The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-24 00:00:00

NEWMARKET RACES.

NEWMARKET FIRST SPRING MEETING.
TUESDAY.

As the important moment for the public trial of the merits
of the mysterious " crack" approached, the nervous excite-
ment of the speculating fraternity seemed to increase, and,
as the countenance is the index to the mind, there was no

difficulty in discovering those who had " got the boot on the
wrong leg"—and from the immense odds laid against the
animal in his early introduction to the betting (50 to 1), and
this to no inconsiderable amount, the chance of hedging was
only to be effected " come what might" to a certain loss, suf-
ficiently extensive in itself to shake the nerves of the most
resolute. The more the Buck was seen the more he was liked,
although there vere some who did not hesitate to
speak of him in terms of unqualified disparage-
ment, and to give his rival Ratan a decided preference.
These opinions were not, however, productive of any change in
their positions, the Buck kept the lead, and on Monday not
more than 2 to 1 were offered against him, while Ratan was
backed by influential friends at 3to 1. At the reading of the
list in the Rooms, 4 to 1 was laid on the Buck for the 2,000
Guineas Stakes, an additional evidence of the unshaken con-
fidence with which he was regarded. On Monday, as our
list of Derby prices will have Chown, a new favourite was
introduced, which, according to some, was to give " the pre-
mier" some trouble—namely, Mr. Thornhill's Elemi, who,
from 1,000 to 3, sprang in the course of the darto 1,000 to 30
(taken freely) for the Derby, while his chance for the 2,000
Guineas Stakes was not deemed altogether contemptible.
In the interim " Honest John was sensitively care-
ful of his nag, who was invisible, except to a select
few, or to those who, " with the lark" were early on the
Heath, where the Buck and the Wadastra colt took their
exercise, under the especial surveillance of John himst If. The
continued favourable state of the weather, notwithsi anding
a threatened storm on Monday evening, together with the
desire to obtain a peep at " the-Ugly" customer, attracted an
unusual amount of company, equalling in extent and re-
spectability that which was witnessed in Crucifix's year.
Every lodging in the town was engaged, and horses and car-
riages of every description were at a premium. Some few
had the good fortune to see the horse this morning, on his
return from the Heath ; but such was his unpretend
ing aspect, that few could withhold expressions of
surprise at the formidable position he had ob-
tained. He is not, in fact, an attractive animal ;
he stands over, and, when walking, gives the idea of in-
firmity ; and in truth, we understand, when a foal, was
down twice. As the day advanced, the increasing bustle pro-
duced great animation in the town, and, long befoi e the time
for proceeding to the Heath, the throng in and about the
Subscription-room was immense, embracing representatives
of the racing community from all parts of the kingdom.
The first race was appointed to conic off at half-past one, by
which time the assemblage near the termination of the
Rowley mile, the finish of the first match, presented almost
as large a congregation of carriages and horsemen as we have
ever before witnessed, and these increased till the all-im-
portant event of the day came off In the betting ring,
which was not less numerously thronged, busi-
ness was brisk on the match, but " the 2,000 Guineas
Stake" was the great object of attraction, and on this the
current odds were 3 to 1 and 7 to 2 on the Buck, taken to a
large amount; many, however, stood out for 4 to 1, and thus
saved their money. Elem► was backed freely at 6 to 1.
We have, however, hereafter given the latest state of the
odds ; and have only to remark here that the start produced
the anticipated excitement, and that on the race itself, or
rather on the character of the victory, "doctors differ." The
Buck's friends asserting roundly that he did all that was re-
quired of him, while his enemies were as loud in their denun-
ciation of his claims to be hooked upon as a "Derby horse."
We must leave these matters, however, to be adjusted here •
after, and must draw to a close by simply stating that the
weather throughout was as brilliant as the month of June, and
that all classes seemed alike delighted with the quality and
quantity of their sport. The following is the order in which
the races were run :