Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-05-22
From "Porter's Spirit of the Times"
GREAT CONTEST COMING ON.

1t is with great pleasure we are ena-
bled to inform our readers, that the
event which we have so often indicated,
and which has been so anxiously looked
for, on this side of the Atlantic, is at
last enlisted to come off. Lecomte,
Pryor and Prioress, the three gallant
coursers which were sent from this coun-
try last Fall, to confront the renowned
champions of the English turf, upon their
own ground, and at their own terms, are
entered for the great Goodwood Cup -
John Bull and Brother Jonathan are,
therefore, fairly pitted against each other
for the third time; and if we win, the
victory will rebound as largely to our
credit, as if we again excelled the stout
old gentleman in agricultural advance
ment, or distanccd his vessels in speed
upon the main.
1t is evident that this last contest will
be the most exciting of the three and
until it closes, the noble animals which
have the credit of our country thus in
charge, will command more earnest
and universal interest from the American
people, than the dosy diplomatists who
tinker at treaties, which the cabinets Of
the two countries sometimes toss to them
for a little pleasant exercise. Indeed,
we are inclined to think that, in the pro-
found and vigilant attention which will
be concentrated on the horses, that Ma
PIER and Mr. DALLAS will be entirely
forgotten. Nay, we should not be sur
prised if our racers should prove better
diplomatists than our politicians, and
effect, through their mode of proving
the genius of our people, practical
harvest Of respect, which the less demon
strative agents have failed to effect and
put to use.
But to come to our starting point
The American horses have been entered
for the Goodwood Cup, and while it af-
fords US great satisfaction to make this
announcement, it gives us equal pleasure
to be able to state, that Fitzpatrick, the
famous jockey, who has so often backed
imperial Boston-who, with Lexington
under him, beat Lecomte in 7:23l, and
who rode Lexington when that renowned
racer made his unequalled four miles in
7:193 engaged TO go to England and
take part in the contest We are also
informed that two or three more Ameri-
can jockeys are to be sent over SO that
all of the horses will be ridden according
to the style of racing in this country,
and agreeably to the manner in which
they have been trained.
Matters, therefore, begin 10 look az #
Mr.. Ten Brock, and the gentlemen as
ISOLATED with him in this grand national
affair, were really in earnest; and though
we may be beaten by the English ely
ers" on the occasion referred to, we think
we may venture to notify our friends
upon the other side, who have sneered
thus far at our presumption, that they
will need something better than second
rate nags and 'lcathcr. fappcrs" to take
down the pride Of America on the event
full Goodwood Day. This is the first
time we have ever measured ourselves
against England on the Turf; and hav-
ing succeeded against her under greater
disbursements than can be presented
now, we intend, on this occasion, to
make at least creditable effort. At the
last accounts, cur horses we're in mag
nifcent condition. The stringhalt had
disappeared from the mare; Lecomtc's
legs are again call right" while Pryor,
who was only temporarily tender in his
feet, on his arrival in England, continues
to remain ''as fine as q star" Let them
but keep in this condition till the Doth
of July, and if they do not then teach
the English jockeys some new notions on
"a waiting race" we shall be considera-
I by miswfkUn:
We have previously announced that
Prioress was entered for the Stock bridge
Plate on the 18th June, and that both
herself and Lecompte were entered to-
gether for tho Champagne Stakes, at
Brighton, to be run on the 9Th of Au-
gust. Being now entered for the Good
wood, however, it is not probable that
the mare will start for the June race, for
Mr.. Ten Brock win most probably be
unwilling to impair her chances for the
great event, by risking her in advance
Of it; and moreover, will not care to
show his hand so far before that trial,
which must recompense him, if at all,
for the tremendous outlay to which he
and his associates have gone. 1t is prop
err to state here that Bells Life Of the
18th Of April, which merely notices the
closing of the Goodwood Cup with forty
subscribers, only credits Mr. Ten Brock
with two entries; our private information
however, says that the three we have
named are all entered for the Cup, and
it may be that Bells Life, in the hurry
of rapid paragraph just before going to
press, has made mistake in the true
number. But the next steamer will
bring us all the particulars, the state of
the odds, the conditions Of the race, and
most likely some interesting comments
from the English sporting journals, on
the presumption Of the American horses
in venturing upon the English Turf at
all.
In despite, however, of all this, we
shall not be surprised 10 find considera-
BILE hope stick TO the bcsoms Of the in
habitants on this side of the Atlantic
and very likely We may observe a dispo-
eition for little betting; and in this
view, and for other manifest reasons, we
will endeayor TO instruct our readers, TO
as great an extent as possible, in all the
conditions, chances, and pecularities Of
this Goodwood Cup race. We have al