The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-23 00:00:00

FACTS AND SCRAPS.

The "blue unclouded weather" on the opening day of
the Hampton and Newton meetings last week, were on
the Thursday and Friday changed for drenching showers
and a dark, leaden-hued sky. Pleasure folks at Hampton,
however, entered into the pursuit of sport under diffi-
culties with unabated ardour ; and certain unexpected
incidents of importance, which marked the races, were
alone sufficient to excite the interest of the dread-nought
turfitos, and render them unusually indifferent to the
dreary skiey influences.
The marked improvement which was displayed in the
character of the racing at Hampton was more the result
of chance than if any effort made to that end by the

getters-up of the affair. The amount of added money
was insignificant in the extreme, and when the

sums realised by entrance fees and the Selling Stakes is
calculated it will be sean how little really came out of
the fund. Still, the promoters of the meeting prided

themselves on the fact that atneng9t the competitors were
a winner of the Ascot Cup, a winner of the Ascot Stakes
and a couple two-yr-olds that had been recently purchased
for 3,4501. Winkfield won the Surrey and Middlesex

Stakes easily enough ; albeit, suspicious people seemed
to fancy that before the race there was something wrong.
Although both Redemption and he had been quoted at
5 to 2 each at starting, yet the young'un was decidedly
the first favourite. The commotion created by the suc•
cess of Tournament for the Claremont Stakes is one of
those things which novelists would say might be better
imagined than described. A nicer and more im-
proving horse than the winner I have not seen this
year, and judging from his running at Epsom and at
Hampton he can go as well through dirt as over hard
ground. Why Mr. Barber should start both his high-
priced youngsters for so insignificant a stake, and declare
to win with the inferior animal of the two, seemi to be
somewhat inexplicable. He certainly committed au
error of judgment and paid dearly for his whistle. If re•
port be true Mr. Barnard made a good bargain with
Commotion. It is said that he gave only 251. for the
" half of the horse," which belonged to the late Mr.
Wycherly. He won two good stakes with him and
then sold him for 2,7001. to Mr. 'labor !

The racing at Newton was only remarkable for the
series of surprises which it occasioned. The running
was most extraordinary, and quite incompatible with
all preconceived notions of probability. Mr. Bake's
accession to offics in that locality seems likely to be
attended with much success, and his exertions are likely
to establish a meeting of permanent popularity.
Certain members of the Jockey Club seem determined

to bring their " institution" into ridicule and contempt
by their clumsy efforts at legislation. They are about
to introduce a law which is to render any decision pro-
nounced by their body absolute, by introducing a rule
which will not permit horses to run at Newmarket if
the owners of those horses dispute the authority of the
club, and seek redress from injustice in a court of lair.
The falling off which has been annually displayed in
the prices realised by the sale of the" Royal Yearlings"
has induced people to believe that the management of
affairs at the Hampton Court Paddocks is not so
judicious and effective as could be desired. The stud
requires to be drafted of many of the mares which it
now comprises, and others should be selected with judg-
ment and discrimination.

Turfites will not find time hang very heavily on their

hands during the current week. At Stockbridge and at
Newcastle much interesting sport will be celebrated.
Jockeys have many engagements, and doubtle,s the cry
will be raised of " What do they in the North when
they should be serving their masters here in the
South ?"

The Newcastle Meeting will commence to-morrow.
The North Derby may bring out Ellington and Artillery,
and should this supposition be realised, the race
will be marked with peculiar interest, as it
will show rchether Artillery actually ran up to
his real form at Epsom. I shall, however, adhere
to the duck-footed Ellington. For the Tyro Stakes I
shall "stand" Blink Bonny. Should Ellermire, Courts.
nay, and The Caliph start for the Members' Plate, I
shall oxpect them to occupy the foremost places. I
shall not discuss the remaining items until to-morrow
(Tuesday), when I will also calculate the probabilities in
Hampshire. As many of my readers in the far North,
however, may not see Ths Sea until late on Wednesday,
I will briefly state my present opinion on the Northum-
berland Plate. Typee heads the list at 8,4 71b. She has
not yet been mentioned in the market, but should she
go to the post, despite her Manchester performances, I
shall not be surprised to see her defeat the favourite
King of Scotland. The success of the latter, however,
is deemed a "certainty" by his party. Freddy, who has
run second for nearly every engagement, I shall take
for a " cockboat.",
June 23.

A FRESH MAN.

ARRIVALS AT NEWCASPLE.

Artillery, Lady of Lodge, Vanity, Gamekeeper, Heir
of Lynne, Martlett, Atnina, Underhand, Cussey, Mi-
rage, Villiers, D. 0., Bolton, Lady of the Lake, Seducer,
Singleton, The Swell, Sulpitm, Freddy, Pollux, Dolly
Yards)); and Breeze•