The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-31 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

A PARTHIAN GLANCE AT GOODWOOD.

The shortcomings which were displayed in the supply
of sport at Goodwood were not sufficiently marked to
sustain the fears which are entertained of the speedy
declension of the meeting. Still " fallings off " in the
numerical strength of the "attractions" were frequently
perceptible, and they will be yearly increased unless
some popular measures be adopted whwh will insure the
permanent support of owners of horses. The primary
cause of failure in certain particulars is patent. The
aggregate amount of "added money" is comparatively
insignificant. People nowadays do not like to contend
solely for their own money, and it is no wonder, there-
fore, that the list of nominations at Goodwood becomes
gradually diminished. In the majority of instances no
" added money" is given to the principal stakes, and for
the " Plates" the entrance-fee not unfrequently supplies
the sum which constitutes the prize. To the Goodwood
Stakes not a sixpence is given, no surprise is therefore
excited at the comparative unpopularity of that event
among owners of horses when the large sums of public
money which are added to Handicaps run for at other
places of sport throughout the year are taken into con-
sideration. Still encouraging assurances were afforded
during the recent meeting that the " glories of Good•
wood" will be long perpetuated. Lord March was
actively employed in soliciting subscriptions, and his
" Red Book" was in frequent requisition.
The various incidents which marked the sport are
doubtless by this time familiar to all, turfites. They were
as usual interesting and important. Two horses, which
are likely to figure with frequent prominence in t,;e
Derby betting were among the successful competitors of
the week. Lord of the Isles, however, made his first
appearance in public in so clumsy and equivocal
a manner that opinions were widely divided as to the
exact extent of his racing ability. The style in which
he was ridden, however, for the Levant Stakes, only
renders it a matter of surprise how the horse managed
to " pull through" at all. I certainly cannot appreciate
the motives which induced his owner to risk losing so
large and important a stake by engaging a jockey so
notoriously incompetent. On Wednesday, when the
Lord of the Isles was ridden by an able jockey, he beat
a large and respectable field. He is a big, well-made
horse, and may, with careful treatment, attain much
turf celebrity. I am induced ,to alter materially the
opinion which I expressed relative to Dirk Hatteraick,
on the occasion of his debut at Liverpool. His per-
formances at Goodwood, and those of Paletot and the
Miss Whip filly, are, as it has been well observed, cal-
culated to prove that his running at Aintree was altoge-
ther a mistake. Dirk seems a large, " green," unfinished
animal, that requires plenty of time for the full develop-
ment of his powers.

The range of speculation on the Goodwood Stakes was
very limited. Although too the result was in favour of
the "fielders," yet book makers generally are not large
winners. Bribery won easily and her running showed
that they who trusted the form of the Oak's mares and
regarded properly Bribery's performance with Cleveland
at Winchester committed no error of judgment. Few
people expected to see Adine obtain so forward a posi-
tion in the race, after she had been so easily defeated on
Tuesday by Protest. Had Wells "ridden to orders," it
is possible that Heapy might have snatched the victory
from Bribery. Instead of waiting, however, he made
most of the running, and was "pumped out" when call-
ed upon to make afinishing effort. Tros seems incapa-
ble of staying. After all the bother, boasting, and
" bolstering" of her partizauu Nancy was again defeated
and disgraced. _

The result of the race was strictly in accordance with
the opinions which were stated in The San of the 24th
inst. In reference to Diana and Bribery I wrote—
" Diana's running has been of the veriest leather-flapping
mediocrity. She ran somewhat forward for the Oaks,
it is true, but her supporters are likely to derive little
encouragement from an impartial consideration of that
performance. Bribery finished in advance of her for that
event, and although she is handicapped to give Diana 61 bs.,
yet, if a starter, she will indubitably make her safe."
When these observations were penned, Diana was
rapidly advancing to the position of leading favourite,
and Bribery was little thought of. I also wrote in re-
ference to Messrs. Payne and Greville's lot: " A vague
rumour is afloat to the effect that the lot was tried with
Bribery, who proved the best of the bunch. Be this as
it may, I shall deem the trusted representative of Messrs.
Payne and Greville's interest a most dangerous antago-
nist." I summed up my arguments by selecting Heapy,
Adine, and Trus against the field. Bribery won, and
the other three were second, third, and fourth.
The Brighton Meeting, which will commence on Wed.
nesday, is likely to be celebrated with considerable
eclat. I shall reserve my comments on the programme
until to-morrow.
July 31.

A FRESH MAN.