The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-05 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—Notwithstanding the position of the first fa-
vourites in the odds being only 2 and 4 to 1, with
Aphrodite close upon their heels at 7 to 1, the public
generally feel inclined to look upon this St. Leger as the
darkest we have had since The Baron's year (1845),
and if the strength of the field, which at the present
moment, it is presumed, will number from fifteen to
twenty, is any criterion to judge by, without doubt
it is so. The qualities of two or three of the pro-
bable starters, such as Clasher, Lough Bawn,
and First Fruits are altogether dark to seven-eighths of
that vast community, denominated the sporting world;
and with regard to several others whose private trials
and public performances have not tallied in the slightest
degree with each other, making them almost, if not
quite, as dark to the public as those that have not yet
made their di/Ats, it is very clear from this that 01 DlX?soi
have some foundation for the dark opinion hetore-men-
tioned, and that, consequently, great care must be exer-
cised in deciding on their m rits. The Doncaster St.
L,..ger is now in its seventy-fourth year; some people
would say its seventy-sixth, but that is not the case, for
although a sweepstakes on exactly the same conditions
as that which was afterwards named The St. Leger
was won by Lord Rockingham's br f by Samp-
son, in 1776, and in 1777, by Mr. Sother-
ton's Bourbon, yet the first St. Leger, so called at
the time, was not run until 1778, when it was
won by Sir Thomas Gascoigne's Hollandaise. Like
many other affairs on the face of this sublunary ball, this
great race was christened at a convivial meeting of the
sporting bloods of that day, under the influence of the
grape, and in compliment to a very celebrated character
then present—Colonel St. Leger. The conditions have
been repeatedly altered; in 1778 it was a sweepstakes
of 25 guineas each; colts Bst, and fillies 7st 121 b; two
miles. In 1790, same distance, colts Bst 121 b, and
fillies Bst. In 1825, a sweepstakes of 25 sovereigns
each. In 1826, colts Bst 61b, fillies Bst 31b; St. Leger
course. In 1832, a sweepstakes of 50 sovereigns each,
h ft. In 1835, the owner of the second horse received 100
soya. out of the stakes. In 1839, the weights were finally
settled at—colts, Bst 71b; fillies, fist 21b. In 1843, the
owner of the second horse received 200 sovs. out of the
stakes, and the third saved his stake. The winner paid
30 sovs. to the judge. In 1844, the winner paid 100
sovs. towards expenses. In 1846, the owner of the se-
cond horse received 300 sows. out of the stakes, and the
third 100 soya. In 1850, the winner paid 25 soya. to the
judge. In the present year it is once more to be a
sweepstakes of 25 soya. each; the owner of the second
horse to receive 100 soya. out of the stakes. The winner

to pay 100 soya. towards expenses, 25 soya. to the judge,
and 25 soya. to the starter. The new plan of 25 soya.
each, pp, it is obvious must be better than the old one
of 50 sovs. each, half forfeit; it will, I am convinced,
result in enlarged fields, instead of the eight, nine, or
ten starters that have generally mustered at the
post of late years. During the seven years that I have
wielded the prophetic pen I have had tolerable success
on the first great race of the year—the Derby ; but on
the second—the Great St. Leger, have been favoured
with much greater success, and in three instances out of
six was successful enough to place the first and second
The following is my summing up each year :-
1845 ... Pantasa (third).
1846 lago (second).
1847 ... ... Van Tromp
Cossack ...
1848 ... Surplice ... 1
Canezou 2
1849 ... ... The Flying Dutchman 1
Nunnykirk 2
1850 Voltigeur.
If my antecedents aro any indication of what I may do
in this essay, my present peep behind the curtain of
futurity will be a successful one. Among the horses
that have at various times made some stir in the list

... ... 1

poktion of the betting market for various races,
and who are entered for the St. Leger, the
following will be non est on the forthcoming
occasion, viz.: The Saxon, The Tout, Badajoz,
Ilook'em Snivvy, Sister to Wanota, Glenhawk, Olean-
der, The Cutler, Vivancliere, Jack Leeming, Jugger-
❑aut, Pandemus., Phlegethon, Phlegra, Deceitful, Bal-
sam°, Ipsus, Confidence, 800, Primitious, Brother to
Chanticleer, Croupier, and Lightfoot. From the remain-
maining ninety-seven I shall subtract the following
batch as forming the lot from which the starters must
be selected, which batch consists of Lough Bawn,
Clasher, Heart Breaker, Cusses, Hippolytus, Midas,
Bonnie Dundee,* Grosvenor, Exeter, The Prime
Minister. The Confessor,* The Ban, Aphrodit6, Ho-
thorpe, Grecian, Hernandez, First Fruits, Constellation,
Newminster, Sir Rowland Trenchard, Mountain
Deer,* The Calcutator, Lamartine, Miserrima,*
Storm,*Knook Knoll, Gholab Singh, Azeth, and Ephesus.
Those having an asterisk prefixed to their names are
the most dubious as to starting. The market this morn-
ing exhibits the following as the prices of the St. Leger
candidates :—Hernandez, 5 to 2; The Ban, 4 to 1;
Aphrudi 6, 7 to 1; Hothorpe, 12 to 1; Newminster, 12
to 1; Lamartine, 15 to 1; The Prime Minister, 15 to 1;
Grecian, 20 to 1; Ephesus, 25 to 1; First Fruits, 25 to
1; Exeter, 33 to 1; Clasher, 33 to 1; 50 to 100 to 1
against any other. My information on one or two points
not being complete at the present moment, I shall defer
the antdyzation of the chances of the candidates for the
Gre at St. Leger of 1851 until to-morrow, when the name
or names of the horse or horses destined to play the most
important part or parts in the quadrupedal drama at
Doncaster the week after next shall be, at least I hope
so, duly announced.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

Sept. 5, 1851.

SPORTING IN TELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S—YESTERDAY.
GREAT YORKSHIRE HANDICAP.
4 to 1 agst Mr. Parker's Calculator—taken
8 to 1 agst Mr. Meeson's The Castle—taken
12 to 1 agst Mr. Merry's Miss Ann
12 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr's Panope
No others mentioned, and not litslf a dozen bets laid.
ST. LEGER.
2 to 1 agst Lord Enfield's Hernandez—take 5 to 2
4 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's The Ban—taken
7 to 1 agst John Day's lot—taken and afterwards
offered
7 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's Aphrodite—taken and
afterwards offered
20 to 1 agst Mr. Halford's Primo Minister
25 to 1 agst Mr. Howard's Grecian
Aphrodite was backed for abort 3004 at 7 and 8 to 1,
and left off at 7 to 1 layers; John Day's lot, Grecian,
and Prime Minister were friendless.
CESAREWITCH STAKES.
20 to 1 agst Mr. Saxon's The Black Doctor—taken
25 to 1 agst Lord H. G. Lennox's belokanna
50 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's Champion—taken
1,000 to 15 agst Mr. J. Scott's Trickstress—taken
1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger—taken
1,000 to 10 agst Captain Lowther's Bastinado—taken
ROCHESTER RACES.—THURSDAY.
The Maiden Plate of 401. Heats, once round.
Mr. Douglas's Irene, 7st Ilb ...(R. Sherwood) 1 0 1
Mr. Austin's Miss Talbot, 7st llb (Clements) 0 0 2
Mr. Sherrard's bg by Slave, 3 yrs, 7st llb ... 3 3 dr
Mr. Pearce's Tilsit, 5 yrs, Bst 1 llb (Wakefield) 2 0 dr
Mr. Halliday na Wintunia, 9st 110 (Hornsby) 0 0 dr
Mr. T. Price's Bullfincher, 9st llb ...(Owner) 0 dr
Mr. Land's fby Galaor, 3 yrs, 7st 11b (Lowe) 0 dr
The first heat was won by three parts of a length. the
second was a dead heat between Irene and Miss Talbot,
and the third heat was won by two lengths.
The Innkeepers' and Tradesmen's Plate of 501. with 5
SOUL added for the second. One mile and a half.
Mr. Cowley's Ella. 3 yrs, Est Gib (Kendall) 1
Mr. Bloomfield's Simplicity, 3 yrs, 7st 61b (Archer) 2
Mr. Kimmins's Jessie, 5 yrs, 7st 91b ...(Underwood) 3
Mr. C. Form's f by Slave, 4 yrs, 7st 51b (Sherwood) 4
Won by two lengths.
The Rockingham Stakes of 3 sovs. each, end 40 added.
Heats, one mile and a half. (8 Subs.)
Mr. Wotton's Marchioness, (1501.), 7st 101 b 2 1 1
Mr. Richardson's Firebolt, (1501.), 6st 41b ... 0 3 2
Mr. T. Price's Cheddington, (1501.), Est 41b... 0 2 3
Mr. Massingl arg's Epira, (1504), Est llb 3 0 dr
Mr. Douglas's Don Pedro, (1501), 6st 41b
Mr. W. Balchin's Durdam, (1501.), ist 131 b 0 dr
The first heat was won by half a length, the second
by a length, and the third by two lengths.
The Speculation Plate of 304., added to a Sweepstakes
of 2 sovs.; the second to save his stake. Once round.
(6 Subs.)
Mr. Cowley's Ella, 3 yrs (601.), 7st ......... (Archer) 1
Mr. Austin's Tommy the Tillman, 5 yrs (604), Bst 91b 2
Mr. Laud's Eden, 3 yrs (60/.), 7st ............ (Lowe) 3
Mr. Messer's Malmetbury (801.), gat 21b,..(Hornsby) 0
Mr. Roberts's Duster, 3 yrs (60/.), ist 71b (Hammond) ta
Mr. Inverarity's Laundrymaid, aged (604), Bst 121 b 0
Won by two lengths.
Tho Medway Stakes of 2 sovs. each, and 30 added; the
second to receive 5/. Once round and a distance. (7
Subs.)
Mr. Oldacre's Ondine, 4 yrs (501.), ist 31b (J. Lowe) 1
Mr. Gulliver's f by Epirus, out of Blanche of Devon,
(501.), sst 131 b (Kendall) 2
Mr. Laud's Eden, 3 yrs (501.), sst 131 b ... (11. May) 3
Mr. Dalrymple's Pomp, 6 yrs(7s/.) Sst 81b (Bernthal)) 0
Mr. Formby's f by Slane, out of duzman's darn, 4 PI
(501.), 7st 131 b R. Sherwood) 0
Mr. Rose's Willingham, 5 yrs (50/.), 7stlolb (319%,..teci), 0
Mr. Drewe's Forest Flower, aged (504), sit (lisch`eli
Won in a canter, b a leuth•
LINCOLN RA CES.—y TuvagsoAr.
First year of the Lincoln Triennial Stakes of 10 sovs.
each, h ft, with 50 added; for two 3 rs old colts, Bst
71b; fillies, Bst 31b; and 51b allowed. &c.; winners
extra; the second to save his stake. T.Y.C.
Mr. J. Inman's Maid of Lincoln, 7
Ld. Yarborough na Merry
Mr. W. Wright's Valentino 's ay,
Bird, Bst
.Bli slb (W. Abdale) 2
21b(Whitehouse) 1
1 7stl2lb (Simpson) 3
Mr. W. E. Llobson's Barbota, ISt 111 h ... (J. Osborne) 4
Betting-2 to lon Merry Bird. Won by a length.
The others beaten off.
The Lincolnshire Handicap of 15 sovs. each, 10 ft, and
only 5 if declared, with 100 added; winners extra; the
second to save his stake, and the winner to pay 20 sovs.
towards expenses. Two miles.
Mr. Wrsther's Maid of Masham, fist (G. Abdale) 1
Mr. J. Osborne's Lady Hylda, 7st 31b ...(J. Osborne) 2
Mr. Oliver's Ischia, 3 yrs, 4st Slb (Ashall) 3
Mr. J. Osborne's Cheap John,3 yrs, 4st 101 b (Carroll) 4
Betting-5 to 4ou Maid of Masham, 7to 4 agst
Ischia, and sto 1 agst each of the others. Won easily
by a length; the two light weights beaten off.
The Selling Stakes of 3 BOVE. each, with 20 fidcicd; for