In 1854, at Epsom, Mincemeat, ridden by Charlton, won the Oaks Stakes of 50 sovs. each, 8st. 7lb. each, &c., a mile and a half, beating Lord Derby's Meteora (2), Lord Bruce's Bribery (3), Mr. Gregory's Lady Bird (4), and the following not placed:-Lord Derby's Sortie, Mr. Howard's Diana, Mr. Payne's Strutaway, Mr. Batson's Malmsey, Mr. B. H. Jones's Reveillé, Mr. A. Nichol's Honeysuckle, Mr. Combe's Apropos, Mr. Osborne's Hopeful filly, Mr. Brown's Balmoral, Mr. J. M. Stanley's Mishap, and Lord Palmerston's Austrey. -Ten to one against Mincemeat, who won in a canter by a length and a half. SUMMARY OF MINCEMEAT'S PERFORMANCES. In 1853 she started three times, and won once :- 4125 £4475 Mincemeat's only engagement is in the Great North and South of England Biennial Stakes at York, where with a 5lb. penalty she is arrayed against Scythian, Acrobat, Dervish, Lady Bird, Meteora, King Tom, Ivan, and others. She paid in the Thousand Guineas Stakes, and in the Stewards' Plate at Stockbridge. Mincemeat went into training as the joint property of her breeder, Mr. Cookson, and Mr. D. Holmes, whose decease occurred only a short time previous to her great victory. The mare was trained so far by Goodwin, already favourably known at Epsom for the form in which he had brought out another Oaks winner, Rhedycina, in 1850. The success of Mincemeat, however, was by no means anticipated by the party, the filly having been lame in the foot only a fortnight previous to the race, and advertised, in fact, for sale by private contract within a very short time before winning. She has since been brought to the hammer, at Newmarket, in the July meeting, when she was knocked down for 850 guineas to Baron Rothschild, who was one of her chief backers for the Oaks. The Oaks of this year, like the Derby, introduced one of our most successful jockeys to the great honours of the turf. Though few more frequent winners throughout the country, this is Charlton's "first blood" in the three great events of the year. It will be remembered that he was within one of the Derby of this same seasonhaving reached second in it on King Tom for his first master, the Baron. THE RACING SEASON OF '54.-JULY. BY CRAVEN. "Ancient of days-august Athena; where Where are thy men of might? the grave in soul? Gone glimmering through the dream of things that were, They were, and passed away." BYRON. The turn of the season, on Tuesday the 4th ult., opened with the July Meeting at Newmarket. The first race on the card was a handicap of £70, for all ages from three years old, the Suffolk Stakes Course. It was won by Mr. Mare's St. Faith, 3 to 1 against him...... Then came the especial race of the meeting-the July Stakes, for two-yearolds, colts 8st. 7lbs., fillies 8st. 5lbs., twenty-one nominations, and three runners. The betting was 10 to 1 on Bonnie Morn, and he won in a canter by six lengths...... In my last month's "Racing Season " article, I gave a short paragraph in these words...... 66 Tattersall's, June 12th, 1854.-The introduction of a new Derby favourite for 1855- Græculus Esuriens'-the Hungry Little Greekwas the only important feature of the afternoon. As 'coming events cast their shadows before,' I am instructed to conclude that this courser with the nominal mauvaise plaisanterie, is not the real Simon Pure of the party. Nous verrons on the other side of '54...... Opening at 25 to 1, he speedily advanced, after a heavy outlay, to 17 to 1; a point more was afterwards laid and offered, while the Room continued open. His stable companion, Bonnie Morn, to get on whom, Mr. Bowes' alter aliter Aurifer, everybody was eager during the previous week, was sent to the right-about,' which, in process of time, they will discover was not ' about right.' Wednesday the 5th, inasmuch as scanty countenance is inimical to Turf success, was worse than its forerunner. Small plates and sweep stakes of ten sovereigns each were its sporting staple. Thursday-the ultimate of the meeting-opened like the first day, with a handicap of £70 for all ages above three years old, Bunbury Mile; eleven ran, and Miss Charlotte-the favourite-at 7 to 2 against her, won by a length and a half. A Sweepstakes of ten sovereigns each, for all ages, New T.Y.C., had four nominations, and all of them at the post. Testy was the best in the market, at 5 to 4 versus, and Nicotine was the winner by a neck. This brought us to the second great two-year-old race, the Chesterfield Stakes of thirty sovereigns each, twenty forfeit, last half of the Bunbury Mile. The odds were 2 to 1 on Alcyone; 5 to 2 against Lord Chesterfield's filly, sire Orlando, dam Boarding School Miss; 7 to 1 against Daffodil, and the same against Clotilde. The start was a discomfiting beginning, but when they did get away the Boarding School Miss filly soon got in front, and finally finished there, half a length in advance of Daffodil. Thus the sponsor of the stakes was £780 in pocket for the honour bestowed upon the aristocratic Heath. The three July days finished with a plate of £50, for all ages, also the last half of the Bunbury Mile; nine ran, Dagobert and Langbourne at 5 to 2 each, and finishing as here quoted, a length between first and second. Thus terminated the speculative pleasures of Olympic tastes, for a season. On arriving in town, and having time for metropolitan gossip, if holders of Crystal Palace Stock, they found its shares already at a discount, with the following consolatory promise of returning to a premium...... Globe, July 7th :-"The Crystal Palace Shares have lately been drooping...... The impression is very general-judging from the average receipts, and deducting the heavy expenditure essential for the maintenance of the building that there is very little prospect of any dividend on the large capital expended." The Times of the 8th, in its bulletin of her Majesty's second matutinal visit to Sydenham, observed :-"Vigorous steps should be taken at once to stop the 'touting' of exhibitors, for custom." Here we have in the middle of the nineteenth century, an English Palace practising its commercial "calling," after the custom of Whitechapel and Petticoat Lane, despite capital of millions sterling, upon which "there is very little prospect of any dividend being paid." Several of the June meetings fell so late in the month, that it was not possible to refer to them in the July number of this work. Carlisle took place on Monday the 26th and two following days, on none of which occurred anything worth notice...... Beverley, Hull, and East Riding races took place on the 28th and 29th, and they were still more insignificant......concluding with the Westwood, of £1 each, with £10 added!...... Ludlow Races occupied the same days, with events to the subjoined effect:-First day, the Ludlow Stakes of £10 each, £3 forfeit; a sweepstakes of £5 each, with £30 added; the Oakley Park Stakes of £5 each, and nothing added. The second day, the Cup Stakes of £5 each, with £25 added; the South Shropshire Stakes of £7 each, and £2 only if declared on or before the 13th June, with £20 added; the Old Field Stakes of £5 each, for two-year-olds, colts 8st. 5lbs., and fillies 8st. 2lbs., nothing added, was won by Mr. F. Shirley's ch. f., Cambray, seeing that the other three paid-thereby putting £15, barring expenses, into Mr. F. Shirley's pocket. A Scramble Handicap of £3 each, £1 forfeit, with £20, Mr. Sheperdson's Liberty, aged, carrying 6st. 12lbs., won; and a handicap of £3 each, with £25 added, less £8 to the second, Gayhurst carried off; and thus ended the sports at Ludlow. The Bibury Club, Stockbridge Course, brings us back to racing as it ought to be. It opened on the 28th of June, with a sweepstakes of fifty sovereigns each, half forfeit, for three-year-old produce; Mr. W. Etwall's ch. f., sire Robert de Gorham, dam Soldier's Joy, walked over...... Bibury Stakes-amateur-of ten sovereigns each, half forfeit, with fifty added by the Club, the owner of the second horse saved his stake, one mile and a half, nineteen subscribers, half a dozen went (even on Cock Pheasant) and finished in order following:-Mr. Payne's Cock Pheasant, four years old, 10st. 9lbs., Captain Little, 1...... Mr. Bevill's br. g; Garforth, aged, 11st. 11lbs., owner, 2...... "Won by half a length." The Champagne Stakes-professional-of ten sovereigns each, with fifty added by the Club, for two-year-olds. Course-the last threequarters of the New Mile, nineteen subscribers. Half a dozen of these raced-7 to 4 against Contention, 2 to 1 against Lady Alicia, and 7 to 2 Saucebox; the issue of the speculation being in this wise... Mr. Bennett's b. f., Lady Alicia, sire Melbourne, dam Testy, first by a head; a dead heat for the second place between Mr. Arnold's Saucebox and Mr. Williams's Lambswool, Redemption well up for the fourth place........ The Andover Stakes-handicap and amateur-the Old Mile, fifteen subscribers, brought out seven at these odds :-5 to 4 against Wellsbourne, 5 to 2 against William Rufus, and 6 to 1 against Garforth. Of this lot but two were placed, viz., Mr. Percival's William Rufus, 1, by a neck, Captain Little; and Mr. E. Scobell's Wellsbourne (h. b.), owner, second. Returning again to regular work, came a plate of £50 for two and three year olds, T.Y.C. Five ran, Mr. Megson's b. c. Master Adam being first home. 5 to 2 on Master Adam, who won by a length and a half. The list closed with an amateur plate of £50, for all ages, a mile and a half. Three runners constituted the field: these were Mr. Farrance's Cardinal Wiseman, Mr. Osbaldeston, 1...... Mr. G. B. Price's Orpheus, owner, 2...... And Mr. Sargent's Henrietta, Captain Little, 3. They backed the last at even, and betted 2 to 1 each against the others. The favourite finished badly. Stockbridge Races took place on Thursday the 29th June; commencing with the Third Year of the Fourth Triennial Stakes of £10 each, for four-year-olds, two miles and a half, thirty subscribers, run a trio between Mr. Barber's Cobnut, Mr. Percival's William Rufus, and William Day's Pharos: 5 to 2 on Cobnut, first by eight lengths. To this succeeded the juvenile edition of the produce practice-the First Year of the Sixth Stockbridge Triennial Stakes of £10 each, for twoyear-olds, T.Y.C., won by Mr. Bowes's grey colt, The Bonnie Morn, by Chanticleer, with 3 to 1 on him, and 5 to 1 against Dartmouth. "Won by two lengths; Dartmouth a very bad third." Thus did The Bonnie Morn win two rich stakes after the 12th of June, 1854. With his two first maiden races in succession, will Mr. Bowes's Græculus Esuriens " go and do likewise" ?...... The Second Year of the Fifth Stockbridge Triennial Stakes of £10 each, for three-year-olds, the weights as carried in the preceding race by two-year-olds-Course, one mile and a half, fifty-five subscribers, brought four to the post :-Mr. Gully's b. c. Andover-winner of the Derby, 1854-with 7 to 2 on him, and heavy penalties also, "won by a length !"...... How does this handicapping shadow the destiny of the Derby in 1855? A sweepstakes of £5 each, with £25 added, T.Y.C., was run for by four of all ages, and won by Mr. Goodered's b. f., sire Harkaway, dam Red Tape. Is this Mr. W. Russell's b. f.-of a similar genealogy entered in the Book Calendar for the Two Year Old Stockbridge Triennial Stakes, won by The Bonnie Morn? The Stewards' Plate of £100, added to a sweepstakes of £10 each, two miles, eighty-two subscribers, mustered a field of six; they laid 4 to 1 on the Hermit, wherein they were right, for he won easily by four lengths-a good measurement of his form. Little David, at 10 to 1 against him, was second. The Mottisfont Stakes, with fifty-one subscribers, was performed a quartet of two-year-olds—Mr. H. Hill's Kingstown, by Tearaway, dam Foinnualla, Alfred Day, 1......Mr. Fenning's b. c., the Border Chief, Marlow, 2. 5 to 4 against the Border Chief. Won by a length. The meeting ended with the Stand Plate-handicap-of £50, with £10 for the second-the New Mile. Half a score ran, and three were placed :— Mr. Newland's Old Rowley, J. Goater, 1...... Mr. Y. King's Narcissus, Alfred Day, 2...... and Mr. William Day's Eccleston, Alder, 3. Odds: 5 to 1 against the winner. Thus terminated the day at Stockbridge, with one event of promise and interest. Winchester wound up the month with half-a-dozen races of no account. The first was the second year of the Third Winchester Triennial Stakes of £10 each, for foals of 1851; a mile and a half, eight subscribers; run a match between Lord Bruce's Bribery, Flatman, and Mr. Snewing's Dan Cupid, Alfred Day. 5 to 1 on Bribery, who won in a canter. Her Majesty's Plate-Rataplan, ridden by Flatman, 4 to 1 on him, won easily, beating Cobnut and Woodcote. The Grand Park Stakes of £10 each, with £100 added, for two-yearolds, T.Y.C., Mr. Greville's br. c., sire Red Hart, dam Refraction, 5 to 1 against him, ridden by Flatman, won, beating half-a-dozen-Saucebox second. The Old Original Hampshire Stakes brought five to the post; Lord Bruce's Bribery won by a head, Cleveland second, and Lascelles third. The City Members' Plate of £50, Mr. Greville's Mandricardo, Harding, and 6 to 4 on him, won by a length, The Brigadier second. With a Sweepstakes of £5 each, and £30 added, T.Y.C., and three runners, ended the racing month and its material; Michaelmas Maid, ridden by Wells, with 6 to 4 on her, won by three lengths. The finale was not allegro. The Liverpool July Meeting was inaugurated on Aintree weather and course were both favourable, but the sport was indifferent, and the management dilatory and unsatisfactory. It is strange that professional races should take the lead in the practices most calculated to damage the interest of those who speculate in them. It is not the turf for which they cater, but dealers in bad dinners, worse liquors, and disreputable guests. If they would, should, or could read Sophocles, there is a line whose moral might mend their “ ways and means 22 Πολλὰς δ' ὀδοὺς ελθόντα φροντίδος πλάνοις. The list was headed with the Croxteth Stakes, seven subscribers: four of these ran, and two only were in the betting-Orestes, at 6 to 4 against him, and the same against Knight of St. George. The pace was "poor indeed!" it was not till close to the chair, that there was an apology for a gallop: then the pair in the odds set-to in a match wherein Orestes had the best by a neck; Charlton rode the winnerwell, under the circumstances. : In the Mersey, for two-year-olds, three ran. Odds-5 to 2 on Lady Palmerston, and 4 to 1 against Sicily. The pair had it all to themselves, and in a bitter struggle, Lady Palmerston just landed her backers by a head. Wells rode the winner-worthy of his hire. The third race was the Sefton Stakes. The odds were 6 to 4 on |