The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-19 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

Mr. Frail's popularity was conspicuous for the
patronage which ho obtained from the aristocracy for the
Shrewsbury Meeting last week, extending over five days.
Notwithstanding the lateness of the season, it produced
numerous fields and sport of the best description.

Mr. Merry's bill of fare, which will occupy four days of
tho present week, is, as usual, an attractive one, and being
absolutely the last flat race meeting of the year, will, at
its conclusion, scatter far and wide the most enthusiastic
of sportsmen, and the most inveterate of gamblers, to their
winter pursuits and festivities. The Dounington Handicap
has Overture, Paris, Mistletoe, and Thalassius engaged, and
if his Lordship decides upon running her I think MISTLE-
TOE will win, next to whom I fancy PARIS. The Handi-
cap of 5 soya each, would, doubtless go to old Queen of
Trumps had she not incurred a 51b penalty for winning at
Shrewsbury on Friday, but even with Oat 31b on her back
she must have an outside chance. However, LADY
VALENTINE, 4 yrs, 7st 41b, and THAEAssrus, 4 yrs, Est 71b,
are leniently treated, and having a good turn of speed will
most likely give a satisfactory account of themselves. For
the Free Handicap Hurdle Race I see nothing to interfere
with the chanceof FORTUNATUS, though he has to carry Ost
61b, being 61b extra for winning the Longner Hurdle Race
last week. The Tally-ho Stakes is best left alone, but to
those who wish to speculate on the race my choice is
TIGER. The two performances of GREENBACK on the
same day at Shrewsbury give him a decided chance in the
Nursery Handicap here, as, although defeated by
Freemason in the second race, the latter has been
backed for considerable sums - for next year's Derby,
and is a good horse. The acceptances not having
yet been declared for th© Selling Nursery Handicap, I
must decline to interfere with it, and also with the match
between Whalebone and Vet for 500 sous, which brings
me to a conclusion concerning the first day's racing. The
Maiden Plate, on Wednesday, looks a certainty for HATT;
should she start for it ; otherwise, I shall expect to see Lord
Westmorland furnish the winner. The Great Autumn Wel-
ter Cup is only a mile, and I can see nothing to beatWILD
AGNES, unless Pearl Diver or Mr. Hodgman's representa-
tive, probably Valiant, succeeds in doing so. The distance
of the Guy Cup, five furlongs, will just suit THALASSIUS
and PARIS. After going carefully over the weights for
the Second Nursery Free Handicap, fit and well at the
post, I should stand nothing but NINE Elms (by Stockwell
out of Lady Kingston), one of the best-bred horses in the
race. - In his absence Ratty reads dangerous; at the same
time Blinkhoolie is a great favourite of mine, and with
Fordham in the saddle, ho will certainly not be far
from the winner's heels at the finish of the race. I dare
not recommend anything for the Warwick Handicap
Steeplechase. It is no envious task to analyse the chances
of the 41 subscribers to the Great Midland Counties Han-
dicap, because, as a matter of course, I am quite in the
dark as to the intentions of the owners. Nothing reads to
me with a formidable chance until I come to The Special,
which, in my estimation, provided the pilot has express
instructions, ought to be extensively patronised. Brick
is also bound to attract the notice of the judge, as he meets
all his Liverpool and Shrewsbury Cup competitors on
much better terms. Dulcimer, is remarkably well in, and
it is anything but long odds that Mr. Payne may repeat
his last year's success by winning with her. The fact of
her running third in the Ascot Stakes, winning the Surrey
and Middlesex Stakes, and getting fifth in the Cesare-
witch, aro a convincing proof tho mare can get this dis-
tance of ground, and I shall therefore pin my faith on
DULCIMEa.

The Third Nursery Free Handicap may go to HATTY,
as if sho should incur a penalty for winning previously
she will then be by no means badly in. Next to her I
fancy THE FILLY BY VOLTIGEUR OUT OF BLOSDELLE.

Concerning Friday's racing I can say nothing for ob-
vious reasons, except that favourable accounts of COMBER-
TON for the Grand Annual Steeplechase have reached me.
• A FRESHMAN.

MONMOUTH, 1867.—The stewards for ;this meeting are
the Duke of Beaufort, Lord Bateman, Lord Tredegar, and
Reginald Herbert, Esq.
COLOURS OF RIDERS.—Mr. Scott's Stonehewer's are—
straw, green belt and cap. Lord Massereene (altered to)—
black and white hoops, black velvet cap.
Several of Lord Exeter's horses, including Knight of the
Crescent (3 yrs) and Grand Cross (2 yrs) are advertised
for sale by private contract.
At the Shrewsbury Meeting the Duke of Hamilton
purchased Canard of Mr. G. Angell for 350 guineas, and
Joker of Mr. Godding for 200 guineas.
Zisca, after winning the Attiugham Park Stakes, was
bought in for 145 guineas, and after winning a Sweep-
stakes on Friday was sold to Mr. S. Thellusson for 90
guineas.

WARWICK MEETING.—The races will commenco on
Tuesday at 12 o'clock, but the Great Western run an ex-
press from Paddington at nine o'clock that morning, which
will arrive in time for tho first race.

TIER DUKE OF HAMILTON'S HORSES.—The horses be-
longing to the Duke of Hamilton are daily expected at
His
GTh'surs-
fNoerwhminairkeest,wwehlleares Matthew Dawson
.of
New future train
recent purchase (Sultan)arrived from Chantilly one.
will
'T MEETING.—
LEAMlNGTONdreamy.ainTwh
luitE riu='
peliercphraesseenhtotrrseeisnbeie..longing
AND WARWICKSHIRE iethstethe
p y advertise a fast
The Great Western Railway
Zurmamington and War-
special train from Paddington
day
morn_ng,
i stopping at
wick at nine o'clock on
Tuesday
desa return special On Friday
to the D k
Reading and Oxford only, an
idoef°tigentlemen nominated
and Reading.
„ r henry Chaplin, of Blankney Hall,
for Sheriffs in 18'', idr. 11. C. Naylor, of Hooton, for
for Lincolnshire, and
atHscxGHp.msia., Oxford,tiwlistn
Denbighshire.
Captain 31‘Gowan, is matched to trot 21 miles
To TROT AGAINST TIME.—The celebrated trot-
ting horse,
within on the Riverside Park Course at Boston.
Last yearnthis
hour
horse o trotted 20 miles in 58m. 255. on the
last day of October. He did it with great ease, and ap-
peared to
be no inure distressed at the end than he was at
the start.
He is a well-bred horse from Kentucky, and
used
to be noted for running away. With age, however,
he has improved in steadiness, and his immense bottom
a
enables him to go on in a surprising manner.—llrilkes'
Spirit of the Times, New York.
RACING AGENT OF MR. MERRY, M.P.--Mr.
Norman Buchanan, merchant and sLipowner in
Glasgow, and some time racing agent to Mr. Merry, Ar.p.,
was examined on Friday in the Glasgow Bankruptcy Court
before Mr. Sheriff Bell. He deponed—ln the year 1848 I
was engaged by Mr. Jas. Merry to "back" horses for him
at all races throughout England at which his horses were
to run, and also at Tattersall's. I was also engaged to go
and visit his training quartet in England, and to see his
horses performing, and report progress to him. - I was also
employed to arrange with trainers what races his horses
should run in, and generally to take an active superinten-
dence of Mr. Merry's racing business. In short, I was to
be his agent and commissioner in these transactions, and
was recognised and known as such on the turf. I acted' in
this capacity from 1818 to 1861, both inclusive. I also
purchased horses for Mr. Merry. My travelling and other
expenses incurred in the above capacity could not be less
than £l,OOO a year. I was constantly travelling from
Glasgow to London, and from London to all places where
the horses were entered. I was also abroad on Mr. Merry's
business—three times in Prussia, and once in France. I
have a claim upon Mr. Merry for these services, which I
have made out and handed to the trustee; and in evidence
of the boner fides of said claim I refer to numerous letters
received by me from Mr. Merry, and which I have also
handed to the trustee. Said claim is still resting owing,
Came out at the close of the examination that the The statutory oath was administered to the bankrupt. It
bank-
rupt's claim against Mr. Merry amounts to £19,600.

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1867.
FEBRUARY.
I Nottingham
Derby
;Cl{.
West Drayton l9
Epsom
Lewes
IIL.

Lincoln l9
Harrow 2l
MA:
Liverpool
Chelmsford
Bromley
AP.
Northampton
Windsor 4
Newmarket Craven 8
Thirsk .. ll

Newmarket lst Spring 22
Durham. , 22
Catteriek
Chester