The New York herald., 1869-03-15
THE TURF IN ENGLAND.
Faon aua LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

Guincas and Derby-F1rmncss Of Wild Oats
for the Former, Of Pero Gomez for the
Latter-Depression Of BeIlaArum for Both.
LONDON, Feb. n, 1859.
Nothing is at present talked Of in sporting circles
but the grand national steepe chase which win be
run for on the Aintree near Liverpool next Wednes
day. The immense amount Of speculation to which
this event has given rise; the discussion It exctes
among all classes OF the. community who are In any
way attached to sports and the absorbing interest
which Is taken in the result prove concusively that
steeple chasing Is recovering the popularity which
for period OF years 1t had lost The fact Is due on
this occasion, no doubt, to the excellence OF the
handicup to which alluded when 1t first appeared;
for it is credit to Mr.. Topham, and In
that respect In singular contrast to his Chester
performance; but In greater degree 70 the changed
circumstances under which the race Is now run.
There was time when the fences were so high that
jumping and weight carrying power were the chief
requisites for success, and when consequently, no
animals but experienced and clever hunters were
''in It," Nowadays however, when the height OF
the obstacles has been considerably curtaied.
larger class OF horses have chance OF winning
speed is served" as well as Jumping ability and
strength, and the prize very commonly falls to can
d1dates whO after an inglorious career on the fiat
are set to "cross c0untryn work, can clear their
.run in" over level ground. 1t was at one time
feared that the event would be wholly prosttuted
from the purpose for which 1t was designed. The
rearing OF great hunters and the victories OF Emblem
and Emblematic were depored as likely to inaugn-
rate an order OF things in which thoroughbreds
would have it entirely their own way and give no
chance to the hunting element. The victories OF
such animals as C0rtolvin, Salamander and The
Lamb have exploded this theory; and now that the
race is open not only to the animals who formerly
could compete for it but to ex-nat racers, who at
length afford some hope Of paying for their breeding
the event has, undoubtedly, far greater attractions
for the general public than before.
The excellence Of the handicap is proved by the
character OF the betting which has this year been
greater scale than ever, and by the singulary open
appearance of the race even now when the result ia
only four days OF. do not remember any occasion
on which 30 many animals were backed, or so large
field was likely to 60 to the post or transactions
Of SO heavy kind were recorded, or market move
ments were SO interesting and so keenly watched.
The betting during the past week has been very sig
ntfcant, for it has been marked by several 'nove-
ments in favor Of various candidates and yet it Is
difficult to select out oil some half dozen animals any
one that has ION paper' q greater chance than the
other five. Your readers have from time to time
been informed that The Colonel, years. 147 lbs,
half bred hunter, by knight OF Kars, ont Of Boa
dicea, OF whom little was known, was figuring at the
head OF the quotations. For some inscrutable rea-
son. however, he was pulled out" for . steeple
chase at Nottingham on Wednesday, and though ne
won 1t the performance was considered 80 moderate
that he has since fallen rom his high estateu and
taken by MI. Studd's Despatch, also half bred aged
co%menced on Monday and who rose win
/. Another feature OF the week was the
surprising favor in which Mr.. Brayieys lot-Pearl
i5s lbs, and Sea King, aged, i4e bs.-have been
held. Heavily backed BY their owner as team, and
with the exception q Sea King, individually they
IL and Fortunatus to 20 to l. Probably all three
win be sent to the post; but the hopes OF the party
the first. Guy Of Warwick, years, 40 lbs, who,
though q most Indifferent nat racer, has Of late
Jumper. and won his race st Lincoln % very easily is
IN great force at present the highest ofer against
aged, 152lbs, and Barbarian half bred. years. l5o
lbs.-win probably 60 to the post. and wlll carry
with them gold mine OF money, especially from
shipped. Tney have done good deal OF s,see-saw''
work in the market and, while Tuthwell has long
within the last day or two declined TO Is to l. while
MS stable companion has .'spurted" from SO to to
80 TO !. Fan, aged l4o lbs., who has always been
sSpS aus e week. sn@
hrm a. about IA to l. Mr.. Ange's pair--Alcbiades,
oS Ss ua nss
after being driven to 20 to has risen to 100 to g. and
the latter has declined to 100 to q c. years. ll9
pounds, has been good deal inquired AFTER is much
Of saS ne ana sas sDeas Ocen
easd S Gps asss sssa gs bd ss ana sss sss ss
or Trumps have been supported at Is to l. while in
dividually The Nun carries lot Of money at 25 to Il
be had about Hall Court Holman's three Brick
aged, lat pounds; Gobule, aged, 1852 pounds, and
volved In mystery but It seems to be evident thar
Gobule will represent the interests OF the stable IS
to ] being now taken @ about him. These commen.s
place, and the horses named win in all probability
b logld tee, to embrace the wippsr 4 wen as lew
Speculation on the Chester Cup has been princ-
patty Marked by the frmness OF Paul Jones, 4years
lo7 pounds, q 70 !; Romping Girl, s years, ile
pounds, at 100 to O. by the increased desire sup
port st. Muhgo, 3Sears, s4 pounds. at ~ TO l. but
principally . Dy strong demonsira,ion ara in favor
the former has been backed down to Is
IL still firm favore for the Two Thousand Gulncas
at to /, and, the hostility against Belladrum
Snung he cannot rise above 70 l. though nothing
remains at the head OF the list, and is in immense
demand at TO ], while Wild Oats has declined to .
Pretender has not moved from 100 to 7, ana rs to
could be had about Ryehworth Thorwoldsen, Ladas
ana MartyruOm.
There has been good deal OF racing during the
week at various places-Windsor, Nottingham, Derby
and Chelmsford bat when there are so many fixtures
IL Is always case of great cry and little wool''-
that is, lots OF sport and very moderate. The most
notable feature has been the wonderful form OF
Joseph Dawson's stable, Mr.. Pryor having on the
first day at Nottingham, carried or the Stand Plate
with sphinx, the Park Stakes with his illy by Dun
dee tout OF Lady Lofty, the Spring Handicap with
Friday and the lnnkeeper's Pate with Chapel ROYAL,
and on the second day the Little John Stakes with
Sister 10 veda and the Newcastle Plate with Chapel
Royal. The Little John stakes--the principal two
year old event Of this meeting--s 1emarkable ~
afiordlng the second victory OF Mr.. Pryor's smart
ny, who, II will be remembered opened Of once the
season ana her career by winning last
week the Brocklesby at Lincoln, and who
on this occasion again showed her great
speed, by ovcrtnrowing among others-and
that under penalty OF seven pounds-Mr. Chap
Inns Countryman, Mr., jennings Phantom Lass, Mr.
Drewitts ironstone, the French fly Chevreuse and
Lord Calthorpe's nlly by Kettedrum out OF Elier-
mIre. From what we have seen OF these animals the
''form' IL no doubt moderate enough but nj all
AQfa has tafn noing ho hnat