The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-21 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,

ST. ALBANS STEEPLECHASES.--Famay.

Mr. George French's venture at St. Albans was again
yesterday interfered with by the frost, and at one time it
appeared doubtful whether the second day's sport would
Login. At last, however, an hour and a half after:the ap-
pointed time for starting, a few- oF tho jockeys determined
upon trying with the first race. Five riders weighed, but
two of these afterwards Arithdrew, and a trio only wont to
the post, the horses being Oldminster, The Guide, and
Portfire. The jockeys of these found the whole of the
course moderately good going, except on'the straight run,
which was hard ai flint, notwithstanding that a heavy
harrow had been dragged over it, so as if possible to tear
up a portion of the frozen substance. The Guide was
made the favoxrite at even money, but from the first he
never obtained a good position, and thus the race was madel
a match. Oldminster was beaten a length in the fina
struggle, amidst loud cheers. The other race, a Selling
Handicap Plate, produced eight runners out of the thirteen
entered, Oldminster, Wrangler, Bandoline, Serious Case,
and Bow Bell being the absentees. An unnoticed mare,
Countess 8010, landed the stake after 10 to 1 had been
freely offered against her, the favourite slipping and fall-
ing, when presenting every appearance of winning. After
the race the question arose whether, the three other events
would come off, but an announcement was made on the
authority of Captain Barclay and Captain Whittingstall
(stewards), that the meeting was postponed till Saturday,
the 28th instant. The great event of the meeting, the
St. Albans Open Steeplechase, was anxiously looked for,
and therefore the disappointment caused by the postpone-
ment was great, seeing that Lord Coventry's Chimney
Sweep, Sir Bobby, and Northern Light had arrived for
the race, J. Adams being present to ride " The Sweep."
Subjoined is a return of the running :

The Luton Plate (Handicap), of 30 sovs ; winners of any
steeplechase after Nov. 29 (at 11 a.ui.) 71b extra ; about

two miles.
Mr. Roe's Portfire, by Artillery—Stand House Lass, 6
yrs, lOst 131 b
Mr. W. G. Jarvis's Oldminster, aged, list 31b (Owner) 2
Mr. Ellison's The Guide, 5 yrs, list 71b (inc. 71b extra)
(Itckaby) 0
Betting—Even on The Guide, 7 to 4 agst Portfire, 5 to
1 agst Oldminster.
Portfire made the running, followed by •Oldminster to
the first fence, where The Guide, ran out, but .Ricksby
speedily got him in the right track. The trio passed the
Stand at intervals of nearly twenty lengths, and Portfire
retained the lead till reaching the fence leading into the
ploughed land, where_ he refused, and Oldminster was left
with a slight tt_vantage, The Guide being still further
thrown in the rear by bungling at the same cbstacle. Two
fences further on Portfire again took a lead, which he held
to the foot of the hill leading into the straight, where Old-
minster juined him, and the pair cleared the two last ob-
stacles almost abreact, but Oidminster being beaten after
landing over the last fence, Portfire was enabled to win
easily by a length; The Guide did not pass the post.
The Selling Handicap Plate of 3i) sovs; the winner to be
sold for 4U sovs. About two miles.
Mr. Fuller's Countess 8010, by Promised Land—Cru-
sade, 4 yrs, lOst 41b
Mr. Tkomas's Carnbroe, 6 yrs, lOst ;lb (car. lOst 91b
(Grant) 2
Mr. Barton's Killarney 4 yrs, 10st 41b (H. States) 3
Mr. Gilke's Sir Stephen, aged, list 21b (T. Ablett) 0
Mr. Allen's No Name, aged list (Dixon) 0
Mr. Jarvis's Love-in-a-Mist aged lOst 121 b ...(Owner) 0
Mr. Gregory's Rapture, aged,- lOst 101 b • (C wner) • 0
Mr. Swinfern's b g by Steckwell—Waverley's dam
(Captain Smith) 0

Betting-5 to 4 agst Love-in-a-Mist;7 Co 2 agst Rap-
ture, 7 to 1 agst the Waverley's dam gelding, 10 to 1 agst
Countess 8010.

Killarney made the running, but after clearing the first
fence, the Waverley's dam gelding took the lead, fol-
lowed by No Name, Love-in-a-Mist, Rapture, and Carn-
broe. Before reaching the Stand the favourite was
indulged with the lead, and on passing was
attended by Killarney, Rapture, Countess 8010,
and Sir Stephen, the Waverley's dam gelding
and No Name bringing up the rear. Before
the third fence in the " ploughed land," Killarney
passed the favourite, but held the lead only for a short
distance ; for at the third fence from home Love-in-a-Mist.,
who had been pulling Jarvis all the way, again rushed to
the front and came into the straight with a clear lead of
Countess 8010 and Carnbroe. Approaching the last fence
the favourite appeared to have the race in hand, but slip-
ping, came down on her side, throw her rider, and thus
put our her chance. Fortunately neither horse nor
jockey sustained injury. Countess 8010 was now left with
the lead, and never being approached won in a canter by
three lengths from Carubroo ; Killarney was beaten a
length from the second, Rapture was fourth, the Waver-
ley's darn gelding next, Sir Stephen sixth, No name trot-
ting in many lengths in the rear.
The winner was bought in for 51 guineas.
The remainder of the races were postponed until Satur
day, the 28th inst.