effect. His party met with few sympathies in their
disappointment. However, his owner might plan it,
the Star of Surrey was never expected to "come
it." I have no hesitation in declaring my belief
that had Domino represented the interest of his
party, he would have been among the horses
placed. After the race I examined him atten-
tively, and he appeared scarcely to have " turned a
hair." The remarks which I made on the other ani-
mals in my notes published on Thursday I wish neither
to alter nor contradict.
A frequent repetition of the proceedings which were
witnessed at Warwick, the Hoo, and more recently at
Chester, in connection with "gentlemen riders' races,"
are little calculated to promote the popularity of those
events, or render them desirable vehicles for speculation.
They seem to be regulated by the win tye or wrangle
principle.
A word or two may be required, not in defence
but in explanation of my "selection" for the Cup. To
pick the actual winner for a race in which so many acci-
dents are inevitable is a mere matter of chance. Of the ani-
mals I selected, two, Indian Warrior and Acrobat, were
second and third. In referring to The Sun of Monday
I find the following remarkable paragraph :
" Of the other three-year-olds the most noteworthy names
are, an my opinion, Tom, Eva, Jack Frost, Epaminondas,
and Royalist."

Royalist did not start, Epaminondas won, and Tom,
Eva, and Jack Frost advanced considerably in the bet-
ting after my "Notes" were published.
The last of the Spring Meetings at Newmarket will
commence to-morrow, and be brought to a conclusion
on Thursday. The programme sets forth but scanty
promise of sport, and, indeed, the proceedings during
the three days will be dull and uninteresting. The list
contains eighteen items, all except three being unclosed
stakes. With a start I shall " stand on" Domino for
the Suffolk Stakes. In his default I shall expect the
" top weight," Sharavogue, to win. Cobnut looks on
paper the most likely winner of the 50 Sovs. Sweep-
stakes. For the Sweepstakes for two-year-olds, my pre-
sent fancy is for Redemption.
May 15.