The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-14 00:00:00

HARD "TIMES."

After all the boasting about Cock•a-doodle•doo and
Greenfinch, people were much di,appointed by the
manner in which those horses " performed" last week
at Newmarket. To extenuate the Grey's inglorious
exhibition several causes have been alleged, some to the
effect flat he was "got at," and others that he was
sent to the post unprepared. The horse's want of con-
dition may be accepted as an excuse for his defeat, but
still I am disinclined to believe that John Scott would
have been so confident of success if the horse were reelly
unfit.,,Cock-a-doodle-dog was the first beaten in the race,
but from the spirit which he was subsequently backed
for the Derby, it is evident that some people do not
believe that he figured in his true colours at :Newmarket.
Certain it is, that there was something amiss with him,
for it is said that the day after the race he refused his
corn and was not able to quit his stable. The youngsters
that figured for the Caest~rfi:•ll were all heads and tails
at the finish, and indeed t timing the two year olds that
ran at Newmarket altogether, I do ❑ot think "a flyer"
could be picked from them.

The letter which Lord Derby has addressed to the
Jockey Club has made a deep impression. Every genuine
racing man admires its temperate tone and respects the
feslings which dictated it. The time has arrived when
the turf must be cleared of the abuses which are destroy-
ing it, and it is to be hoped that the Jockey Club will
enrnestly conimence a work which they have too long
delayed. The members of the club ought to be aware
that they can exercise a most beneScial influence over
the people's pastime ; but they seem to think that their
self-fought position entailed upon them no other trouble
and responsibility than those of making a trip to New-
market, hurrying through some dull routine business,
and occasionally discussing impracticable resolutions..
The present stewsrds of the Jockey Club are popular
men, and much may be hoped from their social influence
and example. The Times has used the letter of Lord
Derby as a peg on which to hang some crude notions re-
specting the condition of the ring and the mod us operandi
of betting men. In an article, remarkable only for
recklessness of assertion and an ignorance of the subjec►,
the Times attempts to confound the blackleg and needy
adventurer with the true supporters of the turf.
All classes and conditions of racing men are
tarred with the same brush in Printing-
house-square, the potent, grave, and reverend seignors
of which affect to believe that a betting man must be a
rogue, and that because a few scamps have adopted
horse-racing as a ready means of duping the public, the
followers of the sport live by a systematic course of
plunder. Never was so unreserved an application of the
proverb of he that lies down with dogs will get up
with fleas. The distinction between the Stock Exchange
and Tattersalls is not very wide, and it would be some.
what difficult to mark the difference between the specu-
lator for a " rise" or " fall," and the speculator on horse
racing. Recent disclosures have shown that the
morality of the commercial world is not greatly
superior to the morality of the sporting world ;
end, indeed, if the accounts were properly
reckoned the balance would, after all, be in favour of the
turf. Le sport has too much vitality at present to be
destroyed by the malignant attacks which have been
made on it.

The Liverpool Meeting will be celebrated to-morrow
and the two following days, and already have metropoli•
tAn turfites taken their departure to assist at the gather-
ing. The racing will be both abundant and interesting,
and a continuance of fine weather will be an additional
inducement for pleasure-folk from the surrounding vil-
lages and towns to flock to the coarse. The
programme contains its usual number of items,
and I trust that the untiring exertions which Mr. Top-
ham has made to sustain the popularity of the gathering
will be duly appreciated by racing men. For the Mer-
sey Stakes the penalised animals are Polly Peachnm,
Terrific, and Yurk, and. I shall expect to see Puny and
York occupy the first and second positions. The Derby
and Oaks victress, Blink Bonny, will, it is reported,
show for the Lancashire Oaks, and she may frighten all
her opponents trom the field. For the Ben tinck Testi-
monial Handicap I shall select Mongrel, Wardormarske,
and Sir Humphrey. For the Nursery Plate, Knockburn
and Broadlands are my "fancy." Flacrow and Princess
Royal shall do battle for me for the Sweepstakes of 15
EOM

From the spirit with wh'c'i Itagerthorpe has been
backed for the Liverpool Cup, we may infer that
he has quite recovered from the effects of the sore hocks
which he had at Stockbridge. If the horse be in form,
his success may bo deemed as great a certainty
as the glorious uncertainty of the turf will admit.
Bashi-B4a)uk has ere now given proof of his staying
qualities and his gameness ; and although he will un-
doubtedly run forward, yet I fancy that he will succumb
to both Nesvton.le-Willows and Moose. Could I hare
calculated upon a start, however, I should have selected
Lima alone of all the three-yr•olds to represent my in.
terest. As it is, I must follow the talent, and stand by