We resume the case of the leg: "For God's sake treat me like a man, and not as a milch cow." This prayer is addressed to the Jockey Club, the tribunal which does duty for a racing Court of Honour. The season will have terminated when these presents see the light of publication; and the immediate matter of this paragraph would have been reserved for the ordinary review of the turf year at its close, but that one point at issue has been so glaringly revived by an occurrence of the past month, that allusion to it will acquire force from the freshness of the moral. The term "leg" must, for want of any other, serve to demonstrate a "party" who affects the turf without a stud: one who goes about from meeting to meeting, to bet on the horses of other people. This individual has one chance of winning-that is to say, when he has backed the animal declared "first" by the Judge, and whose jockey shall have weighed in "all right." Now, how many contingencies are there in favour of his losing? He loses if the animal he has backed cannot win: he loses if the animal be not permitted to win-if it be not allowed to start-if it be kill'd, or if it die a natural death; or if the owner decease naturally, or be killed by himself or by anybody else! Pray don't laugh; it's no joking matter. In fact, it's extremely shocking-not to say disreputable. Lombardstreet to a mouse-trap on the Lords and Commons against the legs and rabble!.... I am prepared for the inquiry-" Well, and how can it be remedied? You can't make a horse win if he is not able; nor oblige his owner to start him if he don't like; nor his jockey to win, if his orders be to lose; nor can you make him come to the post if he be dead; nor force another to train and ride him, if the person by whom he was named be in a similar predicament; and there can be no betting, unless all wagers are play or pay.""......I say this will be argued against my objections; because I have heard it used a hundred times in similar arguments, and not because their logic is worth the breath it costs. As malice is the reverse of charity, so is P.P. betting to fair play......It is doubly cursed, being at once the inducement to, and the reward of, dishonour. If we are to presume that the principle of racing speculation is based upon that of the sport to which it refers, then is the P.P. system irrelevant to that of turf engagements in almost every instance. With very few exceptions, the conditions of weight for age races and matches are half forfeit to the non-starters; while, in the handicaps, it is generally about 20 per cent. Abolish P.P. betting, and all speculation will be equally affected by it-it won't give one set of men an advantage over another; and is not such a consummation worth some sacrifice? That the intricacies and impedimenta of book-making would be far less influenced by it than bettors would assume, I may show at another time: now the question of the principle only is under consideration. I have always found a woman's mind peculiarly fitted for a common sense view of a subject, and endowed with great adroitness in the argumentum ad rem. I take the liberty of quoting, in proof of the assertion, Miss Burney's philosophy of P.P. wagering; though I daresay that lady was not aware of having illustrated it more clearly than the most subtle reasoners that have ever made the attempt. Among the characters in her admirable novel, Evelina, are a certain rough sea captain, whose name I cannot call to mind, and one 66 beau Lovell." The latter has overheard the former offer a wager that he, Lovell, could or could not do something. 66 66 Captain," says the beau, "I have to beg you will not take the I don't like it." liberty of betting about me. And suppose I refuse your request, what then?" asked the sailor; suppose I think fit to bet that you haven't a tooth in your head, what would you say to that?" "I should say, Prove it, Sir," rejoined Lovell; "I should like to know how could you prove it ?"? By knocking them all down your throat," replied the sea captain.... Play-or-pay betting is a dogma of this school of logic. 66 Should the rule of the ring be that, to confirm a bet, the animal or animals to which it relates must pass the starter, then we come to the point of not being permitted to win. The profession of a jockey is one that needs natural properties, as well as those that are to be acquired. There are few who are enabled to adopt it; and these, when at all established, know the value of their calling. Make the penalty of riding-tolose banishment from the turf, and you will find that not many will run the risk, difficult as the proof of mal-practice may be. It is a convention of honour among gentlemen in their ordinary intercourse that a bet cannot be won which could not have been lost: why should not this same rule apply to horse-racing? "To the devil with your delicate devices!" cries Captain O'Shaver; "We want none of your newfangled precautions: we're very well as we are." Fitzgibbet, who flourished under the last of the " Charlies," urged a similar protest against the new police. And now, with your leave, we'll leave moralities for history. Following the good example of many of its contemporaries, Chester has now an autumn meeting. It occurred on the 5th and 6th ult., and was a most successful result of the experiment. It was fortunate in weather, and in more than the amount of sport anticipated. The two days produced nine races, independent of heats. The crack affair was the Chester Handicap, run for on the second day, for which there were 36 subscribers, and 15 runners. There was some rough work, in the shape of tumbles and running away, when, after a shocking bad tailing, Kileshea won in a canter, which was not much to be wondered at, seeing he carried 6st. 4lb. in a rather moderate field. I suppose I mustn't say, for a scratch affair it was a very respectable one: we'll call it a "scurry" then, and pronounce it quite worthy a wind-up of the year, even on the ancient and honourable Roodee. Southampton races!... me pudet... and the most sylvan, picturesque course in the world... Yorkshire Union Hunt Club Races are, as their title announces, of a mixed character; the riders being, however, exclusively gentle. As these performances are not strictly" racing," we go on to the next. The Royal Caledonian Hunt and Lothian Club Races-celebrated juxta Modern Athens-is also of a similar nature; but there both gents and jocks "witch the world" with horsemanship. The Musselburgh tryst lasted three days; but it had not much else to boast. Still, it promises well for the time to come, next year's stewards being of the right sort. The Lincolnshire Meeting-once worthy the sporting county which it represents-was a miserable failure, whereof we decline the "beggarly account." There seems to be schism between the citizens and the country families, which the sooner the former reconcile, the better. These are not times to impede the interchange of cordialities between the social classes. We now come to one of the chief of the autumnal racings-the New The wea market Second October week. The numerical strength of the stables was beyond precedent, and progress in other auxiliaries of force put it on the scene as none of its predecessors were ever "mounted." There was now a railway direct from Shoreditch... (woe is me, Diana !)... to modern Elis, which is over against the Devil's Ditch. Thither that line, lavish of locomotion, was announced to convey those who love to combine economy with enjoyment, at the cost of four dozen "browns," and persons more liberal, cheaper than they could stay at home. Need the rest be told? Those who had embraced the offer of "A princely Fortune for a Shilling!" were down betimes on Sunday; while those who scorned to take such an advantage, or were stoics from their birth, took a return-ticket for Tuesday. It won't do, so long after date, to prose over the odds and the lies that sent them up and down, as if the respectable old town had been taken possession of by heathens. This, indeed, was certain: the touts had stolen a peep behind the scenes. But what of that? The tout can't tell the truth, however earnestly he make the effort. This, nevertheless, helped to confound confusion, the catastrophe whereof shall be set down in its appropriate place. We won't say a word about Sunday, but, with your favour, suppose it the afternoon of Monday, and join the throng that wends towards the confines of Cambridgeshire. The gossip turned upon many topics of interest, in especial upon the Irish rig, of which more anon. ther was very enticing, and the attendance was good. The bill of the play opened with a Handicap of 20 sovs. each, for three-year-olds and upwards; won by Elimea, 6st. 11lb., in a field of a dozen, She was the favourite, at 4 to 1. Administrator was "left behind," as they used to say when a horse lost start. But now-a-days there's no choice in the matter. Go when Mr. Hibburd, the sic volo sic jubeo, drops his flag, or leave it alone-which you like. Match for 200 sovs. aside, D.M., brought Malmesbury, 8st. 7lb., against Archery, 8st. 21b.—the latter the "pick" of the ring; the former the winner, easily. Fifty Sovs., for two-year-olds (first class), brought eight to the post, with one the filly by Bay Middleton, out of Mustard-backed at even. Rodney, however, won, after a close shave with the crack, by a head. Fifty Pounds, for two-year-olds (second class), mustered seven starters: 6 to 4 on Nina. She didn't win, though; Grief being a head before Jelly Fish-the first and second. Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for all ages, assembled a score: 5 to 2 against The Traverser, who won cleverly by a length. Renewal of a Sweepstakes of 50 sovs., for three-year old fillies; 10 subscribers, and half of them at the post. For this, Helter-skelter was backed at 6 to 4 against, and Lola Montez at a point more. The latter won a fine race by a head; the favourite second. To this succeeded a Match for 300 sovs. each, D.M., between Conyngham, 8st. 71b., and Loadstone, 7st. 13lbs. They laid 6 to 5 on the former; but the tables turned, and the latter was the regnat-3 to 1 on him. They were right; for Nat waited with him, went up at the cords, and won easily by a length. Fifty Pounds, for three-year-olds and upwards; across the Flat; seven to go; and 6 to 5 against Collingwood. The first heat a dead one between the favourite and Wanota; the second another close finish. Collingwood won, with lots of whipcord. First year of a Produce Match, for three years, of 300 sovs. each... Tadmor received 275 sovs.; and two matches having paid, the day's engagements so far ended. Now, dinner being discussed, a debate of another sort was opened at the Subscription Rooms. I really don't know how to report it, because much that passed was eminently unsuited for repetition. The facts were these: An Irish horse called Lanesborough, as all the world knows, had been for a considerable time one of the Cesarewitch market cracks. Commissions had been done upon such terms and under such circumstances as left very little "moral" doubt that these investments were "all right." Well, this horse belonged to an Irishman, as may be inferred, indeed, when it is said that his name is Murphy. The last betting-day at Tattersall's came, and lo! there was a screw said to be loose; but whether with the Irish horse or the Irishman, did not transpire. The reader of course understands that all this is apropos of the Lanesborough row. Arrived at Newmarket, it seems Murphy-to prove that all was on the square-introduced Messrs. Gulley and Har. greaves to Lanesborough; though how such a presentation was to bring about such a result, did not come out. Still, the rumour ran that roguery somehow was a-brewing; and John Day was called to the rescue; and he went, and tried to induce Murphy to accept £2,000 for his steed-on the nail, with the contingency of another £1,000, provided he won the Cesarewitch on the morrow. But Mr. M. replied, "Nay," and denounced the evil rumours as-fabulous, and "weak inventions of the enemy." Thus matters public were situated at and about dinner-hour: what and who might be doing and done, under the rose, is another affair. At half-past ten, however, Murphy entered the room, as aforesaid, and, without any prefatory rigmarole, proceeded to state there and then that, unless £14,000 to £700 was laid him. against Lanesborough's winning the Cesarewitch on the ensuing day, that animal should enjoy a holiday, instead of earning money for other people. As the stake, however, would be worth some £1,500, one wonders Mr. M. should throw away a "shy" for such a chance. Still, so it was; and as Lanesborough had been backed for about a third of such odds as 20 to 1, nobody could afford to hedge "at the price".. Nobody did as Murphy wanted; so Murphy did as nobody that had backed his horse wanted-videlicet, he scratched him at eleven of the clock. Hereupon, many persons of various sorts-from lords to legs, inclusive-were "put in the hole," for so the phrase goes. This is the unvarnished tale, without note or comment, save that, unless meant as a little set-off against the Repeal account, it is hard to perceive why Murphy was permitted to make scorn of John Bull... Despite these storms and clouds, "time and the hour" brought Tuesday, and Tuesday brought such a company to Newmarket as had never before been seen in its streets. They said some two thousand human beings of the masculine gender had arrived by the cheap trains. If a man, of his free will, travel a hundred and twenty miles for four shillings, together with nineteen hundred and ninety-nine other persons like minded, what is it probable, taking that sum as the average of his expenses, he would consider a fair remuneration for his breakfast? I am not good at figures myself, but I should rejoice if the estimate induce Mr. Dotesio, now that there is to be another line to Windsor, to remove his hotel from Slough to the station of the Newmarket and Chesterford line, at Newmarket. The day was far from a brilliant one in respect of weather. The attendance speaks for itself. The list was a most prolific one; indeed, such a day's sport might have made amends-that is to say, as the French proverb has it, "with such sauce a man could eat his father." On the heath there was the regular ring, rails, and all in order; also another ring, which had not much to boast in the matter of regulation; and the wonder is that there were not rings all over the face of the plain, under the circumstances. Nothing shall entice me into the details of the speculation on the chief event. It will be seen how it ruled at the last; but why or wherefore, a Great Western locomotive shouldn't drag out of me. We are now on the heath, where already have congregated a company, many of whom, no doubt, "Wonder how the d-1 they got there." The sport commenced with a Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, for twoyear-old fillies, nine subscribers, and three to go: Farthingale, with 5 to 4 on her, won in a canter by three lengths. Match for 300 sovs. aside, D.M. Cervus, 8st. 7lbs. and 3 to 1 on him, was beaten easily by Clerk of the Council, 8st. 4lbs.-well done, my Lord Glasgow-at last! The Clearwell, sadly put out of popularity by the leviathan handicap, now prepared to start. The nominations were thirty, the runners nine; the odds, 5 to 4 against Sister to Arkwright, carrying 3 lbs. extra. She won very cleverly; but there was a scramble in the carly part of the race, and it was not a very eloquent performance. A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for three-year-olds, D.M., had half a dozen starters, and was won by Nectar-not in the betting. This brought us to the cynosure of observance, which I put on the scene with all its properties. The Cesarewitch Stakes, a Free Handicap of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft., with 300 added by his imperial highness the Grand Duke Cesarewitch, for three year olds and upwards. Cesarewitch Course. The winner of the Don. caster St. Leger to carry 12lbs. extra; the second horse in the St. Leger, or the winner of the Doncaster Cup or the Great Yorkshire Handicap, 6lb. extra; the extra weights not to be accumulative; the owner of the second horse to receive 50 sovs. out of the stakes, and the winner to pay 30 sovs. to the judge. 64 subscribers. Mr. W. S. Crawford's The Cur, 6 years old, 8st. 3lb.... Captain Harcourt's Ellerdale, 4 years old, 8st. 5lb... STARTED, BUT NOT PLACED: . Rogers 1 Collins 2 J. Marson 3 ...G. Brown 4 ...Templeman 0 Robinson 0 Mr. Meiklam's Inheritress, aged, 8st. 8lb. .... Mr. S. L. Fox's Executor, 4 years old, 7st. 10lb. .. .Bumby 0 .Pettit o Flatman 0 S. Mann O Wakefield 0 . A. Day 0 Crouch 0 .G. Oates O ....Miller o Foley O . J. Prince O .Pearl 0 Wakefield, jun. O G. Sharpe O .Fenn 0 |