The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-27 00:00:00

RUNNING REMARKS FROM YORK.

The Great Northern Handicap afforded another and
a convincing proof of the vast superiority of Virago.
From start .to finish the race was not for an instant in
doubt. Lough Bawn took up the running soon after
quitting the post, Virago quietly• " biding her time
until reaching the Knavesmare wood when she gi adually
improved her position, took second place soon after
rounding the turn into the straight, passed Lough Bawn
at the distance, and won without the semblance of an
effort by a clear length. So great a certainty was her
success deemed that she was the only animal actually
backed for the race; early in the morning even money was
eagerly betted on her against the field, but her partizans
hardening in confidence increased their investments until
they freely laid 2 to 1 and 7 to 4 on her. Although
there were seventeen runners 12 to 1 was currently
offered, bar one ;—a circumstance unparalleled in the
memory of the oldest turfite. The owner of Virago
was warmly congratulated on his success, and mute
than once the question, " Why did you scratch her
for the Chester Cup ?" was put to him. In answer
to this query I heard him publicly declare that
he struck her out in a pas,ion ! My " cockboat"
Lough Bawn satisfied me by his performance. Defi-
ance so ominously declined in the betting that I
scarcely know whether I am to consider his running
honest or not. Kingston showed prominently in the
van of the encounter until turning into the straight,
when he disappeared ft oin the front. Had he been
persevered with he might have obtained a more forward
position at the finish. Heapy got badly off, but was
sixth past the winning post. John Scott, however, was
not a little " savage" at his jockey's indiscretion in "ex-
posing" the horse, and rated him soundly in consequence,
telling him that he ought to have known he had not an
earthly chance, and should have pulled up. Balrownie
was third—a performance certainly not insignificant, and
one that forcibly suggests the question " where would
West Australian have been ?"

Book-makers' with few exceptions, stood the field
" like lambs." The Leviathan Book Maker, took odds
despite the warning which he received from " honest
John" in the morning. Principle, I suppose, would not
allow him to take advantage of the tip. Kingston's
party backed their horse, but they were scarcely san-
guine of success. Good-bye, Bob," were the la 4
words of Mr. Morris to Basham as the latter quitted
the enclosure on Kingston. None but the owner was
seemingly sweet upon Jujube, and it was not his fault
if every one was not acquainted with his partiality.
My notes on the minor events must be brief. Orestes,
as I expected, won the Craven Stakes. Hospodar, a
much improved horse, belonging to Lord Zetland,
carried off the Spring St. Leger with admirable ease, and
was immediately backed somewhat spiritedly for the
Derby at 50 and 40 to 1. The Zetland Stakes occa-
sioned some heavy betting. Sicily was the favourite,
but she sorely disappointed her backers ; my " first
fancy " Bessie won, after an exciting race in with Mary,
by a head. Mary was backed with much spirit ; her
owner it is said investing about one thousand pounds on
her.

The weather was cold but not unfavourable to the
enjoyment of the sport. The attendance of general com-
pany was very large, but the muster of business men
and fashionable visitors perhaps fell short of expectation.
Still, the getters up of the meeting have cause to con-
gratulate themselves upon the satisfactory inauguration
of the First Great Northern Handicap. The efficiency
of the "executive department" was attested by the
punctuality and regularity with which the proceedings
were conducted. Mr. North, the clerk of the course,
as usual distinguished himself by his zeal for the proper
carrying out of the details of the management.
Before closing my communication I may refer, with
pardonable satisfaction, to my " notes and notions"
which were published in The Sun on Monday. After
stating my opinions at length respecting the Great Nor-
thern Handicap, I thus " summed up" the proba-
bilities :

" After her recent achievements at Epsom, it would be
seemingly sheer folly to desert Virago's colours ; still I am
compelled to confess that in Kingston, Vindex, and
Defiance she will meet her most dangerous antagonists,
and one of them may snatch the victory from her. I have
omitted West Australian from this summing up," be-
cause lam at present in doubt as to his starting. Should
he, however, go to the post, I shall not deem his chance a
forlorn one. Of the " extreme outsiders," I give the pre-
ference to Lough Bawn and Jujube. The former is cer-
tainly favourably weighted, and many shrewd judges in-
tend " to go for the off chance with him."

The scepticism which I entertained respecting Virago's
"flying qualities" is now removed.
The,Craven Stakes I assigned to Orestes, the Zetland
Stakes to Bessie, and the Spring St. Leger to Barrel.
It will be seen, therefore, that I indicated the winner of
every race which I touched upon, except the last-men
tioned event, for which my " pick" from a field of ten
ran second.

A FRESH MAN.

YORK SPRING MEETING.
CONCLUSION OF TUESDAY'S RACES.-ADDITIONAL
PARTICULARS.

THE GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP of 25 sovs. each, 15
ft, and 5 only if declared, &c., with 300 added by the
licensed victuallers and their friends. Penalties for
certain winners ; the second horse in any handicap,
value 500 sovs, 51b extra. No horse to carry more
. than 101 b extra. The second horse to receive 100 sovs
out of the stakes, arid the third to save his stake.
Two miles, over the old course. Two hundred and
ten subs, 129 of whom declared.
Mr. Howard's Virago, by Pyrrhus the First, 3 yrs,
6st 61b (including 101 b extra) (Wells) 1
Mr. J. J. Henderson's Lough Bawn, 6 yrs, 7st 21b

(G. Oates) 2
Mr. I'Anson's Balrownie, 4 yrs, Bst 31b (Templeman) 3
The following also ran :
Mr. Morris's Kingston, 5 yrs, Bst 121 b (Bastian)) 0
Sir C. Monk's Vindex, 4 yrs, 7st 71b ...(E. Harrison) 0
Mr. T. Parr's Defiance, 4 yrs, 7st 61b (Hiett) 0
Mr. W. M. E. Milner's Grapeshot, 4 yrs, 7st 31b
(J. Osborne) 0
Lord Chesterfield's Typee, 4 yrs, 7st 21b ...(Ashinall) 0
Mr. H. Watters's Lord Fauconberg, 4 yrs, Est 131 b
(G. Waddington) 0
Mr. Surtees's
C. Co,lsterdale, 6 yrs, Est 121 b (Carroll) 0
Spence 's Catherine Parr, 4 yrs, Est 111 b
Mr.(T. Cliff) 0
Mr. H. T. Thompson's Guicowar, 4 yrs, 6st 111 b
(J. Gill) 0
Mr. S. Murland's Ammonia, 5 yrs, 6st 61b (T. Sher-
wood) 0
Mr. Harrison's Heapy, 4 yrs, Est 6lb (carried 6st 81b)
(Chilman) 0
Mr. C. Peck's The Puritan, 5 yrs, Est 61b...(Hayhoe) 0
Mr. Knapton's Merry Monk, 3 yrs, sst 121b...(Bates) 0
Mr. E. R. Clark's Jujube, 3 yrs, 4st 121 b (Cresswell) 0
Betting—At one time 2 to 1 was betted on Virago,
but 7 to 4 was the closing price ; 100 to 8 each agst
Kingston and Defiance, 100 to 7 agst Vindex, 16 to
1 agst Typee ; 25 to 1 each agst Lough Bawn and
Heapy, 100 to 3 agst Catherine Parr, 40 to 1 agst
Jujube. Nothing backed for money except the fa-
vourite. Oliver, jun., weighed for Ann Eliza, but
she did not go to the post. On drawing together to
start, Merry Monk broke away and ran some dis-
tance out of the course to the right before he was
pulled up. Soon after being brought back the flags
were dropped, and away the high-mettled competitors
streamed. Puritan immediately went to the front, with
Lough Bawn in close attendance, Ammonia and Vindex
being third and fourth ; the favourite, Kingston, and
Balrownie lying about the middle of the ruck. Scarcely
had they proceeded a quarter of a mile when Lough
Bawn took up the running, and on passing Knavesmire
Wood he was seen in possession of a distinct lead, but
his chance was even then in palpable jeopardy, for the
favourite full of running, improved her position at every
stride, and showed that, barring au accident, the
victory was within her power. Nearing the straight,
less and less was the interval between her and Lough
Bawn ; Kingston followed her round the turn, and
then gave way, Balrownie and Defiance taking
third and fourth places. At the distance the favourite
obtained the lead ; Lough Bawn made a vigorous
effort to regain it, but in vain ; the favourite defeated
him very easily by a length, the second beating the third
three lengths ; a length between third and fourth ; Lord
Fauconberg was fifth ; Heapy, who lost start, was sixth ;
and ColsterJale seventh. Puritan and Ammonia, in the
extreme rear, pulled up and walked in. Net amount of
the stakes, 2,1801.
SELLING STAKES of 25 sovs, added to a Sweepstakes of
Optional
selling sovs each, for three yr-olds and upwards. _uo
Four
selling weights, &c. One mile and a quarter.
subs.
Captain Reynard's Vinaigrette, by Bentley, 4 yrs,
(Kendall) 1
7st llb (301.) ......
Mr. Wright's The Greek .*********** *** e; * * *******
7 Thomson)
(301.) (Bates) 2
Mr. G. S. Thompson's Shamrock, 4 yrs,
p) 3
Mr. John Thomas's Goldfringe, 5 yrs, 7st 7lb
(Barrett) 4
Betting-7 to 4on The G r
he eakl f
aS
length to
length
Wt
Vinaigrette. on cleverly b
and a half between the second and third.

THE SCREW STEAM SI3fLA.—GLASGOW, Mond
E
The fleet of the Peninsular and Oriental Company has
received a
magnificent accession in the screw steamer,
Simla, which,
having been just completed by Messrs.
Tod and Alaegregor, sailed to-day from the Bromnielaw.
She will remain a day or two at the Gareloch, to have
her compasses adjusted, whence she sails to Southamp-
ton, from which she will carry the Indian mail to Alex-
andria on the 4th proximo. The Simla is constructed
of iron, and is one of the finest ships which have ever
been constructed on the Clyde. Her dimensions are as
follows :—Tonnage, by new measurement, 2,440 tons ;
by old measurement, 2,600 tons ; her power is equal
to 650 horses ; by inside measurement she is 335 ft.
in length, 30ft. 6in. breadth, and 28ft. in depth. It
will thus be observed, that of the Peninsular and
Oriental fleet, the Simla is next in size to, and only
a few feet shorter than the Himalaya, and she is confi-
dently expected at least to rival her in her sailing powers.
The Simla is a three-decker, and her fittings and general
accommodation, including baths, light, and ventilation
for a numerous body of cabin passengers, are of the most
magnificent description. Her saloon will accommodate
at dinner 150 passengers at one sitting. Within 48 hours,
however, all her ornamental trappings can be removed,
when she might be transformed into a troop-steamer,
capable of carrying 1,500 men. The Simla is commanded
by Captain Brooks, the oldest commander in the service
of the Peninsular and Oriental Company. The rapidity
with which this ship has had her engines put on Loam,and her internal accommodation completed, may be
learnt from the fact that she was only launched in the
sal of February.