The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-22 00:00:00

SPORTEG NOTES.

The Lincoln Meeting was a great success; in fact, there
was too much racing on' Carholme, as two new stakes
were added to the second day's card, which originally
contained eight items. The two principal handicaps—th•
Lincolnshire and City—were secured by Sycee and His-
torian, ns I predicted in The Sun of last Monday. Sycee, a
different looking mare to the ono wo saw behind Silenus
in the Newmarket Houghton week, bad all her opponents
safe half a mile from home, and seldom have I seen an
easier victory than that achieved by this daughter of Mar-
ayes on Tuesday last. The Drummer, of whom I had
often wiitten favourably, ran well; but so long as old
hot ses are " turned loose," there is little hope for three-
year-olds in the middle of February. Del Giorno was
third best in the Lincolnshire Handicap, atel, when the
ground is soft, ho w:11 be dantrerous on mile courses.
Old Historian, who invariably acts well over the Lincoln
ground, won the City Handicap after a pretty contest
with Honesty and Islam, the latter of whom cannot stay,
or he must have won, as ho obtained a great advantage at
starting. An accident, wlt:eh fortunately did net end iu
loss of life, happened during the race for this handicap ;
Harebell, April Morn, and Lady Zet:and fell, and Covey,
the rider of Harebell, had his collarbone fractured. The
two-year-old stakes attracted largo fields, but with few
exceptions the quality of the juvenile performers was not
remarkable for its excellence. A common-looking colt, by
Blair Athol, out of Lady Louisa, said to have been tried to
be nearly the equal of Hefty at even weights, was made a
warm favourite for the Brocklesby Stakes, but he never
showed in the contest, and the leading positions at the ter-
mination of the race were filled by Sister to Veda, Pate, a
filly by Latnbton out of Little Lady, and Vibration. All these
are of the quick school, and show great quality, particularly
Sister to Veda, by Larnbton, out of Christabelle, and Pate,
by Macaroni, out of Songstress. This pair will be formid-
able for their Spring engagements, as they are very ripe
at present. Several of the horses, however, that finished
behind them in the Brocklesby may " turn the tables "
upon Sister to Veda and Pate, should they meet about the
middle of the season over a long or severer course. The
Grand Steeplechase was a failure, as only three horses
Barbarian, Ace of Trumps, and Tennyson—ran. Lord
Coventry's horse fell early in the race, and Barbarian easily
disposed of Ace of Trumps. The success of Barbarian
brought Tathwell into the position of seeoud favourite for
the Liverpool Grand National.
The fixtures for this week are Nottingham, Derby,
Chelmsford, Windsor, and St Albans. For the Nottingham
Spring Meeting, on Tuesday and Wednesday,th lelrsßprrtitudg-
field has issued a capital list, in which there are thirteen
races, the most important for the first day being
Handicap, the Stand Plate, the Innkeepers' Plate,
the 31acaroni Stakes, and the Trial Stakes, the
latter of which does not close tills
fifty
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entriesening.;
The Spring Handicap (11- miles) has
but, as the stake remains open to the past, it is difficult at
this date to say what horses are likly to run. The pick
of these entered, however, are Grimston, Bst 81b;
Orion, Bst Glb ; Clemence, ist Bth ; Mars, 7st 71b ;
Sister to Vedette, ist 61b ; The Sawyer, 7st 41b ;
Python, 7st 31b Barnabo, 7st llb ; and the gelding
by Weatherbit out of St. Agnes, sst 71b. Grimston, Cle-
mence, Mars, and Python, however, are the lot I should
retain to furnish the winner; and if the prize is good
enough for their owners, I can select nothing capable of
beating Clemence and Grimston. The Stand Plate (4
furlongs) would, over the easy half-mile at Not-
tingham, be at the mercy of Leonie, if the Duke
of Hamilton's " flyer" were in her best form.
As Leonie, however, is not thoroughly fit, this race
may be carried off by Drewitt's representative, Astra-
can or The Scout, though several fast horses
have been engaged against them iu Flying Jib,
Dawdle, La Mouse, The Sphinx, Panne, Retty, and Mal-
cohn. For the Innkeepers' Plate (6 furlongs) Joseph
Dawson's representative ought to win, seeing that the
Bedford Lodge trainer has Chapel Royal, Pirate Chief,
Dryad, and Electricity entered in the race. Iu the Maca-
roni Stakes (2 miles) Primrose and Funny Man will beat
the horses named against them, although the list includes
Sir Walter, Roland, Delaware, Arran, and Planet. For
Wednesday, five out of the seven races in the card are
completed, and for the Newcastle Plate (1 mile) twenty-
six horses have been handicapped, amongst whom are
Sileuus, Bst 12Ib ; Orion, Bst 41b ; Python, 7st 41b; Skir-
mish, ist ; Veda, Gst Glb ; Matilda, Get 411) ; Albion, sst
121 b; and Malcolm, sst 121 b. The brace of heavy
weights—Silenus and Orion—would beat all comers, if
permitted to run ; but, as neither puthorseanmdayveda.
in an appearance, I shall rely on Python
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tfhis stale unless Fan runs, when iu Mr Barber's mare ho
will find a dangerous opponent. The Hunt Cup (21 miles)
will and in a match between Primrose and Sir Walter,
and as the first-named is clever over hurdles, she is en-
titled to the preference.
The Derby Meeting, which is a supplemental one to
that at Nottingham, will take place on Thursday and
Friday, and, if all the proposed stakes fill, thirteen races
will be decided. With the exception of the Selling Stakes,
all the events have closed for the first day. The Harring-
ton Stakes (about 4 furlongs) has been well patronised,
thirty two-year-olds having been entered therein.
Luckily, Sister to Veda has not been named, and there-

fore the field should be of average dimensions. Country-
man, Vibration, Phantom Las; Squib, Kennington,
Nero, and Lady Middleton have amongst others been en-
gaged; but Kennington and Vibration ran sufficiently
well at Lincoln to b 3 worth trusting at Derby. In the
Derby Plate (4 furlongs) Parma and Pyrenees have not
been heavily weighted ; neither has Brick nor Ada Pene-
lope in the Hurdle Race (2 miles). For the Great Midland
Steeplechase (about 3i miles), fifteen horses have ao-
cepted, the most noteworthy of whom are Greenland, list
11lb; Tennyson, list 91b; Bannockburn, list 41b;
Fan, list 31b; and Malvern, lOst 111 b. Fan will pro-
bably be reserved for the Liverpool Grand National ;
but Greenland and Tennyson, having no other engage-
ments, should be found at the post, and the better of the
pair will win. In the Donington Plate (about two miles)
there is no horse capable of beating Scarrington, though
lie may be opposed by Sir Walter, Primrose, Duke of
Devon:hire, and Arran. On Friday the Great Midland
Sp; jug Handicap (6 furlongs) has se,ntred thirty-four
entries, and the weights range fram Leonie, 9st -11 b, to
Sai.dboy, 711). Orion, 7st 121 b ; Mars, '7st 101 b ;
Master 7st 51b ; Presdent Liucjln, 7st ; Veda, 6$
6:b; Madamo St. Germains (late Cauthleen), Gst 21b; and.
Miss Thaelieray, .sst 10th, are a likely lot to furnish the
winner; but the Ifeilhesfurd ref resentative—Master Willie
or Orion -presents the most tempting appearance. Tho
auciile Mx.: (Li miles) nay be assigned t, Malvern or
Ada Penelope; and the Elvaston Castle Stakes (if miles)
:o Arran.
The Chelmsford Meeting will 13,) held on Thursday and
Friday, and 12 ra• es are found in Mr Burton's programme.
Only 11 horses have accepted for the Cheimer Handicap
(1 and these are so moderate that it is on the
cards fur Compromise or the St. Agnes gelding to win.
The Two-year-old Plate and Sweepstakes, of 10 says
each, will be failures if Sister to Veda runs, as she can
win both events, if Mr Pryor permits her to start. In the
absence of the Brocklesby Stakes victrix, however, the
winners may turn up in Lilliputian and Onyx. On
day, the Fairlands Handicap (4 furlongs) appears likely o
be won by Benevolence or Laird of Scotland ; and the
Boreharu Plate (1 mile) by Cornet or Joseph DaNYSOU'd
elected.

The Windsor Grand Military Steeplechases, on Monday
and Tuesday, and the St. Albans Steeplechase Meeting,
on Thursday and Friday, will be well patronised; but, as
a similar class of horses are engaged at both places, it
would be impolitic to criticise the programme.

A FRESH MAN.

THE GRANT TO THE VOLUNTEER FORM

An important deputation representing the Volunteers
of Scotland waited upon Mr. Cardwell, on Saturday, at the
War Office, for the purpose of bringing before hes
Majesty's Government, the necessity of an increased
capitation grant to the Volunteers of the "United
Kingdoni. The deputation included several Scotch
members'` ofiPakiament, and some of the leading
officers ,of the Scotch regiments. It will be
rememberga that a short time ago a deputation-from the
metropolitan regiments urged the necessity of increasing
the capitation grant by £l. The Scotch deputation held
that the regiments they represented would be satisfied
with an increase of 10s. per man.
Mr. CARDWELL, in reply, said that the Government was
folly sensible of the value of the volunteer force, and very
desirous that it should be maintained in an efficient condi-
tion. The Government looked upon it as a most
important part of the defensive force of the country, the
efficiency of which was a matter of the highest moment,
but they were not at all sure that an increased capitation
grant was the best means of obtaining the desired end. If
the Government were quite sure that the volunteer force
was now in such a state of efficiency as would
Vender it available for the purposes for which
it.pight he required, but that an increased grant was
necessary for the maintenance of that efficiency, Mr.
Cardwell believed that the Government would have no
objection to bring forward the necessary measure, and he
had reason to believe that the country would sanction it.
But they were not sure that such was the case. They
were not convinced that the Volunteers were thus efficient,
or that the increased grant would be the means of rendering
them so. The most careful inquiry would be necessary
before a conclusion could be arrived at. The Govern-
•ment felt the importance of the Volunteer force to the
fullest extent, but they did not think that an increased
grant would be the best mode of proceeding in the matter.
Before such a step could be taken it was necessary that
that there should be a careful examination of the whole
subject of our defensive army.