The New York herald., 1873-06-15
RACING IN ENGLAND.
The Bath and York
Meetings..
The Somersetshire Stakes -Mornington Scores
Another Victory-The Great Northern
Handicap-Freeman Wins for tho
Second Time-Decline Of Betting
on the Derby-The Backers
Have No Money.


to close, each having lasted couple OF days.
None OF the gatherings OF the week, however, are
OF great Importance; but at one period that at
Bath was one OF the most nourishing In the King
dom. 1t was especially remarkable for the heavy
betting on the Derby which used to mark its prog
ress. In the intervals OF the races | have seen
many thousands OF pounds betted on the great event
OF next week and in the large room OF the CASTER
Hotel at night the crowd used to be so dense that
II was almost impossible to move, while the
Derby speculation that took place was Of glgan.
tic magnitude. 1t was here, for example,
that Caractacus, who had been a complete
outsider, dropped from the Clouds" and week
later won the greatest race IN the world over the
EPSON Downs. 1t was at Bath that we were In
the habit OF seeing commissions worked on horses
that had previously cut bat an Indifferent figure
on the quotations or had not been heard OF at all,
while the operations in regard the favorites
always watched with extreme interest. Those
days have gone by, perhaps forever, and the scene
presented at Bath this week would have led even
the warmest admirers OF the sport to come to the
conclusion that the
BRITISH TURF IS ON IT'S LAST LEGS
During the two days not a dozen bets were me-
gotiated on the Derby on the course, and at night
the ''Castler was bowling wilderness The large
room was occupied only by two or three "bagmenh
and as many farmers from the neighborhood, who,
far from specializing on the Derby, "care for none
OF these things" Not single betting man ap-
peared during the evening and the regular hackers
uf horses were as conspicuous by their absence"
Not single bet was laid, not an offer on the
Derby was heard, at place which has in past years
echoed with shouts OF thousands, and which has
seen fortunes placed at stake In q few minutes.
The contrast was one OF the most remarkable ever
saw, and to those who hold the opinion that the
turf cannot exist without betting-and they COM
prise nearly all who know nything OF the subject
must have been depressing in the extreme. Tho
same was the case at York. On the "Knaves'
Mirer-one Of the most famous racing grounds In
England, and in the heart OF district noted above
all others for its love Of the horse aud It's deep In
terest in turf pursuits-not more than dozen
during the two days OF the meeting, and
the subscription room at Harkers Hotel.
where In the prosperous days OF the sport
we have witnessed operations OF immense magnt.
tude, was almost completely deserted. and was
or three members who occasionally dropped In,
looked round them for O few minutes, and then
suddenly departed. This state OF matters Is due,
no doubt, partly to the fact that the
HACKERS HAVE NO MONEY,
and that indeed, their ranks are so reduced tha6
they cannot make show OF betting. The English
turf has thoroughly recovered from the wild,
''plungingr days Of the Marquis OF Hastings, the
less s' note, who H were sucked down In that ter
rible turf maestrsm. Even those among tho
hackers who can afford to specullte see
that betting is u good thing only for ono
class-the betting men who have had 1t always all
their own way, but whs are becoming more rapa-
now circulates on the tart is derived not from
wealthy men OF fashion, who take to the sport az
an amusement, but IRON the general pubic, ait VINO VINO
regns, pounds and "hvers,n and never see race
course rom one years end to another. Ths is not
enough to keep up the old vitality OF our turl ana
within week Of our greatest race, we find the bet
ting men glsomy staring at each other In the rings
at Bath ana York, having no work to do with the
public and fearing to gamble among themselves,
under the impression that in doing so they may,
LIKE KILKENNY CATS EAT EACH OTHER UP.
The stagnation, however, IL, no doubt also due
partly to the fact that the Derby appears to be
wholly at the mercy Of one OF two ANIMALS, Gang
to back, but not AT the prices now offered against
them and the layers are so convinced that one or
6aer 6 WIZ % w a .y are afaS Yorp 70 n n
different, and the principal event at the former
meeting, the Somersetshire stakes was put the
shadow OF Its former self. Year by year 1t mas
been slowly sinking in interest, and the alteration
OF the distance from two and q quarter miles to
one mile five furlongs has done no good whatever.
Yesterday there were only lour runners, and the
race was considered to be so much at the mercy OF
one ttfat odds OF 2 to were laid on him rms
was Mornington, who, few weeks ago, carried on
the City and Suburban and the Great Metropolitan
at EPSON in successive days. The following is
THE soMERsErsHIRE STAKES OF Is sovs. each, 10
forfeit, and only II declared, with 100 added;
about one mile and five iurlongs; twenty-eight
subscribers, eighteen OF whom declared.
Mr.. y. Brayley's b.. h.. Mornington, by Arthur
Wellesley, Blondelle, years, 126 los, Cannon.
Mr.. II. Bertrams ch. !. Altesse, years, 80 Ids, =
Mr. +. Douglass Dr. Day Dream. years, 81
Sir I'm Il. crotons Misire, ! years, es lbs, CON
isaas settnga to on Mornngton to against Day
Dream aud 10 to against Altesse.
They were got on at the first attempt to an ex.
ceent start, and Altessc at once went TO the 'front.'
at a very slow pace, followed by Misdre ana Morn.
ingtoG, Day Dream lying last. This order was
maintained to the mile post where tlle iavort1s ,:
Day Dream and Misire alternately assumed inc
third position. Atesse, lying next to the rais,
maintained the command as they went round the
bend INTO the straight run home, with Msrn-
ington close behind. At the distance the
latter darted up TO the leader and hard race for
victory ensued, OF which Mornington just got the
best on the post by Il head, having nothing 10
spare, and only getting home by the iine horse
manship OF Cannon. The other races at the meet
ing were only Of minor Importance, and the sole
event OF any interest at York was the Great North
crn Handicap for which several animals OF consid-
cradle reputation went to the post. The leading
favorite was found IN inveresk, who won the Ches-
ter Cup last year and was third lor tue same race
fortnight ago. Indian ocean Is wen known
handicap horse, who has performed notably on
many occasions. Tyro had little more tnan
stable reputation, but Field Marshal, 1t VIII be re-
membered, secured the last Chester Cup. Free
man won the Great Northern Handicap last sea-
son aud appeared TO have great chsnSe 9, re-
against him. The other candidates do not require
comment. The following Is summary
THE GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP or 200 sovs. I'm
specie) added to sweepstakes OF 20 sovs. each,
10 forfeit; winners extra; one mile and three
uuarters; SO subscribers, 10 oil whom declared.
Mr. Merryis ch. C. Freeman by Kettledrum-
Haricot, years. 9s lbs, Hopper. ..............
Mr. Il. N. Bats ch. c. Mendip, years, u lDs.,
MIR. Bowes' b. h. Field Marshal, years, lis lbs.
tincludng IA lbs. extra, Fordham. ............
Mr.. ". Hendersons Spennithorne, years.
12I lbs, w. Gray.............. o
Lord Is. Paget's Indian Ocean, years. ia lbs,
i. OSUOTuc
Mr.. w. Nichols Inveresk, years, Ito lbs Garry
ing st. 13 lbsl, Snowden. n.....................
Lord Lascelles' Mr.. Fox, years, l03 lbs. Qnclud-
ing lbs. extral, Busby. y........................
Mr. q. Daton's &. by King OF Trumps-Lady
Alice Hawthorn, years, 81 lbs., w. Chaloner. y
Mr. c. rrotter's Tyro. years, so lbs, Morpey... y
BETTING AT THE START-9 to against lnveresk
~, to against Indian ocean ~, 8 to against