The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-22 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

A general meeting of the members belonging to the
Victoria Club was held on Thursday last, in connection
with the Soiled Dove case, at which it was almost unani-
mously decided by those present to decline a settlement
of the bets, as recently arranged, by a legal number of
the committee al Tattersall's, and to appeal to the Jockey
Club. That they will, for the sake of a number of
interested parties, who only object because they are
pecuniarily affected, be likely to entertain such a pro-
position, diametrically opposed to one of their fundamental
rules—" The Jockey Club and the stewards thereof take
no cognizance) of any dispute or claims with respect to
bets "—is simply preposterous, and Mr. Frederick Fisher
is worthy of all praise for his manly courage in opposing
such selfish conduct. There is no doubt the public will
insist upon this just, right, and proper decision being
enforced. I write advisedly in asserting that sundry mem-
bers present, although they did not objcct to the memorial
carried at the Victoria Club on Thursday, think the
decision is the fairest for all parties concerned, and do not
wish, nor do they think it likely, to be disturbed.
The great difficulty of analysing the list of races which
are embraced in the above meeting is caused by the un-
certainty of owners starting the different animals engaged
therein, for which, in many cases, there is reasonable
excuse ; but,. on the other hand, and with many unplea-
sant exceptions, the scratching of "favourite" animals at
the last moment, or not running them, naturally creates
a great deal of disgust amongst the backers of horses.
For instance, why, if, as is patent to every one con-
versant with training, he ought to have been, was not
The Hermit Struck out of the Two Thousand Guineas
Stakes weeks ago ? Why did the Duke of Hamilton
keep Wild Agnes in the betting, although she fluctuated
like a weathercock in the City and Suburban until the
day before - the race, and eventually bring out a
brute, like Clarice, not good enough to win a Railway
Plate, who was clearly palmed upon him, as though
privately tried to beat the winner of the St. Lit Handi-
cap ; according to public running he could not have been
within a distance of the winner. . . _ _

Tuesday, "big with the fate of ,thousands," will set at
rest the differences of opinion, which are wide as the
poles asunder, respecting the merits of the favourites for
the Two Thousand Guineas, with the exception of The
Hermit, about whom, however, I gave your readers a
pretty straight tip on the 25th of March, *hen I wrote as
follows Hermit pulled up very lame two or three days
ago, after taking a gentle canter, and has about astmuch
chew* of winning the Two Thousand guineas or-Derby
as the writer of this article ;" and I can only repeat that
if the result in his case for " The Blue Riband" is' not
equally disastrous for his unfortunate backers, I am not
competent to judge of equine infirmities. Underneath is
a list of the probable starters and jockeys, at any rate of
those which are, in my estimation, at all likely to interfere
with the result :--

HORSE. SIRE. DAM. JOCKEY.
Plaudit Thormanby Plausible J. Snowden
Julius
Vauban Muscovite
Marksman ... Dundee
Trocadero ... Monarque
Fel ragus Fitz-Gladiator ... Findlande ... C. Pratt
Master But-} Kettledrum Butterfly J. Doyle
tertly.
Van Amburgh Van Galen
Owain (Rent Young Mel- I Tasmania's IJ. meter
dwyr $ bourne f dam
Colt by Toxophilite Miss Sarah... Aldcroft
IFlash of } Wells.
Jasper
Knight of the} Prime Minister Rosa Bonheur Custance
Garter
f
Star of India, linight of St.} Ava T. French
1 Patrick
Mandrake ... Weatherbit
Of Major Elwon's horse I made the following remarks in
an analysis of this race last winter, and then selected
him as the absolute winner.

" Plaudit landed the only two stakes for which he put
in an appearance, but his merit must be judged of princi-
pally from his last performance in the Clearwell Stakes,
and although many of the talent think The Rake's form
in the Middle Park Plate—in both cases the line is
through Achievement—decidedly best, I beg to differ
with them, feeling fully convinced Lord Lyon's sister was
not only amiss when she ran Major Elwon's horse to a
head, but decidedly more so the next day in her encounter
with The Rake, in which case surely it is not unfair to Set
altogether on one side this wonderful filly's performances,
and test their qualifications by the next best horses in
these races. Pericles obtained third place to Plaudit, re-
ceiving 31b from the latter, who boat him, and Knight of
the Garter, who ran third at even weights, was beaten
no farther distance from The Rake in the Middle Park
Plate. On the Friday of the same week in the Prender-
gast Stakes, Pericles, in the receipt of 31b from Knight of
the Garter,. beat him cleverly by a length, thus making
the pretensions of the two favourites for the great prize
at Epsom, which I shall take another opportunity of dis-
cussing, very much alike. Meanwhile his gallant owner
having expressed an intention of starting him for this
event, has exercised a wise discretion, many,of the Two
Thousand Guineas winners having given convincing
proof of their inability to get successfully over the Derby
course, which I doubt this son of Thormanby, out of
Plaudit, being able to do."

Julius has been backed for immense sums of money by
his owner, the Duke-of Newcastle, and the principal sup-
porters of Mat Dawsori's stable. It is a well-known fact
that many promising and public-performed two year olds
never run up to their form in after years, whilst others
make as great an improvement on their previous merits;
and, placing this sdn-of Julie in tho last category, I am in-
clined to give him the preference over all the other favou-
rites. His trainer, one of the finost judges in the world,
is, I believe, sanguine to a degree, otherwise his grace
would not offer to take 3 to 1 to £l,OOO, which he did at
Tattersall's on Saturday, and would very likely have taken
over and over again.

Vauban is a good, game horse, but will prefer the
course for the Epsoin event; whether or not, I shall
ignore his chance this journey.
Marksman is now backed in earnest for this Rowley
Mile spin, but he possesses an infirmity of temper which
prevents me from recommending your subscribers to make
any investments on him, although I am not disposed to
deny the probability of his proving himself a rac3 horse
when in the humour to try.
Trocadero is one of the most improved horses in training
at Newmarket, and, having been satisfactorily tried by
Jennings, is sure to be very near the winner.
The Maid of Masham and the colt 'by Toxophilite, out
of Miss Sarah, will represent Lord Glasgow's interest
and, with Tom Aldcroft, one of the finest horsemen in
the world, on his best, I shall not bo at all surprised, but
especially delighted, to see Lord Glasgow's triumph with
General Peel in 18g1 repeated on the present anniver-
sary.

Master Butterfly, is very well, and a certain runner,
and I think very likely to turn out the best outsider.
The ocher cempetitors whom 1 have selected as starters
—Van Amburgh, Owain Glendwyr, Ferragus, Jasper,
Knight of the Garter, Star of India, and Mandrake—have
no attraction for me ; indeed I believe the judge will have
to decide between Plaudit, Julius, Trocadero, and Master
Butterfly. It will, lam satisfied, be a close race between
one or two of the last mentioned ; however, 1 shall expect
the judge to place

PLAUDIT

JULIUS

LORD GLASGOW'S BEST...

On the same day, the Coffee Room Stakes should go to
FRIPONNIER. The Sweepstakes of 200 soya each to
GRIMSTON ; and the Sweepstakes of 300 sows each seems
likely to b 3 a walk over for WESTWICK.
On Wednesday the Two-Year-Old Plate has no loss
than 89 subscribers, but I question though the majority
are "dark" youngsters, if any one will be lucky enough to
produce the superior of LADY ErazAnzur awl SUFFOLK, in
oae of whose success I have the greatest faith. At the
same time, believing the Marquis of Hastings possesses
ono of the best two-year-olds we have seen this season, or
are likely to do this year, she must represent my interest.
The only other events worth alluding to are the Prince of
Wales Stakes over the Cesare witch Course, which TILE PEER
from his recent form is bound to win. A Sweepstakes of
100 Soya. each which OSTREGER'S owner should secure ;
and a Sweepstakes of 50 Sovs each, in which 'PERICLES
will- takb a ' deal of beating from all corners. Mr. Ten
Rroeck ought to win his match, CHANTILLY V. Demonstra
tion.
The great feature of Thursday will bo the One Thou-
sand Guineas Stakes, but if, as I am led to believe that
wonderful filly
ACHIEVEMENT
is in her best form, there is nothing else in the race ; still,
should LADY lIESTER COMO to the post, she is worth back-
ing for a "situation." The Free Handicap acceptances
are not to bo signified until 6 p.m. this evening, conse-
quently I should be writing in the dark. Should, however,
WAR and. MARMITE be amongst the " contents," I should
fancy their chaneee.
The Newmarket Stakes, which is the only complete
engagement for Friday, rests between Vauban, Owain
Glendwyr, and Marksman, whose running for the Two
Thousand Guineas will enable your readers to judge for
themselves.
A FRESH MAN.

NEWSPAPER SELECTIONS FOR THE TWO THOU-
SAND AND ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS.
The Two Thousand Guineas (1 mile 17 yds).—Bell's
Life: Plaudit 1, Marksman 2. Sunday Times : Plaudit 1,
Marksman 2, Trocadero 3. Era : Julius to win, Knight of
the Garter for a place. Field: Plaudit to win, Master
Butterfly the best outsider. Sporting Life: Plaudit to win,
Vauban ay, d 'Trocadero for places. Sporting Gazette:
Julius 1, Vauban 2. Sportsman: Julius to win, Vauban,
Trocadero, and Miss Sarah colt next.
One Thousand Guineas (7 fur. 210 yds).—Bell's Life:
Achievement 1, John Day's best 1. Sunday nines:
Achievement 1, Seville 2, Sunflower filly 3. Da:
Achievement. Field: Achievement 1, Hawthorn Bloom
and Seville next. Sporting Life: Achievement 1, Seville
2, and Sunflower filly 3. Sporting Gazette: Achievement.

NATIONAL DEBT.-011 Tuesday a return was
issued, showing the amount of the National. Debt in each
year since 1834, the increase, diminution, ecc. From
185, to 1857 the debt increased from £801,978,763 to
X 831,722,9.63, and then went on diminishing to
£802,842,949 last year.