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just before starting exchanged it for another of the same appearance, but of the lightest materials. No sooner was the race over than Milsom dropped his whip as if by accident, which was immediately picked up by a partner in crime, who then, exchanging the two, gave the jockey the loaded one to go to the scale with. For years had he carried on this game, and the production of the loaded whip, one of which Isaac Budd had retained, and the evidence of the saddler who made it, added to the old man's testimony, again stamped Richard Milsom as a convicted rascal.

We now return to our hero, who, in the stables of "honest John," as Lord -'s trainer was called, found every comfort and luxury compatible with his situation. The boy's meals, which were excellent, were liberally and regularly served. No swearing was allowed in the stables, and even the most provoking accident was only met by the worthy trainer's exclamation, "burn my breeches!" or "oh lawk!" Gambling was strictly prohibited, and a cricket ground and the use of a fives court were at the lad's service. Honest John's better half, who looked upon cleanliness as one of the cardinal virtues, attended to the boy's comforts, and there were not a merrier set of urchins to be found in all England than in the well conducted training stables we have been describing. A certain sum of winning money was equally divided among the boys, and each had opened a small account in the neighbouring town's saving banks. Such was the situation our young jockey had entered, where his talents as a jockey were soon brought about by an unforseen event. "The stable" had entered three horses for a large handicap, and by way of practice, young Sam had been put on a three-year-old filly, five stone three. Upon the following day Sam was to ride a feather weight for the cup, and the trainer thought a mount amidst a large field would tend to enervate the boy. Sam was ordered to make severe running, and when beat to give it up to the horse that the party had declared to win with.

"Yes my Lord," said the embryo Chifney, "but supposing I a'nt beat; of course then I am to win."

"To be sure," replied his noble master, "win if you can, but don't punish the filly if she can't."

"You'll see, my Lord, I can win," replied the boy; "the filly frets dreadfully if you fidget her mouth; but, as master says, I may let her go her own pace, there's nothing I think can catch her." "Well Sam, you're a sanguine boy, win if you

can."

"I will my Lord:" and the young jockey was as good as his word. Away he went in as true running as ever was made, outlasted the field, and won his race cleverly.*

(To be continued.)

A circumstance similar to the one I have narrated occurred at the last Goodwood meeting. Young Kitchener, a most promising lad, was put upon Lord George Bentinck's br. f., the Yorkshire Lady, in the steward's cup, by way of practice for the Goodwood Stakes, in which he was to ride the Whaler feather weight. The young jockey won the steward's cup, beating the Duke of Richmond's Balona by half a length-African, with whom Lord George had declared to win with, being a very good third. The winner not mentioned in the betting; 3 to 1 against African, 7 to 2 against Baleena. This youth will be a Robinson in time.

A COUPLE OF DAYS AT NEWMARKET.

BY UNCLE TOBY.

I always enjoy my annual spring visit to Newmarket amazingly; there are smiling countenances and " Derby winners" to be seen in every establishment. Then, again, one is divested of those exciting systems which too frequently accompany the mind and opinion of the speculator on the eve of a meeting coming off. To me, at least, there is as much pleasure on seeing the different" strings" of horses out under the watchful eye of their respective trainers, as in witnessing the struggles of a race over the "Two Middle Miles," or across the painful "Ditch-in." The month of March is a cheering one to the racing man; it commences his sport for the year, and enables him to take a tolerably correct "measure" of his winter doings on the Derby and Oaks, inasmuch as trial-ing is always at that period much in vogue. I certainly was not, on the present occasion, prepared to meet with such "full stables" as there are at present at the great emporium of racing-Newmarket. The different courses-thanks to the judicious manager-are in admirable order; many improvements have taken place since my visit in the Houghton Meeting, and everything looks in a healthy state. The innkeepers and owners of lodgings had already put in force those cleanly artisans, the painter and whitewasher, and altogether the neat little town appeared quite "touched up" according to the fashion of the day. With this short preface I shall be content, and at once commence my say on the different establishments, making such observations as caught my eye or ear during my short sojourn.

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As may be supposed, I was extremely anxious to see Rattan, the present favourite for the coming Derby. Every one knows that this valuable colt is the property of Mr. Crockford, and that he is trained by one of the most skilful professors of the time-Mr. Joseph Rogers. Rattan is a nice wiry animal, with a pedigree good enough to win anything. Some fastidious writers have thought fit to pronounce him "leggy," and "not at all a Derby horse;" my opinion is very rent. It is true that he is not so powerful an animal as a Plenipotentiary or a Bay Middleton; but many a horse of less substance, and without a tithe of his character for speed and stoutness, have carried off the Derby easily-need I allude to Frederick in 1829, to Spaniel in 1831, and Little Wonder in 1840. Rattan, without doubt, was the best two-year-old performer of last season, and he won his two engagements so easily that it is impossible to say how greatly superior he was to the fields he met and they were large fields of good horses. I do not fancy him much grown since I saw him "pull up" in the Houghton Meeting, but he unquestionably is improved in the muscular department, and his action is straight and good-just such as I

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prefer to mount the tiring hill at Epsom. In health Rattan looked blooming and well. Pineapple, his leader, also looked and went in good style; it is said that he is to go for the Craven Stakes. Rogers has another good-looking Derby colt; I mean Falconer, the property of Lord Wm. Powlett. This colt is entered in the Newmarket Stakes in the First Spring Meeting; and should he do the trick cleverly, what will be his Derby odds? Falconer was got by Liverpool, out of Nell Gwynne. Of the other horses in force under Rogers's care, I have to notice Keeley (brother to Rosalind), the Emma colt, Fakeaway (in the Port Stakes), Reciprocity (in the Chester Cup at 7st. 2lb.), and Blackdrop. I heard it whispered that Keeley was expected at least to measure the length of the Ugly Buck in the race for the valuable Two Thousand Guineas Stakes. Nous verrons. It struck me that all the three-year-olds in this establishment were as forward as many other lots are in the month of May. The next string that came under my observation was Cooper's, and a strong one it is. Cooper trains for Colonel Peel and General Yates, and is undoubtedly the best manager of two-year-olds at Newmarket. His "lot" for the coming season is about an average one, and the following high sounding names form a portion of it:-Orlando, Ionian, Zenobia, and the filly out of Seakale. All these are rather deeply engaged, particularly Orlando and Zenobia. I was fortunate enough to see Cooper's horses out twice, and as far as the eye can reach, I must say, despite the odds against me at the Corner, that Ionian is more like a Derby colt than Orlando; added to which, Ionian has no engagements before the day, which is considerably in his favour, whereas Orlando is in the Tuesday's Riddlesworth and two other stakes in the Craven Meeting. Zenobia, a great favourite of mine last year, seemed to have trained on well, and here I must caution my readers not to stand against her for the Oaks, for she is sure to run well home if well on the day. Garry Owen, I-am-not-aware (in the Oatlands), Cameleon, Murat, Canton, and Hartshorn, were amongst the "gallopers," and I must here express my surprise at the latter not having been noticed in the odds at the Corner, when the betting on the Chester Cup was on the carpet; his weight is 5st. 12lb., and he is a four-year-old, and well. Garry Owen, once the fastest over the Two-Year-Old Course, seemed to have felt the wear and tear of his speedy runs, and I question much whether he will ever again figure to advantage. Taking a retrospective view of the last ten or a dozen years, I find that Cooper has done more with his two-year-olds than any other trainer at Newmarket, yet some how or another his three-year-olds have fallen early into the "sere and yellow leaf"-to wit:- Bentley, Cameleon, Chatham, Murat, cum multis aliis. Nat and Chapple are the jockeys generally up in this establishment.

I was gratified to see Sam Chifney's star once more in the ascendant, Mr. Thornhill's valuable lot being now under his care. I did not think much of the pet Derby colt, Apprentice; but I must own that I did not see him out of a walk. Extempore appeared much improved since I last saw her, and no doubt will run well in her 500 SOVS. match against Mr. Jacques' filly, Semiseria, in the Second Spring Meeting: the weights are 8st. 71b. each, and the dis

tance A.F. I noticed several very promising two-year-olds, the property of Mr. Thornhill, in this lot; and, from what I learnt, I have a notion that there will be something from the Riddlesworth nursery worth backing for the Derby, 1845. The palace stables (Mr. Edwards) were full of horses, and all in a healthy and forward state. Amongst many others that sweated during my short stay, I booked the following from this establishment :--Oakley, The Brewer, Minataur, Panther, Robinia, Brush, Espoir, and Candidate. Robinia is in the Oaks, and, at her present figure (25 to 1), she is certainly deserving of support: her pedigree is good, she being a daughter of the celebrated Liverpool, out of Ralph's dam, by Catton, out of Altisidora (winner of the St. Leger in 1813), by Dick Andrews. Oakley is a fine animal, and bids fair to spin to advantage over the nice, easy half-mile courses for which he is so famed. The Brewer is engaged in the Port Stakes, but I apprehend that his form is not good enough to enable him to stand much chance against Gaper, Fakeaway, Phlegon, or Murat. It is somewhat singular that William Edwards should be so hard put to of late with his Derby horses; indeed, with the exception of Ralph, in 1841, he has had nothing for that great event of any consequence. Some trialing, I understood, had taken place; and no doubt the honourable member for Westminster will commence match-making on behalf of his noble friends. Robinson rides for this establishment. Stephenson's lot was rather under the usual mark, and I saw nothing of consequence to interest me. That rank imposter, Cataract, appeared to be taking his exercise kindly; but he is a "sorry dog," and put his admirers last year to a great inconvenience in the money way. Ma Mie was going on famously, and I hesitate not to say that she will earn her corn during the present season, and put something handsome into her owner's pocket. I remember the time, and not so long ago either, when Stephenson's stable was the "lion" of Newmarket; now, alas! it has fallen off sadly. That fine old English sporting nobleman, his grace the Duke of Grafton, was at the period I mean a staunch supporter; but now the noble duke, from his advanced age (in his 85th year), merely keeps a few horses in training, and rarely frequents Newmarket. I cannot refrain from mentioning that the once-fashionable colours, "scarlet jacket and black cap," have been found first at the finish of four Derbys and eight Oaks. Stephenson's horses did not appear to me to be in so forward a state for the ensuing campaign as many of his contemporaries; still most of them were "up to the mark," as the term goes. John Day usually rides for this stable, but occasionally young Stephenson gets into the " pigskin;" and it may not be out of place here to observe that he has a clear head and steady hand.

Beresford, trainer for Lord Milltown, has a little lot of moderate horses, all of which appeared to be going on well. Scalteen, who ran so well last year at Goodwood, is in good force, and I quite expect to see him come out well this year: this horse is in the Chester Cup, is five years old, with 8st. 2lb. on him--a moderate weight, it must be admitted. There are not many noblemen who understand the mysteries of the turf and the points of a racer better than my Lord Milltown. I noticed a very promising filly by Ishmael, out of

Potteen, three years old, amongst other sweaters in this lot: she is rather heavily engaged, and is reported to be something out of the common; therefore the betters on the Oaks, for which race she is nominated, ought to be on the look-out.

Boyce is well off in numbers, but I did not cast my eye upon anything very superior. Since my last visit, the Duke of Portland's horses have been sent from R. Prince's to Boyce's, the noble duke having become a confederate of his noble friend, the Duke of Rutland. I counted more than a dozen horses out. Amongst the number were the fast runner Cowslip, who appeared greatly improved since last autumn: Coranna, who so gallantly won the Cæsarewitch, and ought to have done the same in the Cambridgeshire Stakes, looked and galloped in good form. I was told that he was to be "bottled up" for the Ascot Cup; if so, he is pretty sure to become a rattling favourite. I was particularly struck by the appearance of a colt of his grace of Portland's-I mean the three-year-old by Bay Middleton, out of Thebes. This colt is in the Tuesday's Riddlesworth, with an allowance of 3lbs. ; and, although he will be in good company, I quite anticipate seeing him run in the front at the end of the Ditch Mile. Boyce has nothing to give him a chance for either of the great Epsom races. It may not be generally known that, some twenty years ago, the Duke of Portland-disgusted with some underhanded tricks of a party who must be nameless-withdrew his patronage from all subsequent Derbys and Oaks, much to the regret of the right-minded sportsman. Owing to some mistake, in which probably both were in the wrong, Mr. Osbaldeston removed his horses from Stebbings, and placed them under the care of W. Butler. The lot consists of six or seven, but-with the exception of the Sister to Martingale, and the dark Escrick, both three-year-olds-there is nothing to boast about. That wretched four-year-old with the ridiculous name, "Shocking Mamma," is hard at work for the Chester Tradesmen's Plate, at Chester, for which race he is accommodated with 5st. 10lb.! Light as this weight may appear, I unhesitatingly assert that if he were "turned loose," as the turf phrase goes, could not win.

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At Six-mile Bottom, famous for being the training-ground of Gustavus, winner of the Derby in 1821, are Mr. S. Ford's horses-and a nice team the learned gentleman has-all looking in fine condition. Fisher has the management of this lot, and he seems to understand his delicate duties well. Poison, winner of the Oaks last year, appears likely to show some running. She has quite recovered from her indisposition, and, in all probability, will run in the Craven Meeting. Spiteful, also, seemed quite up to the mark; and the two Derby colts, Qui Tam and Sir Diggory Diddle, are progressing most favourably for the great Epsom event. By-the-bye, I have been informed that these horses have been quietly backed for the Derby to win an immense amount of money at very long odds. How, trainer for Lord Orford, has but a moderate string; nevertheless, there are one or two likely to answer during the coming season. Boots, a grey colt by Clearwell, out of Goldpin, appeared amazingly improved since last year. His performance is not to be despised, inasmuch as he ran

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