The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-29 00:00:00

THE SEASON.

The racing season was successfully inaugurated at
Northampton. The sport was abundant and interesting,
and was marked by much prospective importance. The
most prominent feature in the proceedings was, however,
the reappearance in public of Mr. T, Parr's Derby colt
Kelpie, whose owner displayed no little confidence in the

horse, by allowing him to oppose Happy Laud, and by

ting him run in shoes.

He, perhaps, fancied that

R 5 lbs. advantage which Kelpie had in the weights,

vould ccunter3ct the d6advantage which might arise
!r•nn his want of " plates." Speculation on the
acs took a somewhat unexpected turn. To the

urprise of many persons, Happy Land was insdi)
,he favourite, although his weight and his condition

old against him. Compared with Kelpie he seemed as
ig and as burly as a cart-horse. Mr. Parr's cult seemed
A " fit' as it was rossible to make him, and the oppo-
ition which he encountered in the ring was inexplicable
—u.:l,±ss it may be traced to his " shoes" and to his " un-
ashionable" jockey. Many people fancied that an
,judicious use was made of Happy Land, who was
,nable to sustain the pace with which be passed Kelpie
kie:l led up the severe hill on the far side owing to his
videut lack of preparation. To my eye Kelpie appeared
apa'a of galloping over him in any part of the race,
.nd at the distance he quitted him without an
)rt. Still Kelpie's poE,ition in the Derby betting was

!ot greatly improved by his performance, blit
t satisfied Mr. Parr, who makes no secret of his belief
,hat in Kelpie he possesses a better a►nd sounder horse

,han M.D.

Certain proceedings at Northampton furnished ,a
triking comment on the labours of the grave and reve-
r-nd seignors who have recently undertaken the work of
turf legislation. What a sporting Utopia they would
found if their efforts could be crowned with success 1
Cue Premier, however, indited his racing homily to no
purpose, and the virtuous indignation which has been
xpended by persons in high quarters might just as well
Lave been wasted on the desert air. From the position
teal ieflueoce of the owner of Zuyder Zee it was to be
xpected that he would not ,be the first to transgress
hose laws which it has recently been attempted to °stab-
ish, and that he would not adopt a practice whiCh
4 deprecated by all genuine racing men, and which has
iroduced a most pernicious effect upon " the people's"
.port. NI declaration was made about the non-starting
of Z cyder Zee for the Stakes until after the company had
iv embled on the-course, and many persons were justly_
udignant that a horse which hal been so heCvily backed
hould have been allowed to remain " in" until the
aeventh hour. It may bb asserted that-until that time.
is owner hitnselt wa; undecided whether to let the
orse start or not, but this excuse has little influence
ipon men who have lost their money, because they
yaced implicit faith in the intentions of a gentleman
hose racing career has been without reproach. Vat
wildrawal of Zeyder Z-e 3 was premeditated, and
bat the delay in scratching bim was intentional,
:0 person would wish to insinuate, but the error of
Igment which was cotrtmit:ed has been strongly con-
earned; and it is to be hoped that amongst the revi,ed
awe of racing, which will be brought under considera-
ion at Newmarket next week, will be found a rule to
,nitigate one of the most pernicious evils connected with
:ne turf. The Dupe deserved his name, for he
qas used as are in,drument for deceiving the public,
.rid Misty Morn appears to be a horse capable
,f getting its living as well in the stable as
:o can out of ir. Tne proceedings connect ed with the
ast-nientioned annual were the most flagrant of the
veek, and- even the most un-.crupuloua racing Allan
lauld nat exi.enuate them. They admitted of no
-xplanation. In the town and on the course, on the
,cry day of the race, the horse was backed. He
ea; sent into the saddling eraSosure ace anpanied by
ie lad who was to ride him, and this, circumstance
aasenred his backers, who had begun to grew uneasy at
chat Timothy Quaint would call the "damnable hints
viddiabolicel inuendos" which were occasionally uttered.
When the telegraph board announced the starters, how-
,erer, doubt ripened into certainty. Misty Worn 's
.umber was not di-played, and on inquiry his chagrined
•ackers learnt that the horse bad been sent home again.
i'hese circumstances led to a very pretty quarrel, which
tided in a "mill" more ludicrous and harmless than
,hat between the would be-champion Benjamens and
he redoubtable Tom Sayers. Really, if betting-men are
.bout to adopt the principle of a word and a blow they
"mild take lessens in the noble art of self-defence. The
combatants at Northampton, however, escaped Enrious
,unishment, and in the mystic language of the P. R.,
one of them merely displayed a mouse on the dexter
~ale, whilst the other had his daylights slightly
From the statements wade above it will be seen that
he auspicious inauguration of the racing season was
uerely limited to a brilliant attendance of fashionable-
isitors, glorious weather, and, despite many male
tractices, some really interesting sport. On the very
hreshold of the racing year were met all the bugbears
t the turf ; and now as sporting men are about to cross
means should really be adopted to drive them away.
kn official announcement has been made that a meeting
f the Jockey Club will take place at Newmarket next
eek, to consider the rules which have been framed under
he superintendence of General Peel, Mr. C. C. Gre-
.ellea Admiral Roue, and other "eminent authorities,"
air he purification of the turf ; and it is to be hoped
hat they will devise some plan to restrict the
peration of the " milking" system. I am pot
uch a Utopian as to believe that they can
entirely abolish that system, but surely they can place
some limit to so scandalous a practice. They seem
shout to open the sporting session in earnest, and I
lope the long-talked-of Turf Reform Bill will not ;be
thrown out.
To judge from the long lists of nominations which
nave recently been published, and the announcements of
racing fixtnres, a season more than usually crowded
.vith meetings may be anticipated. Indeed, since the
:redden disappearance of the frost, the racing stone has
;athered no moss, for what with steeplechases and flat
races turfites have not hal a lei3ure .day, and
~ven Lt. the current week—which clerks of courses
have invariably left a blank—two appointments
appear in the " Caleedar." The early period at which
rater falle and the upsetting of the sporting arrange-
_lents by the frost, p ,rhap's compelled the afficials in
aortain licalities to make their fixtures for this week.
rhis is to be regretted, and a law which closes a theatre
rut pillows a race meeting must be strangely anomalous.
The ruling authorities at Newmarket appear deter-
.uined to impart some spirit into their management, but
t seems that they cannot take one step forward in the
right direction without making two backwards in an
opposite course. Lord George Bentinck introduiced into
the official "Calendars" short descriptions of the princi-
pal races, but his plan was either deemed inconvenient
by the powers that be in Old Burlington-streeta or
else certain sapient members of the Jockey Club fancied
teat the public were getting too much information.
rris latter supposition seems to be the correct one, for
he representatives of the press are,. I hear, to be en-
irely excluded for the future from the weighing stands
at Newmarket. Tueir presence was never agreeable to
the authorities at head-quarters, as the attacks which
were made upon this stronghold of exclusiveness were
ever regarded with jealowty, and were deemed by the
:;fficials impertinent and presumptuous. With these
matters, however, I have nothing to do ; the recognised
reporters will not allow the obstructions which will be
• vexatiously thrown in their way to to prevent their die
charging their public duties.
A trip to Epsom yesterday enabled me to 'see
the Chester Cup horse Adamas, who has recently bee
placed under suspicioa. So far as Iswas ahe to judge,
and I saw him both in and out of the stable, the horse
stoked sound and well, and it is the opinion of many
Epeomitea that be goes better every time he gallops.
Several 'persons informed me, however, that he has
scarcely done work enough, a statement which is incom-
patible with the horse's appearance. He seemed as hard
as nails. The Derby and Metropolitan Stakes course
are in excellent condition, but the exercise ground would
be tnaterialy improved by a soaking rain.
Although'l seldom indulge in a blow on my own
trumpet, yet I may be allowed to make a cougratulatory
flourish at the favours which Fereme has thus early
bestowed on mu. For the Northamptonshire Stakes I
of course did not select the winner, and
`II Fay
eTaatio
myself like the old Scotchwoman,
the presumption to understand" the race. lf threw
for " I wadna sae
iu with Eifrida and Barbarity (first and second)
ak
Yeller
reltlhere
Stand Plate, with Kelpie for the Racing
Gal and New Brighton (first and 55001,02kfS:rs'theaes:SsPe.nacnedr
Pieta, Stockham for the Althorp e ,
Broadlands for the Cup...
an early opportunity
I shall not refer to the racing
for the present week, bat will take
Ganda to the Turf will be pubeshed oa t e
Ruff's
of bringing under review the programme for The Craven.
h
w features" will be found the revised
Amongst its new
larged list of jockeys
to
rules of racing, the reg
sail's Sutecription Rome, and an enulations to be observed in Tatter-
arid trainers. An important addition has been made
the general contents of the work by the introduction o
the principal steeplechases.
Marc; 29.

4 Yggsti IA.N.