The New York herald., 1878-12-31
TROTTING IN ENGLAND.
NEW MARKET FOR THE HAadBLEroNIANs, THE
cLAYs, THE PILOTS, BLUE BULLS AND SNUG

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GLERs.
LONDON. Dec. IS, 1878.
For several years attempts have been made to es-
tabish trotting meetings in England and place the
sport better platform than it has hitherto held
i'll the estimation of the public. and it does seem
that these efforts bearing fruit and that trotins
may yet become Of the recognized sports Of the
country such state of affairs is . desirable one
for American horse owners for it is to that section
of the world that must look for horses both for
track purposes ana breeding To thoroughly realize
the position which trotting occupies here no
better illustration could be afforded than is to be
found in the way in which cricket in America has
progressed "stonehenge," in his valuable work
British Rural Sports" hit the right nail on the head
when he wrote. years ago, that it was u sport
confined almost entirely to publicans. so many of
whom seemed have fancy for fast trotting pony
behind which Boniface and his s'missus could take
their Sunday afternoon drive Rivalry naturally fol-
lowed In the train Of ownership, and match making
brought the rivalry before the public. For many
years al these trotting matches were decided upon
country roads, and attracted so much OF the riff
ran OF the neighboring country where the race
took place that they voted nuisances and
i'll addition to that the horses often interfered
WITH doubtless by interested parties, that what
with the objection OF the public and the fear OF
owners. these matches have become few and far be-
tween and in order protect themselves the parties
interested generally Keep the quiet. and few
know OF the affair until it is over. To such depth
did trotting descend the estimation Of all that to
attend q trottng match or to be concerned in any
way with one sufficient to damn any mans char
acter and place him but little above that lowest strata
OF al-prize fighters and their pothouse companions.
One Of the first places where trottng tried in
enclosed ground at the old Ponder's End course.
but that has long been done away with and has
doubtless fallen prey to the onward march of Lon
don, with its brick and mortar battalions. II
early evident that something must be done to bring
unequal competitors together terms of
equality and different course from the American
time the English turf system of weight hand
cappng was adopted. The first, owing to the
scarcity Of timing watches. impracticable
and it may be remarked that all the vaunted
superiority of the English for ability as timers
il moonshine. and any American who fancies he can
be supplied here with more accurate and suitable
watch than he cum procure at any respectable estab
lishment at home will find out his mistake il he
makes the attempt The weight system also i'm
possible, because owners generally liked to drive
their trotting 'tits. the ponies designated,
and their weight was often outside Of any handicap
limits To Mr.. G. Bastien belongs the credit of i'm
Producing the system of handicapping by distance.
each horse receiving certain number of
yards start. in accordance with his pre-
sumed inferiory the best Of those entered and
answer very well and is the plan which has been
hered TO up to the present time With the downfall
Of the Ponders End trotng races the sport received
check, and it ao1ne time before 1t really
vived upon any respectable and responsible founda
ton. step forward Of several years may be
taken trottng it at present exists receive at
tention. The establishment OF the London Trotting
Club really the first step toward rehabiliating
the sport with any degree Of life. and although that
is but crude organization great credit Is due its
managers who very desirous OF eevatng trvtting
and work strenuousy with that object in view. They
Sl.ussa
want of suitable track, as the only one with any
pretensons worthy of consideration is badly shaped
and still worse constructed track in the Alexandra
Palace grounds 1t il nearly half q mile IL circum-
ference, but with little straight at all to speed
horse upon. and there is too much up and down
hill about it, Added TO this il il hard
turnpike road, and any true gated, long strdilg
horse Is entirely lost here lie is continually trotting
around corner, and at the bottom OF one OF the
hills is a very awkward and sharp turn which short
patterng actioned can only negotiate without being
pulled up to very slow pace SO successful were
several of the London Trottlng Club meetings at this
place, both point of entries and attendance, that
the Palace Company have since held several meetings.
and the last of the series was OF the best which
has taken place. it affords good example Of trottng
at its best In England. Two purses were ofercd-one
ior PONIES no. & excseong rieeh % natas n %me men,
to the second and $25 to the third. Tho more i'm
portant event, however, was the Palace Stakes Of
81 OOO for all thirteen hands, the second receiv
ing $500 and the third 800 out of the purse. The
of the track renders it impossible for
largo number Of horses to compete together, the
half dozen and let the first and second In each of
these heats in the final heat when the winner OF
two heats takes the first money. The second
and third horses however are not placed according
TO the American plan, but upon the racing system,
heat manifestly unfair principle. considering that
the distancing OF horses Is not adopted and in
ferior candidate can trail behind until he sees the
race is likely TO be decided, when coming with a
rush. he can generally beat those who have already
had or more struggles for first place.
There is stipulation, has already been stated,
with regard to weight. to the StylG
of going which may be either under saddle in har
ness. II occasionally happens. therefor that very
light weight s put rp horse that has previously
been performing under full grown, able bodied
man. with the very obvious result Of the horse having
much the best Of the handicap. An instance Of this
happcned at the meeting already referred to- and by
it the destination of the main prize of 500 de-
cded MISS Hampton, mare standing nitscn hands
was ridden by . little boy weighing about
seventy pounds, while her opponents were ridden
driven AZ the case may be, by men of 40 lbs. 10
100 lbs or even more. The result may well be
imagined. In the first heat the mare was beaten
dozen lengths by an Irish horse, at least he IL
owned In ireland bearing the a.rocio,ls name OF
Swankey Pot, and Lady Leah was second The boy.
having not the slightest capacity to ride horse,
only able to sit still and lei the Lady Leah beat
him IN that heat by short head. Now came in the
telltsle difference in weight, for Miss Hampton
never caught by those behind; she had the longest
start OF the lot and won By fifteen lengths. In
the third heat the result the same Swankey Pot
being q similar distance behind Miss Hampton whcn
she passed the winning post. The horse that was
placed at scratch for this race called Selvini.
the property Of Mr.. q. W. Moore, the well known
partner in the frn' Of Moore Burgess, of Christy
Minstrels fame and who better known in the
Ninth ward OF New York Pony Moore. sohri-
quet which still sticks to him. Salyini, when trot-
ting well in his trial heat and rapidly catching those
In front Of him. broke down aud his trot-
ter is in all probability Ut an end.
As an indication of the speed shown. the following
synopsis OF the heats will suffice. In the pony
OF q mile and half, Gentle Jennie with 40 yards
start, heat in 4:i9 and 4:35; Harcbell, 275
yards. 4.43 and 443 Tommy. l75 yards, 44I and
ASS the last named being the winner OF frst prize
In the Palace Stakes. two miles, the heats
follows spotted Colt dnported). Is yards start
5;a9s.; Miss Hampton. COO yards, 522h, 90 and
5.I2A; Lady Leah, 450 yards, 5:2s; Wild Flower
$50 yards, 5:l6; swankey Pot, 5:1ok. The greatest
disparity n-te time OF several of the heats arisos
from their having been trial heats, and not those
which decided the way the money went and IL
Vines happened that the winner not pushed.
This system Of handicapplng by given start affords
opportunity for tcw outclassed American horses
TO win here, bus tile stamp OF horse which only
could be OF service to an English would be
short stepping animal. sOmohn4 like the old white