The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-06 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

The meetings held during the past week at Lewes and
Brighton attained a success they could on no previous oc-
casion lay claim to, particularly the latter, at which occur-
red a series of contests almost equal in interest to those
which had recently taken place at the parent meet-
ing. The most astounding " turn up" at Lewes was the
easy overthrow of bliss Julia by Fravola, on her favourite
course, half a mile, at a difference of 191 b only, although at
Goodwood she beat Fravola by a head at a difference of
271 b ! Next we saw Oliver, who last year gave promise of
attaining to sore* excellence, if not celebrity, defeated by
Cronstadt, at a difference of 131 b only for the year, a fact
which goes far to indicate that either the Newminsters do
not " train on," or that Cronstadt is a much better two-
year-old than he has yet got credit for being. A still more
unlooked-for defeat was that of Crater for her Majesty's
Plate, and no eruption ever created more dismay than the
easy manner he succumbed to Defender, a result which
proved him to be either completely "off," or that he has
no ability to stay a distance. On the second day Feo-
dorowna's running for the Lewes Handicap, of only 81b
worse terms with Blue Jacket than they had previously
met at in the Goodwood Stakes, the horse won after a long
and determined struggle, in which the meed of praise is
equally and well due to Grimshaw as to Fordtiam for the
splendour of the finish, and thus, in some measure, was the
Stakes running proved to be untrue, the Jacket being in that
race beaten " out of sight."
The first day's proceedings at Brighton were remarkable
for the continued success of the " home stables," three of
the six races on the card falling to their share. The result
of the Brighton Stakes in favour of Blue Jacket was fur-
ther confirmatory of the incorrectness of the Goodwood
Stakes running, for he carried, with Claire, relatively the
same weights, and though he had an advantage of 71b. over
Flitch, he beat them both so easily and so far that it is diffi •
cult to account for the inglorious position he held in that
race, which, if the result be true, leaves Wallace about as
good as Blue Jacket at level weights ; consequently it is not
surprising his finding favour for the St. Leger.
The racing on the second day was of an equally interest-
ing character, and gave rise to some heavy speculation.
Bel Esperanza was accounted so favourably weighted for
the opening event that a very short price was taken about
her, but, as she never runs twice alike, Bullock could not
prevail upon her to make an effort, and Fitz-Avon won
easily, giving the second, Ipswich; another three year old,
211 b The winner, owing to his having run so badly at
Lewes, was not trusted by his stable for a guinea, and was
run merely to test the correctness of his performance the
day but one previous, which, he wever, being a journey of
two miles, was not within his compass. Eight horses, all of
which possessed both character and quality, contested
the Champagne Stakes, on which the betting was
very spirited, Crater being installed the favourite, not-
withstanding his Lewes defeat, and after him Blue
Jacket and Satellite were awarded the chief support.
The result was, however, far from being in accordance
with these fancies, as Twilight, who had been a little "off"
when defeated by Narcissus a fortnight ago, came to the
rescue of the fielders, and won very easily. The first two
days of
.the week are devoted to Wolverhampton, North
Staffordshire, and Ripon, and the clashing of the three
must be somewhat unfortunate for the two former, as one or
the other must be the sufferer by it, the localities being
rather too close together.
The Cleveland Cup, run at Wolverhampton to-morrow,
looks a certainty for Defender, nothing, with the ex-
ception of Twilight, appearing to have a chance with
him.

The twenty-seven nominations to the Nursery Stakes
are sure to furnish a considerable field at the starting
post, and those I am inclined to put the most trust in
are Louise Leclereq, Sacerdos, and Naid of Honour.
In the Samford Biennial, Horror, Northern Light, Odor
Botheration, Lupullus, Provision, Rameses, Stolzenfels,
Little Dick, Narcissus, and Dreadnought, with thirty-four
other three-year-olds, are engaged, but beyond those en.u•
merated I can see nothing likely to take part in the strug-
gle, and I doubt if many of them will face the two first-
named—Horror and Northern Light—who will only have
to appear at the starting post to invest the race with ex-
traordinary interest, but I will give the preference to
Northern Light.
The programme set forth for Ripon shows no falling off
from former years.

In the Grand Stand Plate Doefoot will again have it all
her own way.

The Members' Plate Handicap will be strongly affected
by the Great St. Wilfrid Handicap, the winner of which,
however, will have his work out out to beat Edmund Kean
and Baron Parke.

Doefoot is the top weight in the Great Northers

Nursery, but it is rat'ier too much to expect her to give
so much weight to Fast Runner, Lady Bird, and Royal
Princess, and one of the last-named ought to be about the
mark.

Reading is always largely patronised, and the visitor'

may be assured of first-rate sport this year, for the meet;
are all well filled, and the Berkshire stables always suppll
good fields.

The King's Meadow Stakes will find the two top weightist
Amsterdam and Speaker, formidable.
The recent running of Wallace and Convivialist causer
the Berkshire Stakes +o 1,,0k lain a it p-ift" to either, and
only in Lovett can I see anything likely to interfere with
them.

The Abbey Stakft, for which fourteen two year olds
are engaged, has three or four celebrities amongst the no-
minations, including Lady Clifden, Fairwater, Copernicus,
and Cronstadt. The three former are each penalised 31b,
notwithstanding which the race ought to fall to one of the
trio, though from Croustades recent performance with
Oliver, I shall expect to see him make it hot work for
whichever of them may enter the lists with him.
The Nursery Plate has, as usual, an immense entry►
and making any certain selection is out of the question.
The winner may, however, be comprised in the following
lot :—Confidence, Corfu, Foxhead, Rosedale, Count Horn,
and Balham.
The East Hampstead Park Stakes, one mile and a half,
is a weight for age race instead of a handicap, and Amster-
dam, 5 yrs, with Weatherbound, 3 yrs, Odo, 3 yrs, Pre-
dictor, 3 yrs, and Ripon, 3 yrs, ought to invest the event
with some interest, Amsterdam and Ripon being most likely
to produce the winner.
The Reading Stakes, for two year olds, half a mile, may
bring together the Sister to Mincepie, Fairwater, Folke-
stone, Little Lady, Brown Duchess, and one or two others►
but if anything beats Brown Duchess, it must be Mince-
pie's slashing sister.
The Whitley Handicap, one mile, has an excellent ac-
ceptance ; still, Twilight, 4 yrs, Bst 81b, ought to carry her
colours in front, Traducer, 3 yrs, 7st 71b, being most likely
to bowl her over.

A FRESH MAN.

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE THAMBS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Your long and interesting account of Doggett's
Coat and Badge wager, and the interest you always take in
everything that benefits the working men, gives me en.,
oouragement to trouble you with the following .
Does it not appear strange, Sir, that a powerful body
like the Waterman's Company should leave it to others W
patronise the river rowing. The famous " Doggett" wale
not connected with the Watermen or their company, and
perhaps it was better for them the management of the
wager was left to the Fishmongers' Company, or it might
have died out long ago. The Thames Regatta at Putney is
conducted and upheld by gentlemen and landsmen. We
do not hear of the company's prize being rowed for ; per-
haps they, as a company, do not subscribe a guinea towards
it. All the rowing matches are got up and supported by
the friends of the men—no prize of any description is
given by the directors of their own company. If the
privilege is to be maintained (and I suppose it is), I am
informed that the company have expended £5,000 in oppos-
ing the bill that was to throw it open. Why not give an
inducement to the men to become good scullers, &c., by
having a champion prize, with £lO or £2O a-year, and other
minor prizes for the unsuccessful men. In looking over
the new act bye-laws I find there are numerous pains and
penalties for the men, but no encouragement for them to do
well. Although not a waterman myself, I am intimately
acquainted with them, and feel great interest in all that
concerns them. I hear there is great dissatisfaction among
the body ;andsome
If the directors wish to be supported
company st o t hei n
by the men, they should act with more liberality towards
them, by subscribing for a champion's belt to be rowed for
annually, and open to all who choose to contend for it ; the
say they do not see what good the
i
holder to accept all reasonable challenges for three year.,
and if not defeated during that time, the belt to become his
own property.—Your obedient servant,
Fore-street, Lambeth.