Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-21


eter was 30 .23i, thermometer 6so. This morning,
at O'Clock, the barometer was 30 .2JO thernone-
| ter 6io.
The Race for the Goodwood Cup.
Gilipatriek's statement-Ths reasons tyhy the
american horses tcere bedten-Their eonditi on
Where the blame rests-Either ,conld hare ICON
Under proper management.
NEW YORK, Aug. IL. 1857.
To the Editor of Porter's Spirit of tie Times:
My dear sir AS am met here by great de-
sire to know the particulars of the Goodwood
Cup Race, and as find there is an inclination
evlnced by some parties to censure HE therein,
shall beg the favor of your columns, general
and final answer 10 them all.
! left New York June 20, engaged by Mr.. Ten
Brock to ride either other of his horses in
the Goodwood Cup. 1 arrived at southampton on
the Both OF June, and immediately departed for
our training stable at Stockbridge, which
reached the following day. ] saw the horses
Pryor and Prioress. The former had just recov-
cred from lung fever, and had been gallOped,
MIR. Palmer told me, IL recolect right but three
times previous to MY arrival PriOress had also
been ailing, but seemed in better condition than
Pryor, who, though he looked pretty enough to
the eye of an ordinary spectator, was in no racing
trim whatever. j Immediately set to work eXer
cisng Pryor, whom found incapable Of extend
ing himself; in fact, the horse seemed tied up;
which facts forthwith communicated to Mr.. Ten
Brock. He did not seem to listen to my COM
ments and made me no satisfactory reply. Mat
tiers remained in this state until about the 10th Of
July, when first trial took place; the distance
was one mile and a half. ] rode Prioress alone
for the first half mile, when Pryor, ridden by Lit
tleteld, joined in-he beat the mare to the stand,
she firing badly, and showing signs Of leg weari-
ness. Things went on in the same way up
to the next trial. which took place the 18th Of
July, over the same track. l again rode the mare;
the trial was two miles; Pryor running the entire
distance, and PrOress joining in for the last mile
and half. The mare beat Pryor about two
lengths in this trial. but exhibited the same
symptoms Of leg WEAKNESS as on the previous oc-
casion.
On the following Saturday we left for Good
wood MIR. Ten Brock stopped with the horses
there was much talk among ourselves about the
prospects of the horses, bat nothing transpired OF
interest to the public.
On Monday morning We commenced galloping
on the GoOdwood course. which gallops we re-
peated every morning until that of the race. Mr..
Ten Brock walked round the Cup course with
us, and some conversation took place as to the
best ground for us to run on. especially the mare,
as she was such a long strider that he wanted to
obtain the smoothest possible place for her TO run
on.
Mr.. Ten Brock pointed out to me those por-
tionS of the track ne thought best suited to the
mare, as the smoOhest and most free from undu-
latons, which might throw her out of her stride,
and accordingly, on the day of the race, in ODE
dence TO his d ctiOns, swung out of the beaten
path followed by the other horses, in order to OBJ
tam ground more suitable TO the mares peculiar
ity OF stride.
On the morning of the race mn orders trsrs TO
make II S!Op, or pha' English Jock les call "a
Icai.ing race Of it-fnrther. not to take the lead
or force the running, if could help it, with Pri-
Dress.
The start took place; We all went at a bad pace
for the first half mile; PriOress, unlike ordinary
horses, when put to gallop, from her length of
stride. cannot 90 slow, and the pace so bad
with the others, that. in spite of myself, | was
forced to take the lead which maintained to the
second turn going out, mp to which time l had
Kept the inside OF the track, the others taking the
outside. then gradually bent across the track,
as had been agreed upon which brought me a
little outside of the others, who retained their
fripaI 4
pace to the top of the hil when we arrived here,
the mare appeared to be very fresh, and thought
would make good run home. The pace now be-
gan to increase. kept with them to the turn into
the straight run in, when still greater improve
ment in speed took place. AT the half distance
they began to quit me, and when within hun
dred and fifty yards Of the stand, found the
mare give way, and in a few strides more she
was '!gone all to pieces, )" which imagine every
body present perceived. Here was an end of the
race-the mare being physically incapable, from
Pryor, with neither speed nor bottom, he had not
the ghost of a chance i'm any part of the race.
Nothing was said to me by Mr.. Ten Brock or
any other person connected with the stable after
the was over; but learned that while we
were running Mr.. Morris oh served (when he saw
Inc leading, as was forced to do for short time)
that was disobeying orders in taking the lead,
and that he would settle up with NE in the morn
ing and send Inc home. Nothing was said to me
then, but my mind was previously made up to
come home ANYHOW, whether | won or lost
Prioress back to the training stable at Stock
bridge. After they had gone, he said to me,
.'Why, thought you had gone with the horses,"
| replied, "No, wish to 60 home,'' on which
he remarked he thought perhaps it was best, as
the horses were not tit to rum and he did not know
If he should run them again this Fall. He then |
settled up with me and left England, and here
am.
have been accused of losing ground in the |
race. If did so, it was in compliance with Mr.. |
Ten BrOecks directions to those portions Of |
q bo tn he ma xuh
ever ground may have lost in this way, more
than made up subsequently. The simple fact is |
the horses were worn out with long and useless |
kind Of work. During nearly a twelvemonth |
previously, they had nerer euen had stceat $50 |
the boys told ne) from the time they landed, an
til 4 drTired IN England. The consequence |
and absolute need Of rest-they were full of fat
burnt up inside-leg weary-and had no vitality |
in them.
In conclusion, ] have no hesitation in ASSERTING
that had our horses been properly taken care Of |
from the cOmmencement-caIefuly trained, and
brOug Int To the post in anything like the condition
we have seen them exhibit at home-that either
OF them could and would have won the Goodwood |
Cup easily
At the time of my leaving there was no proba-
blity Of either Of the horses-Pryor, Prioress, or
LecOmte, running at Brigh or Lewes Indeed
think ii doubtful if the American horses will
appear again prior to the four mile race over the
Beacon course, at the Newmarket HOughton meet.
ing in October.
I make the foregoing statement in Justice to
myself, and In order to be freed from the blame
which has unjustly been cast upon me- ! have
faults enough of my own, without being burdened
with those Of other people. Had had my own
way, i would have returned Immediately after
seeing the horses; as ii was stopped, and did
the best could under the most adverse circum- |
stances Hence. / do not choose to incur the
odium merited by others.
Yours, respectfully, GILLPATRIcK.
TIE SCIENTIFIC CoNvKNrIoN.-This BODY.
which has inst closed its deliberations al Mon. |