The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-28 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

STEEPLE-CHASING.
Just as all honest-hearted lovers of sport were
rejoicing at the revival of steeplechases, and the re-
newed spirit of fair play which was being imparted
into the pastime, proceedings have taken place at
Warwick which must go far to destroy the hopes
which might have been entertained respecting the
re-established popularity of a sport pre-eminently
calculated to improve the breed of horses, and
which is pursued with ardour by all classes of
people. The Sunday Times, with the customary
force which distinguishes its sporting department,
and with its usual determination to call "a
spade a spade," has pointed out and de-
nounced the " delinquencies " which marked the
Warwick meeting, and has indicated the baneful
effect which the doings in that locality is likely to
exercise over the steeple chase interest in all
parts of the country. If the statements set forth in
that journal be correct—and they seem to be 'sup-
ported by facts—the meeting in question was
apparently•made the medium for employing " tac-
tics" of the most questionable description. The
proceedings from beginning to end seemed to be
conducted on 'the system of "besting," for which
however the officials were not to blame, and all
persons engaged in them appeared determined to
get the better of one another in some way, and
were quite regardless of the means which they
employed so long as they compassed their purpose.
The running of Miss Harkaway ought to live
long in the remembrance of Handicappers, but
as the mare was not backed, perhaps, no real wrong
was inflicted on the public. The Open Steeplechase
was a curious affair. The horse that won ought to
have been disqualified; but then, as the Sunday
Times aptly remarks, this description of sport is
not governed 'by racing law, and the horse that was
" wanted".was merely defeated by another that was
not wanted (Jealousy). Greatly to the consternation
of the large class of speculators who "went" unre-
servedly for,the Curate, and who had good reason
to believe that the way had been cleared for him,
Ben Land sent his Goldsmith into the field and up-
set the pot. The backers of the Curate and
Abd-el-Kader, however, were not willing to abide
quietly by their disappointment, and it re-
quired all Sergeant Bank's strength of lungs
and portly dimensions to keep them from the
weighing-room as they rushed after " Young
Ben" as he returned to scale. The first objec-
tion clamorously made was that he was 21b.
overweight; and so he was, and I should 'like to
know, in the name of honest dealing and fair-play,
why this objection was not allowed. Overruled it
was, however, and then the malcontents went on
another tack ; they averred that at the last leap
Goldsmith jumped on the wrong side of the
post, which he shattered. This,hs the Mock Duke
in the Honeymoon says, was a ticklish point for the
judges. who could not arrive at their decision until
after the last race. At last, to settle their doubts,
they examined Goldsmith, who had received
a slight wound in consequence of coming into
collision with the post, and they found
that that wound had been inflicted on the
left side, and that consequently as he was
running next the rails he could not have jumped
on the wrong side of the post. When they deli-
vered their decision amidk the deepening twilight
of a raw November afternoon, it was received with
such a shout of applause which testified how great
was the satisfaction—not at the success of the horse
—but at the defeat of the plotters. Jealousy was
at one time first favourite for both the Steeple-
chase and the Hurdle Race, for the former she was
last all the way, for the latter, she did not start !
It would, too, have been somewhat satisfactory to
the backers of Longford if some declaration rela-
tive to his withdrawal had been made. It was said
that after the race The Curate was purchased by
Mr. H. Lister for £5OO.
The Hunt Cup Steeplechase was simply dis-
gusting. With the; backers of The Slasher it
was a case of " heads I win, tails you lose."
Miss Somerville beat The Slasher just on
the post, and then an uproar arose, an
attempt was made to bully the Judge into
a reversal of his verdict. This failing, recourse
was had to another expedient, an objection was
made to " Mr. Whoods," the rider of the mare, on
the pound that he was not a gentleman. This
objection was declared valid. "Mr. Whood" was
pronounced no gentleman, and it was decided that
he ought to have carried 101 b. extra for being a
professional jockey. Nothing like having two
strings to your boW. This, however, was not the
first time that "Mr. Whood" has lent himself, un-
wittingly I hope, to the win-tie-or.wrangje school.
It was a gratuitous opinion proffered by the
stewards that bets go with the stakes. Of course
they do. But stewards should recollect that their
functions only extend to the stakes contested, and
cannot be exercised with regard to bets.
I forget, however, that I am dealing
with a steeplechase meeting, and a sport which
seems to be regulated by no law except that of
caprice.

From a meeting like that celebrated—save the
mark—at Warwick, I turn with pleasure to a con-
sideration of the attempt which is about to be made
,to get up an honestly conducted days' sport at
Croydon. This meeting will be under the manage-
ment of Mr. Edward Hibburd, of Ascot, whose
name alone is a sufficient guarantee for the genuine-
ness of the proceedings and for the integrity of
purpose with which the sport will be conducted.
The London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway

have announced their their intention to run trains
at convenient intervals, and doubtless the facilities
for reaching the course, independently of the at-
traction which cextres in the sport, will cause the
meeting to be fully attended by pleasure folks as
well as by prefessional speculators.
The Newmarket Champion Coursing Meeting
will commence to-morrow, and with a prospect of
great success. Horses are abundant; many dogs
have arrived, and the town is almost as full of
visitors as on the occasion of a Craven Meeting.
The Derby backers seem to be on " strike." The
market is unusually quiet even for this dull period
of the year, and so little business is.transacted that
Thomas would be quite justified in a " lock out"
until after Christmas.

A FRESH MAN.

The Madrid journals of the 21st mention a fact
not previously noticed,—namely, that the Bishops,
in their addresses to the Queen on the subject of
the war, take occasion to speak of the Pope, and of
the difficulties which beset him, in similar terms to
those employed by the French prelates. The con-
struction of a steam frigate to be of 500 horse
power had been commenced at Carraca. In conse-
quence of the blockade of Tangier the English at
Gibraltar were buying oxen in Spanish ports. The
following is the first telegraphic degpstch received
concerning the operations of the Spanish expedi-
tion in Morocco :

" Cadiz, 19th Nov.

" The General-in-Chief of the Ist "corps (Echa-
gue), in a tel4gram dated 8 a.m., this day, from

•IF
the camp of Serolla at Ceuta, states as follows :—' I have
taken possession of this post and am throwing up en-
trenchments. Operations have been delayed because the
state of the sea prevented the troops from landing with
the despatch I had expected. I have reconnoitred all the
heights that command Serolla, and am selecting one of
them to be fortified. During the short fire by the Moors,
we had one man wounded. The Moors have not appeared
in force; we have only seen a few groups, which retired as
our sharpshooters advanced. This is all I have the honour
to report at present, and I communicate it to your Excel-
lency that her Majesty may be informed of it.' "
Serolla is a small Moorish fortification which saves
as a refuge to the Kabyles who guard the camp
outside the town.

SIR B. BRODIE AND SIR C. LEWIS.—The 31edical
Times says :—Some surprise has been expressed that Sir
Benjamin Brodie's letter on the Smethurst case has not been
published. It is understood that Sir Benjamin has no ob-
jection to its publication, but the Home Secretary " does
not feel justified" in consenting to it.
ST. JAMES'S HALL.--At the popular concert to be
be given this evening at St. James's Hall, Mr. Sims Reeves
and Herr Wieniawski are announced to appear.
ERRATUM.—The name of the chairman of the
Sunderland Shipowners' meeting was Mr. Lonie, mis-
printed in our impression of Saturday " Lowe."
_ _ _

. _
The Toulon journals announce that M. Bourgarel,
mayor of that town, has resigned, in consequence of tho
Government having come to a decision respecting the
streets of the "new town" of which he disapproves.