The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-07 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

PAST AND FUTURE.

It is questionable whether the " Cup" excited so much
interest amongst the vast masses of people who crowded
Chester during the past week, as did the presence of the
hero of the day, the redoubtable Mr. Thomas Sayers. He
was the lion of the meeting ; admiring, shouting crowds
attended him to the race course, .and morning and evening
blocked up the road in front of his hotel. Tom seems to be
getting quite accustomed to these- ovations, and acknow-
ledged them with great coolness and condescension. Had
he won a Waterloo his popularity could not have
been greater amongst the masses. The weather
during the week was extraordinarily fine, and we
seemed to have emerged with one step from the
middle of winter into the middle of summer. The attend-
ance, too, was enormous; perhaps a larger crowd of spec-
tators was never before seen on the Border. The walls
and the embankment were black with human heads, and
the entire scene reminded one more of the interior of the
Alhambra Palace on the occasion of a wondrously-attrac-
tive performance, than it did of a racecourse. The pro-
gramme was, however, the weakest ever issued at Chester,
and, with the exception of the Dee Stakes and the Cup—
the popularity of which has rather increased than diininiz
nished—the racing was of the most insignificant character.
Win. Day won two races on the Tuesday, but the respec-
tive successes of " the Land" and Traducer brought neither
of those animals into the market again for the Chester
Cup, albeit Petra rose rapidly into increased favour. Mr.
Saxon's fine strapping colt Big Ben carried off the Mostyn
Stakes without an effort.

The result of the race for the Cup confirmed the reputa-
tion which St. Albans acquired by his Epsom and New-
market victories. He won at Chester with remarkable
ease, literally jumping from one side of the course to the
other when called upon by his jockey. If he be not stale
after his three recent races he will take a deal of beating
for the Derby. Petra showed trial. William Day was
quite justified in making her the trusted representative of
the Woodyates stable, and many people entertain a belief
which, however, I cannot share, that she ought
to have won according to her running with Tame.
Deer on the Friday. The performance of the old Deer,
who looked nearly double the size he was at this time last
year, caused Buccaneer to be advanced in the Derby bet-
ting. By the way, Lord Portsmouth is determined to in-
vestigate the causes which led to the movements in connec-
tion with Buccaneer for the Two Thousand ; and it is said
that he will leave no stone unturned to discover the holders
of the milking pail. Underhand ran for the Cup more with
an eye to another Northumberland Plate than with any
expectation of success. Satellite did not show to much ad.
vantage, and his running rather damaged the position
of Umpire in the market. Longrange was beaten from
start to finish, and his sorry exhibition created
almost as much astonishment as did the Two Thousand
success of the Wizard.

After the easy success of Brother to Rainbow for the Dee
Stakes, I was surprised that Thormanby did not receive more
support for the Derby than he did, albeit ho was backed for
money by his own party. I shall be much surprised if
both Sir William and Upperhand do not prove very dan-
gerous outsider; for the Epsom event. Tuesday's racing
was very meagre and very uninteresting.
There will be plenty of sport this week in the north. Two
capital meetings will be held, one at Doncaster and one at
York, and in the south the pleasant Salisbury gathering
will take place.

Doncaster will commence to-morrow. The Trial Stakes
has ten nominations, which are somewhat moderate.
Balnamoon may prove the best of the lot. For the Handicap
a pretty good field may be anticipated, and I shall select
Birmingham and Weatherbeund, both of whom were
thought good enough by their respective parties to win the
Chester Cup. The Hopeful Stakes now annually furnishes
a most interesting race. lam somewhat doubtful about
the probable starters, but should Longshot go to the post
I shall expect him to improve upon his Chester running.
For the Londesborough Pltte I shall select Spicebox. The
Betting Room Stakes may go to Black Diamond, and the
Glasgow Plate to Lupus. The result of the Chesterfield
Plate will depend upon the issue of the preceding handi-
caps. A FRESH MAN.