The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-28
THE TURF IN ENGLAND.
ILLNESS OF THE DUKE OF MAGENTA-FEARs FOR
HIS RECovERY-GREAr DISAPPOINTMENT TO
THE AMERIcANs-ENGIIsH PREJUDICEs-oPIN-
IONS or MR. LoRILLARD's HORSES

has now lasted over week. Not only is racing
stopped but coursing and hunting have been brought
up with round turn. and those who cannot skate or
do not care to do SO are at their wits end to find
some kind of outdoor amusement with which to en-
ploy their time. The regular Hat racing closes
here in November. but between now and the time
when the saddling bell at Lincoln next March rings
up the curtain for the drama Of 1879 there is plenty
of steeplechasing and hurdle racing going No
matter how wretched the weather is in the
way Of rain or fog. nor what condition the
course 10 in. far mud is concerned. no
postponement is mad of any racing fixture. Frost.
however. Is 9 cause for racing; for. be
readily understood. jumping on hard frozen ground
would knock the best horse to pieces. During the
present week the fixtures at Bromley and Kngsbury
have been postponed till the ensuing week. and if
they cannot be held then the meetings must, under
the rules of the Grand National Hunt Committee
1.-THE Jockey Club for steepechasingl, DO abandoned
There is great harm done If they take place.
for they only resorts for the rn-raf of London
and few people with any great amount of respect for
themselves visit such courses. they do they take
good care to leave their valuables at home.
1t is at the training grounds that the present
weather is the great drawback just now. for the
usual thing done by trainer III December is to get
the yearlings forward enough to give them short
spin by way Of trial, that their owner
form estimate as to how they likely
to out next year and enter them for of the
numerous stakes that close on the first Tuesday in
January. What with the cold fog in the first week
and the frost since then. not horse has taken gal
Top or canter on Newmarket heath, and the same
mark applies to nearly every training ground in
England many Of which are now covered with frozen
snow. In such . the trainer will lay down lot
of straw in the paddock, making a track round the
field enclosure. and this is called ''straw bed
The teams are walked and trotted daily the straw
but only in case Of urgent necessity is horse
cantered, and then he must be a sound limbed
one. Some trainers prefer giving their horses
walking exercise the well made roads
which abound everywhere and on the
occasion Of recent visit to Newmarket your CORE
spondent noticed Mr.. Mat Dawsons long string Of
horses taking their daily constitutional in this way
and among them were Wheel of Fortune. the crack
two-year-old Of 1878; Ringeader. Charibert, High
and Nifty, Muley Edris and Marshall Scott, all Of
whom are likely to figure to advantage in the three
year-old events Of 1879.
Mr. Lorillards horses were also out taking road
ercise but Duke Of Magenta was not with them. II
will be matter Of great regret to all Americans to
hear that this grand colt has gone dead amiss, they
say here. He seemed TO recover thoroughly
from the effects OF the voyage, and when he
arrived at Newmarket he dreadfuly light
and tucked up. Indeed, it would be difficult for
any one not good judge Of the conformation OF
performances claimed for him. The Duke of Magenta
has capital girth. and when filled out his quarters
should show great development while his legs look
like steel bars and straight and free from blemsh
Us the day he foaled. When he was being walked
prior to the development OF his present sickness he
showed great liberty of movement. and II horse is
good walker he is almost invariably good mover
when extended. Before the close Of November the
Duke suffering from slight cold, and what with
the lad weather since then and his weakened condi-
ito it developed in most serious manner, and
at this time great fears entertained that the
horse NAV never be fit to gallop again 1t
be hoped that such will not prove to be the
for beyond the pecuuiary loss to Mr.. Loriard, the
opportunity of matching really good American bred
horse against the English cracks will be lost There
is little doubt that the Duke OF Magenta will have.
if he regains his health, most successful
next year. and his loss to the turf and to Mr. Loril
lard would be matters to be deplorea
1t seems pretty well decided that Mr. Lorillards
horses will be trained at Newmarket There
talk few weeks ago about their going to Usey,
in the South of England, but since Mr. Brown has
horses stabbed at Mr.. T. Aldcrofts; but before
regular, steady work will be begun in the spring Mr..
Brown will have his charges Immediately under
his eye, and is about making arrangements for
tablishment sufficient to accommodate his family and
his charges. Mr.. Brown has already been in treaty
with Mrs Daily. mother of the late Johnny Daily. the
Jockey for the hire OF sablng on the Terrace at New
market
With the indifference so characteristic Of the Eng
lish press. little notice has been taken of Mr.
Lorards horses beyond q three-line paragraph
noting their arrival at Newmarket. Englishmen--
and theie are few more thoroughly English than
those the sporting press here-haye the most su-
preme contempt for foreign asprants, Nothing that
Is worth doing be done by any person but
Englishman, and you cannot get them TO make any
allowance. glance at the records Of international
competitions wiz prove this; The America when
TO the scribes act farlyshe carried too much can
vas; but that subject was hurriedly dropped and
Heenan. won wp as fairly by the American as
ever fight was in the world. was made
draw to save the honor OF England When King
and Heenan fought the referee acted in the most
shameful manner and If he was not well paid for his
services he deserved to be, for when King was
knocked out OF time he took all the time he wanted
get round instead of the referee calling npon him
TO toe the mark at the end of the half minute In
ride shooting the Americans beat the foreign teams
out OF their boots and English writer's seek in every
way to belitte that supremacy, rapidly attained
II was startling The Columbia College crew were
hardly looked ut while they were practising at Hen
ley. what little was said being plainly to the effect
shat the New Workers. had better have
against an English college crew. They won. and it
then time to look tor an excuse, and anything
will do in such case. so it was that Columbia Col
lege made into university, and, of course, how
could such poor were sent from the English
colleges expect to compete with one from univer
sty? II in needless multiplying examples of the
fairness Of the English sporting press in this respect
II is worse than drawing teeth to them for an Eng
lishinan to be beaten at any game IL Mr. Lorillard
Is successful in his aud carries of any great
event during the sojourn Of his horses here these
slumbering scribes will lind out that the English
or year OfaS, cast may are
indifferent lot and was fortunate that Mr. Lorllard
had not been racing in the days Of so and SO. Then
some one will discover that Saxon and bennington,
the sires, bred in England, and. OF Mr
Lorillard's horses virtually English and reflect
additional lnstre upon the English turf. 8g /
The Manchester sporting Chrossce has had the only
the foreigners which has TO light IN
any English paper, and as 1t will be of interest 81
hear what thoroughly independent journal Says the
correspondence remarks may well he given in full -
''The newly imported American horses, the
property Of Mr.. 4. Lorillard Ia wealthy gentleman
from that country have of late boon doing good
amount of healthy exercise on the roads, There
several really good looking animals among them.
Uncas, bay colt two years old, engaged In the Two
Thousand Guneas. Derby and st. Leger next year. is
good looking colt as any one would wish 10
He shows equally az much quality a. any Of our
English brcd animals, and believe very fair
performer this year in America Among the
yearlings that MIR. Lorillard has imported to
this country three colts and the same
number OF Niles. and for size. shape and
make do not think have many TO beat them here