The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-12 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

THE METROPOLITAN GRAND STEEPLECHASES

TUESDAY.

This new meeting was inaugurated to-day at Kings-
bury, a pretty country, about a mile and a half from the
Welsh Harp, Hendon, and being under the management
of Mr. Topham, supported by Mr. Warner and an efficient
staff, it obtained the patronage their labours deserved. The
weather was moderately fine, although a heavy fog pre-
vented the races being seen to that advantage which a clear.
day would have ensured and th 6 country favoured. From
the loamy nature of the soil tt was anticipated that the
"going" would be somewhat heavy, and these anticipa-
tions proved to be correct. The attendance was large, and
speculation brisk. Details are appended :
The Hunt Steeplechase of 5 sous each, with 30 added, fcr
hunters; weight for age. About two miles and a half. 5
subs.

Mr. E. Clifford's Waterporry (h-b), 5 yrs, 11st 131 b
(Mr. Hobson) 1
Mr. Desinond's Seaweed (late Spacimen), 4 yrs, 11st
(Mr. Barker) 2

Zephyr and Danceaway also ran.
Betting-7 to 4 agst Waterperry, 2to 1 agst Seaweed,
and 3to 1 agst Zephyr. Waterperry got away in advance
of Seaweed, Zephyr, and Danceaway, to the first fence,
which Zephyr refused, but being got over at the second at-
tempt he went on in pursuit. At the second fence Dance-
away refused, and after several ineffectual attempts to get
over was trotted home. The favourite went on with the
running, but being joined by Seaweed after going half the
distance, and the pair raced together till the last fence,
where Seaweed came down a "burster," and the favourite
won easily by ten lengths; nothing else passed the post.
A Steeplechase Plate of 30 sovs, for 4-yr-olds and up-
wards; penalties and allowances. Two miles.
Mr. Cheshyre's Cock Robin, by Turnus—Rosy Morn,
aged, lOst 121 b (20) .. •• (Mr. Grant) 1
Mr. G. Gilkes's Idiot, aged, list 41b (car. list 71b (.£2O)
(W. Brazier) 2
Botting-2 to Icm Cock Robin. The non-favourite led
for a short distance, but running unkindly the favourite
got in front, and won easily by fifteen lengths. The winner
was bought in for 36 guineas.
The Kingsbury Plate (handicap) of 50 soya ; for all ages ;
winners extra. About two miles.

Mr. Duerow's Ballet Girl (11 b), 5 yrs, llst...(Mr Milford) 1
Mr. Somers's The Rogue, aged, list 121 b (Pickett) 2
Mr. Frank's Bandoline, aged, lOst 9lb (Isaacs) 8
Mr. Hobson's Triumpher, 5 yrs, list 101 b (Owner) 0
Mr. T. Last's Oscar, aged, list 10Ib (A. Sadler) 0
Mr. Hall's Kingsbury, 6 yrs, list 81b (J. New) 0
Betting-5 to 4 agst The Rogue, sto 2 agst Triumpher,
-- -- -

7 to 1 each agst Bandoline and Ballet Girl, and 8 to 1 agst
Oscar. Oscar cut out the work clear of Triumpher, Kings-
bury,..and Ballet Girl, The Rogue bringing up the rear, till
reaching the stand, when he drew up to the leader, being
closely followed by Kingsbury, Ballet Girl, and Bandolino,
Triumpher following in the rear to the second fence past the
stand, where Kingsbury came to grief, but being remounted
went on in pursuit of the remainder. At the next fence The
Rogue headed Oscar, the Ballet Girl dropping into the fourth
place, and they ran thus for about half a mile further, when
Oscar again got in front, maintaining the lead till about half
a mile from home, when ho began to exhibit signs of dis-
tress. In the straight he was passed by The Rogue, who
was headed by Ballet Girl about 200 yards from home, and
a good race ended in favour of Ballet Girl by three lengths,
a similar distance separating second and third.
A Selling Steeple-chase of 3 sous each, 2 ft, with 25 added,
for four-yr-olds and upwards ; weight for age ; selling

allowances. About two miles.
Mr. B. Land's Redwing, by Redwing—dam by Tear-
away, aged, list 71b (.£5O) (Mr. Mumford) 1
Yr. Frank's Salamis, aged, llst 71b (.£50)...(T. Barton) 2
Mr. G. Gilkes's Over-the-Sea, agel, list 71b (.£5O)
(W. Brazier) 0
Mr. Church's White Stockings, aged, list (£2O)
(Mr. Grant) 0

Betting.-2 ro lon Redwing, and 3to 1 agst Salamis.
Redwing made play throughout and won in a canter by
twenty lengths,White Stockings and Over-the-Sea refused
at the first fence, but wore both persevered with till two
fences beyond the stand, where Over-the-Sea stumbled and
pitched Brazier on to the other side of the fence ; White
Stockings also came to grief. The winner was bought in
for 105 guineas.

The ljxendon Handicap of 5 soya each, 2 ft, with 25 added

winners extra. Three miles. Twelve subs.
Mr. Hobson's Liston, by Fanolotto—Haughty, 104 81b
(after) 1
Mr. Somers's The Rogue, lOst 121 b (Pickett) 2
Betting opened at 6 to 4 on The Rogue, and closed at 11
to 10 on Liston. The Rogue got off first, but soon gave
way to the favourite, who led to the first fence past the
stand, where he fell and The Rogue made running till
about two miles of the journey had been accomplished
when both were apparently beaten, and they approached a
fence at a walking pace. About half a mile from home,
however, they recommenced racing, and a fine finish en-
sued, ending in favour of Liston by a head.

THE SOILED DOVE CASE.
The interest in the Soiled Dove case, far from abating, is
culminating to its highest pitch, and keeping all her former
backers in a very unpleasant state of excitement, as she has
been examined by Professor Spooner on the part of the
Jockey Club, and by Mr. Mannington, of Brighton, on be-
half of Mr. Nightingall, and they have both reported her
to be a three-yr-old, rising four; thus confirming the posi-
tive assurance of that fact which 1 made a fortnight back.
Gradually her history developes itself, and it would seem
she was originally consigned in some shape to a solicitor at
Northampton, who sent her to Richard Boyce's, at New-
market, to be trained, and who tried her to be a wretchedly
bad animal, as another 2-yr-old which accompanied her,
and about whom there is no suspicion, gave her 211 b. and
beat her in a canter. And, although she has won since, it
has been in such very moderate company that, taking her
real ago into consideration, sho must only be looked upon
as a common plater. Boyce, from a species of etiquette
which prevails among trainers, and which, in my opi-
nion, is very absurd and' erroneous, never looked in the
mare's mouth ; nor did any of her subsequent trainers ;
so, if it had not been for old Nightingall, the discovery
as to her ago would probably have not been made
so early ; although it was strange Golby should have made
the objection previous to seeing Nightingall himself, who
came up with a view of getting rid of his new purchase.
Old Charles Marson, who trained so many years for the
Marquis of Exeter, and recently had charge of the racing
establishment of General Shirley, near Brussels, being the
person who, it is said, brought over the animals, and
through whose talking the secret first got out, will of
course be summoned before the Jockey Club to give an
explanation of the circumstances under which he became
possessed of the mare, and then, of course, some official
notification wili be made on the subject. The committee
of Tattersall's, who will have to decide the question of the
bets, will no doubt act on the precedent set them in the
Bloodstone ease, in 1811, which is precist.ly analogous to
that of Soiled Dove. It may not be recollected by
the pre-
sent generation that in that year a Mr. Newman ran a two •
year-old called Bloodstone for the New Stakes at Ascot. Ile
came in first, ridden by Bell, who was ordered to pull him up,
but failed to do so, for which he received the approbation of
the-Jockey Club. Old John Day ran second with Old Eng-
land, ridden by the present John, and Sir John Gerard 's
Fantasa was third. When the race was over John Day
objected to the winner for being the wrong age, and the
stewards, the late Lord Bosslyn, and the present Marquis of
Exeter, and Lord StradbrolCo, after having had the colt exa-
mined, and found to be a rZe-year-o, disquaed him
the next morning. Mr. N thewman, hldowever, not being
satisfied, served a notice on the stakeholder n3t to pay over
the stakes, and an interpleader action was tried at Guild-
ford, in which John Day was made defendant, and got a
verdict, the bets in the case going to the backers of Old
England. The affair made a great sensation at the time,
but the difficulties attendant on the settlement were nothing
in comparison with what they promise to be in the Boiled .