The New York herald., 1870-06-12
THE ENGLISH TURF.
Mr.. Tom Hughes Plan Of Reform In Racing
Affairs-"Two Year Olds" Racing
Gambling Affairs Generally-Mac.
gregor and the Derby
''tsOod Luck''-H0W Man
May BE Unlucky.
LONDON. May 90, 1870.


LONDON, May 20, 1870.
The author OF seTom Browns School Days" Is
courageous man, muscular Christian, and 1t Is per-
haps in keeping with hts character, opinions and
tastes that he should follow the example OF Mrs.
Partington and attempt to ''mop up the Atlantic"
whether 1t be not the fact Is that In the House
Of Commons last night he essayed the task. and re-
ceved some slight encouragement in the first step he
took. He s extremely dsgusted with the fact that,
as Sir Joseph Hawley puts it, English racing has
"degeneraJed into trade he fears that our present
system Is deterorating breed of race norses and
he isappaled by the amount Of gambling that goes on
day by day. Accordingly he conceives the idea that
he is destined by Providence for the task-to vary
the smile-of cleaning out the Augean stable, aud
proceeds to do so with straw. The bill which he
asked leave TO introduce proposes three reforms:-
First that two year old racing shall be abolished;
second that no horse shall start for Queens plate
under four years of age and third, that the provi-
sons of the betting act shall be extended 80 that 1t
shall be penal for any person to take deposit on
account Of bet 1t will be seen that the objects OF
the bill are twofOld-tO ameOrate the condition OK
the thoroughbred and to limit betting. Mr..
Hughes should have known, Or II he knew,
should have paid some attention to the lac&
that with regard TO the former point committee or
the Jockey Club is now taking evidence with the
view to reform the details Of racing, altogether ig-
norng betting; and that the government, not car
ing to interfere with the details OF racing, has
promised to deal with betting to certain extent by
enlarglng the borders OF the Betting act. SO that
two distinct bodies are engaged in two distinct
parts OF the same work-that Of reforming the turf.
What then, was the necessity of Mr.. Hughes putting
in his oar, ana such weak and neffectual one tool
The probability is that the Jockey Club will at the
least limit two year old racing and will prohibit
three year olds from running for Queens plates.
The certainty is that government will do its best TO
restrict betting to great an extent as possible. In
neither case therefore, is there any necessity for the
interference of Mr. Hughes who, whatever he may
have heard OF the evils Of gambling, is utterly gno
rant or the administration OF racing.
THE TURF REFORM BILL.
Leave was, however, given him TO introduce his
bill by vote of 1872 to "A, but the tone OF the
DEBATE. which was very spirited One showed that
the House did not sympathize with his effort The
points raised with, perhaps, the exception OF that
relating to two year old racing-which among
authorities is disputed polntare extremely small
and will do but little for the elevation OF the TURF
1t does not matter much what animals are allowed
SO so run ao or s or 6eng
would only; If passed, extinguish the "bagmen,
and slistmen to whom the backer actually hands
over his money when the bet is made. and would
leave untouched the ''bookmaker'' who marks down
his transactions and settles afterwards John jones'
the c0sermOnger, would no longeg be able to BET
his five shillings at his avOrlte 'lst," but Lord
Noodle could go betting his f1OO with his book
maker actually protected by the law. The incon-
gruity struck the House, and many members laughed
at the idea Of such an inefcient method Of dealing
with the subject and above I'VE all at the ignorance "a ds
The government looked on very coldly but offered
no opposition, and accordingly the bill was read
first time.
UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE OF MACGREGoR
SO far as actual racing Is concerned the chief
meeting % Of Of Mr. Merrys colt Macgregor, who since
| his victory In the Two Thousand Guneas ha been
for % Ser,e e to Dsy r. Il eaE IN pue
between these the two greatest lest Of our races and
| aroni and Necklace would be an exception to one
rule very many were incredulous. 1T was agreed.
however, on the one hand, that Mr. Merry had dls.
doubtful, that he had better in the stable, and
that he did not see the use Of neslectng to pick up
stake like the Eighteenth Biennial which is worth,
without bets, $1,000. and which the horse. In the
company he had to meet, could could not not lose lose.
on was as a edea was na urged 9at as Mas
| state OF the ground the race would be
nothing more than an an exercise @ canter, which which
| and which could not prejudice his Derby chance.
That the latter of these arguments was correct was
and absolutely walked away with the $4,000. His
| opponents were Mr.. Bragley's colt Recorder, Mr..
Graham's FLY GamOs and the Lady Somerset lilly.
The last started TO 'make running' for Recorder.
These two were allowed to lie in front for more than
mile lying on at nda eas
shaw who rode the Derby Crack became s0mc-
what uneasy on seeing the wide interval that sepa
rated his horse from Recorder and the nearneSS OF
The horse, taking the bit between his teeth abso-
utely gal!oped away with his Jockey, and diminish
ing the advantage OF Mr.. Bragley's colt at every
stride passed him when about fifty yards from home
like shot and won in canter by a dozen lengths.
The victory was so easy decisive that Macgreg
Or's for the Derby seemed greater than ever.
and accordingly when betting commenced he was
In'au taI frnr at ~ hnd nyIIrp an
hackers laid five to four Oh him in hundreds
MR. MERRY's GOOD FORTUNE.
Mr. Merry may truly be regarded as the "gilded
YOUTH OF the turi though he is seventy years OF age;
for not only mas he won the Two Thousand Guineas,
but he is the owner OF the best two year Old that has
appeared this season. Thi. Is Perth, colt by Dun
dee, out Of Lady Dot, a bMg.framed, M loose9okngg
race horse. On Tuesday he cantered away with the
the Nineteenth Biennial, worth $780, and to-day so
strong impression did this victory create that he
was allowed to walk over for the Weston Stakes,
worth 81 800. Strangely enough, he was picked up
at sale by Waugh, Mr.. Merry's trainer. for $500.
and sold 10 Mr.. Merry for double that sum, that
ne has already won, on his first two appearances,
hin is I'm the womb OF the future; but he viii un.
doubtedy pay his way.
curious instance OF the unequal distribution OF
the fav0rs oil fortune was furnished this week at
Bath by the disaster which has driven that excellent
three year old mare Fuzee from the turf week
ago nj. Eliyot- Bower the head OF well known
AngloFr racing association, offered her owner
l,0OO guneas OF $o.uoV lor ueri put ule IeiegI ai
announcing the fact did not arrive at Chelmsford
where she was then running, until after she had
won the queens Pate. On hearing of her victory
NJ Bower stipulated that that plate should be
thrown into the bargain; but the owner OF Fuzee
refusing the negotiation fell through. The mare
was then sent to Bath to run for the Beaufort Cup
but about hall an hour before the flag fell Sir Frede
rick Johnstone-he VINO was mixed up in the Nor
daunt divorce case-onered the 1000 guineas
for her, and the offer being at once
accepted the bargain was concluded on the
spot. The horses had hardly gone more than half d
mile before Fuzee was seen to fater and draw uE
suddenly. Her jockey at once dismounted, and on
examination found that she had split the pastern o
her fore leg and the probability is tnaI SHE VII
| never again rum Strangly enough, Sir Fredorich
Johnsrone was equally unucky few years ago
when hegave the enormous sum OF 1000 gulneas, OF
s15,OOO for the Derby favorte F1tzroy who broke hi
leg the very next day. II this-iO say nothing o
the divorce case--is not enough 10 disgust mar
with Fortune some one Will, perhaps, ask what Is