The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-27 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

The Doncaster Spring Meeting has proved a decided
failure. On Tuesday the races commenced with the Trial
Stakes, which fell to the lot of the French party with the
aid of Palaiseau. There were only 11 competitors for the
Doncaster Handicap, the result ending in a dead heat be-
tween The Monk and Ipswich. For the deciding heat
The Monk was made the favourite, and won easily by a
couple of lengths. The Hopeful Stakes was contested by
a field of ten, the well-bred Imperatrice (sister to Impe-
rieuse) winning cleverly by a neck from the good .looking
Jung Frau, and a fair field. The result of this race caused
a large outlay to be made on Kettledrum, which brought
him to the position of first favourite for the Two Thousand,
as little as 9 to 2 being taken about Colonel To wneley's
horse. General Hesse, my sele3ted for the Londesborough
Plate, just managed to pull through by a head from Lop-
catcher, who is new evidently getting stale. Whitowell se-
cured the Stand Plate, making the second victory for Oates's
st able. Only two of the stakes on the second day created the
slightest interest. Jung Frau, who had an allowance of
51b., won the Betting Room Stakes cleverly by a neck, and
Cosmopolite obtained an easy victory over Lopcatcher in
the Chesterfield Plate. The Hurdle Handicap did not
produce a race, and Mr. Saxon's Vixen attempted to walk
over, but she refused at almost every hurdle. 'I he last
seen of her was in the middle of a field with her forefeet on
a hurdle, and half a dozen stout ploughmen at her back
trying to lifther, over, but whether they succeeded remains
a mystery to me, and I suppose the judge also, as she had
not passed the chair up to the time of our going to press.
The backers of Foretop no doubt will get back their money.

There are no fewer than 48 races set for decison at
the Newmarket Spring Meeting, which commences on
Monday, and extends over Friday.
_ _ _

On Monday the only events likely to produce specula-
tion have yet to close. The 50 Sovs. Sweepstakes for four-
yr-olds will go to Thormanby. The 50 Sovs Bretby Course
to Prudence or Lady Blanche. The 100 Sovs to Queen of
the Va!e or Copernicus.

THE TWO TH"JUSAND GUINEAS STAKES,
For three yr-old colts, and fillies (the latter allowed 51b).,
D.M., have 54 subscribers, at 100 sovs each, h ft, the se-
cond saving its stake; consequently, between three and
four thousand pounds will represent the stake. The field
will number fifteen or sixteen, select3d from the following :
Probable Riders.
Anthem, by Surplice out of Concertina.... J. OsbJrne
Antwerp, by Flying Dutchman out of
Bohemienue
Conjuror, by The Littlo Known out of
Parthenope
Copernicus, by Newminster out of Galaxy
Diophantus, by Orlando out of Equation .. A. French
Elborus, by Orlando out of Muscovite's
dam
Gardener, by The Cure out of Gaiety Challoner
Janus, by King Tom out of Orestes' dam Wells
Kettledrum, by Rataplan out of Hybla J. Snowden
Klarikoff, by De Clare out of Wiasma
Knight of the Thistle, by Knight of St
George out of Ava Charlton
Neighbour, by Nabob out of Princess A. Edwards
Overton, by Tcddington cut of lone .. L. Snowden
Parasite, by Rataplan out of Misletoe
Preceptress, by Chatham out of Oxonian's
dam
Russley, by Oulston out of Phemy

Struggler, by Todd ington out of Alicia....
Sweet Hawthorn, by Sweetmeat out of

Alice 'Hawthorn
C by West Australian out of Clarissa Alicroit
Deucalion, by Voltigeur out of :fhomis

Iruaus, by Newminsier out of Himalaya .. J. Adams
Copernicus has appeared in public five times, having won
thrice; his defeats were, fourth to Diophantus at Ascot, and
running Touch-me• Not to a head for the July Stakes at
Newmarket, the same distance separating him from the
third (Imaus) and the fourth (Cynic), with a good field
behind them. This performance proved that ho possessed
great speed, though I doubt his being equal to several he
will have t) meet in this race.

Deucalion is a dark horse, and has been backed occasion-
ally at long olds for the Darby. Looking at his breed, he
ought to possess some racing points, and should he come
into the market supported by the Stable, he will be worth
remembrance.
Preceptress, by Chatham, out of Oxonittn's dam, came
out unprepared at Goodwood, and ran third to Vergiss-
mein-Nicht and Knight of St. Patrick ; then she had a
long rest, and having done but little work, the Stable were
somewhat astonished at her defeat of Eussley during the
Newmarket Second October Meeting, so that they book her
a rare "good thing" for this event. In this idea
I entirely concur, us Russley ran through a lot of
horses the other day, and Ebony having recently shown
the Stable to be in form, we shall be astonished if the mare
does not succeed in obtaining a " place," for there is no
better-looking animal than this daughter of Chatham in the
Two Thousand, while her straightforward owner and party
are very confident.

Russley and Sweet Hawthorn belong to Mr. Merry, the
fortunate owner of Dundee, the present premier for the
Derby, and whose position for that race will be materially
influenced by the performance of his horses in this race.
Russley appeared in the racing arena last year on eight
occasions, thrice as victor, and five times as a loser; and
though defeated, never disgraced, always getting a place
among goad horses. According to public form Diophantus
ought to beat him, if improved in the same ratio, as Russ-
ley conceded slbs more to him in their first meeting at
Goodwood, when he was second, but on the next occasion
Russley carried 21bs more, and was third to him, Parasite
being second, a length separating the three. His running
this year shows a decided improvement, as ho beat a field of
good horses at the Newmarket Craven, several of his com-
petitors afterwards proving winners, and I shall not be at
all surprised to see him beat his stable companion, Sweet
Hawthorn, which was till the last day or two first favourite
but has now receded a few points.
Knight of St. Patrick• and Knight of the Thistle both
belong to the same owner (Lord Exeter). The latter is
the best, and ought to run well.
Klarikoff belongs to Mr. Bowes, who carried off this
stake with Cotherstone and West Australian, and bids fair
to make free with the present one. He has been out four
times, proving victorious in three, his only defeat being by
Folkestone, for the Newmarket Triennial, Knight of St.
Patrick third. His best performance was for the Criterion,
when he beat Barb Pigeon and Folkestone (filbs extra) in
a canter, afterwards beating Asteroid by a head at the
same meeting for the Glasgow Stakes. lie is a horse evi-
dently fitted for staying, and is suited to the course. It
is now four months since I directed attention
to this son of De Clare. He has been highly
tried, and will be under the guidance of Fordham.
From the firmness with which he is now supported in the
market, T. hold him to be the most dangerous horse in the
race.

Eiborus is a new outsider, only appearing in the market
the last clay pr tygrt nig eAIY Perfaraftgice Wad f9Z I% weep,

stakes at the Newmarket Houghton, won by Sweet Haw•
thorn by two lengths, Elborus second, and lmaus third.

Overton, in the same stable as Copernicus, I have no very
high opinion of, bat I may be mistaken in him. He only
appeared twice, anct ran nowhere, still, th.at is uo criterion
to go by, as he may not have been wanted.

Gardener belongs to a thorough spottBtuan, and as he is
bred to stay as well as for speed, coupled :with his having
on two occasions shown great racing -qualities, I shall not
be surprised to soe hint fun to the front if he start:.

Diophantus, Walloon,
Neighbour, and Imaus are the
representatives of Lord Stamford. From certain move-
ments in the market, Diophantus is likely to be an ab-
sentee. Imaus and Walloon are both suited for this Coarse,
and whichever his lordihip entruEts will be found in the
front rank at the finish.

Kettledrum is thought highly of by his partisans in. the
north; he has run three times, his first race being at York
August for the Biennial, when he defeated Dictator by a
head, Minnie (third), and Russley (fourth) ; the next day
at the same meeting, and same distance, ho suffered defeat
by Gardener and Russley, the latter turning the tables on
hint for his previous day's beating ; his last race was for
the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, Walloon defeating
him by a head, Vaga third. His stable companion
(Yorkminster) running Russley to a heal in the Biennial
at the late Newmarket Craven, has infused fresh confidence
in his success, and he now holds a prominent position in
the betting. Those who take liberties with this son of
Rataplan may have occasion to repent it when the numbers
are put up on the telegraph.

Janus made his debut at the Newmarket Craven, being
successful in two out of his three contests, though the
animals he defeated were moderate. He will be steered
by Wells, and may obtain a situation.
Antwerp possesses fine speed, and, as on several occasions
last year, he failed in staying qualities, I will not trust him
over this severe course, although John Day's horses are
always dangerous in this race.

I have now gone through the performances of the prin-
cipal horses likely to take7part in. the great event of Tues-
day, and still clinging to the opinion that I expressed in
.7he Sun four
foarzaninthseas
of 1861 will b
ago,lanticipaete the winner of the
Two