The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-12-13 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

The' fluctuation in the odds on the two great events, the
Derby and the Oaks, has not been very material since our last
communication. Bentley, Bubastes, and Plenipo continue iu the
position we placed them on Tuesday, with the exception of an
improvement only of half a point to the credit of the two
former. Although the changes are inconsiderable, there is
some indication that there will, ere long, be a shifting of places.
There appears to be a spirit of rivalry at present extant between
the south country nags and the Yorkshire horses, and the latter
gain confidence daily. For instance, Emigrant and Delirium
have quietly and progressively advanced for the last eight or
ten days, and have found backers in Lancashire, who are;con-
sidered to be excellent judges. A great deal depends upon the
trainers : if the favourite Yorkshire horses named are well su-
perintended, faith may be placed in them, although they figure
but as outsiders ; the fact, however, must not be forgotten, nor
past off slightly, that outsiders won both the important stakes
at Epsom, last year, to the great consternation of the " know-
ing ones." In alluding to the benefits to be derived from ex-
perienced trainers being employed, it brings to our memory the
late contest for the Doncaster St. Leger stakes, when much
was said reflecting on the conduct of Mr. Watt's trainers, but
which was satisfactorily cleated up. On this subject somo
" cockney sportsman," appareutiv galled by losing in his spe-
culations upon that race, has taken up a page in the " Old
Sporting Magazine," (a work very properly termed old, from
the ancient date of its news,) in detailing the whys and the
wherefores Belshazzar did not win the St. Leger, and Rock-
iughain did. According to the statement of this " Spiriting
Soon," whose racing experience, we should jufige, dues not
extend beyond• Epsom Downs-or Hampton Court, Belshazzar
was allowed by the trainer, or lad, a few minutes before the
race, to drink copiously of water to prevent his winning. Now
this wonderful story about " Beishaziar and the Water
Wretch" happens to have no foundation in truth. The fact is,
that although Belshazzar, we think, could have won the -St.
Leger„ the reason he did not was that Mr. Watt, the owner of
both Belshazzar and the winner, was determined to win the
stake with his worst horse, if possible, which he succeeded in
doing, as the rider of Belshazzar was evidently pulling up the
moment he saw Rockingham beating the rest. This mare's
nest of a plot, which,the writer in the Old Sporting Mag. pro-
fesses to have discovered by his own sharpness, and intended to
astonish the world with, is of old date, and when first broached
by the unlucky backers of Belshazzar, was laughed at, and
proved to be false. Indeed the high character which Mr. Watt
has ever maintained upon the turf was, at the time, a sufficient
refutation to the slander. With the exception of the few
alterations alluded to above, there is little variation, and no
events in the sporting circles have come off since our last wor-
thy of record.
The following is the latest state of the odds :
THE DE It tly.-7 to 1 agst Mr. Yates's Bentley, 7% tot agst
Mr. Watt's Bubastes, 13 to 1 agst Mr. Batson's Plempo 16 to
1 agst Mr. Chifney's Shilelah, '2O to 1 agst Capt. Gardnor's'
Comet, 20 to 1 agst the Duke of Cleveland's Guardian, 2J to
I agst Col. Cradock's Emigrant (taken;) 23 to 1 agst Mr.
Walker's Delirium .(t.,) 22 to 1 agst the Duke of Giafton's
Olympic (t.,) 30 to agst Col. Peel's Bee in a Bonnet, 35 to
1 agst Mr. Mills' Brother to Kate (t.,) 40 to 1 agst Mr. Watt's
Betluno. None others noticed.
THE OA K s.-7- -to-4-aiLeet Mr. •Wislliers‘CotilliOn, 7 to -I sgst
Col. Peel's Rosalie, 14 to I agst Mr. Perth's Louisa (t.) None
.ers named.