Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-03

The Late American Effort on the
English Turf.

From Porter's Spirit, Aug. %.
The Late American Effort on the
English Turf.
We reprint to-day the various accounts of
the London Sporting Press, of the late race
in England for the Goodwood Cup; and from
the manner in which they all allude to the
appearance made ny the horse which bore In
that contest the emblem of the Stars and
Stripes, we are entitled to the conclusion,
that we are not to regard the result as de-
feat. On the contrary, we have rather the
right to say, that we did not put in an APP
pearance. Charlottesville elegant Charles
ton-was, by all accounts, more like prize
bullock than race-horse, and showed con-
dition that fitted him rather to be tied to
stake at an agricultural fair, than to run for
a stake against competition on the Turf. 1t
is a little singular. that the trainers who had
him in hand, and who bore reputation IN
this country which was not only high, but
well deserved, shonld have produced our only
remaining champion in such deplorable and
helpless state. Instead of running under
fourteen pounds, allowance, as foreign horse,
it is evident. from general statement, that the
unfortunate Charleston must have had about
him at least twenty or thirty pounds of extra
fat. and instead of carrying that at convent
ence, ! Ike his competitors, on his back, had 1T
stuffed among his intestines and around his
heart, to weary him out most quickly, and to
clutter up his breath. The following express
sions, made in the course of the English re-
ports. will show how lamentably the poor
fellow was prepared:
Bells Life says: "Prioress not being up to
the mark, the stars and stripes were carried
by Charleston, "a heavy-shouldered, common
looking horse, bandaged up to his eyes, and
ridden by Yankee jockey"
The reporter of the Field says: Charleston
is too much of the hunter cut in appearance
to be likely to compete with our first-class
horses, even if in form; and as he was steadily
ridden by his American jockey, no excuse can
be made for him on that score"
The Racing Tines says: Charleston looked |
like frst-class cOacher, with bandaged legs. |
and did not improve matters by having a
martingale, the greater part Of which seemed |
to he made of sheepskin."
The Era, in reviewing the horses before the /
start, saws: 1--WE saw the American, a long, |
thought we to ourselves, we should prefer |
you on sandy, four-mile track, in your own
for you can't 90 bowling over Eng
fish turf like cricket-ball."
The reporter of the illustrated Nelcs says
'America's champion, Charleston. a sort of
fat cOacher in Il sheepskin martingale was
whipper-in from the start. Mr.. Ten BROCK
is always achieving something very brilliant
Dr something very absurd with his horses.-
W eI,A Lo,- hrt, hot
national pride would have shrunk from bring
ing ont such a champion as Charleston"
The editor of the London Field, after refer
ing to the account of the race, by his reporter,
adds: 'The Americans were clearly amiss,
their understandings having been upset by
the hard state of the trainings grounds; hence
it may be said that the American horses,
though beaten, are not disgraced."
And this of Charleston-the elegant, SYM
metrical, game, and elastic CharlestOn-who
was the admiration of all eyes when here,
and who, among other notable exploits won
the Colt Stakes from Don Juan and Bird
catcher. at Columbus. in l:46-l :46-l:4S5-
:47J. taking the first and last heats; and, at
beat field of three in l:49a -l:4Ta
l:50-1:46, winning the second and last heats.
The time of the running for the GOodwood
Cup, in which he was so ingloriously left be-
hind. was min. sec, distance two and a
min. Is Sec, to the mile. 1t is clear, there
fore, that the Charleston who ran in the two
ibove-named American races and made at
Ease, through the loose soil of our tracks, the
superb time of lao and l:4S3, in the last
heats of well-contested mile-races must have
been sadly changed, when rate POI Is was
90 fast for him over smooth English Turf!
On a general review, therefore, of all the cir
'umstances attending the appearance of
Il ~ $50 H.
# Pryor, Lecomte. aud Prioress, all of last
rear. we are forced to the conclusion that the
rue speed of the American race-horse has
lever yet been exhibited upon an English
course and the actual comparison of relative
peed is vet to be made. What we are to
ttribute the strange defect of our trans
Atlantic horses to, thus far, whether to change
# climate, the damaging effects of their sea
'Oyage, or the difference in the superior and
attening qualities of English grain, we are
lot prepared to say, but certain it is, that
hey have never, on that side, been the equal
f themselves they performed on this; and
ntil we learn the reason why. we must not
emain content with being beaten. There is
Ow, of course, much disposition to underrate
he horses which Mr.. Ten Brock took to
England for his trials, but whatever may be
aid of Babylon. or of the doubtful condition
f Lecomte and Charleston, at the time oil
mbarkation, this country has seldom seen
nything better than Prioress and Pryor, or
n better fix when they left here to seek their
Drtunes on the English Turf. The trouble
as not been in the inferior character of the
orses sent to England, but in their changed
ondition there, whenever they have been
rought out to run. Nothing can give more
omplete evidence of this than the wretched
ate of speed at which they have been beaten
n England, both last year and this-to-wit:
y running at the rate of 2:06a-2.0l TO to
he milc-as compared with the exploits of
,hareston. Prioress, and Prior, in this coun-
ry. We insist, therefore, that a fair trial of
he relatiye speed of the American and Eng
sh racer has not yet been made; and we
ope that, by steady and close observation,
ur Turfmen and Trainers will find out what
the reason of the falling off, and then get
a proper trim to try again.