I'll drive you over to the ground. That's devilish good lap. another drain of the phial!"

Waiter !

"The world aint quite blue-moulded," observed the steeple-chaser to his friend, as they spun over the McAdam towards the place of rendezvous; "there's life in the old dog yet! But you must know how to work him; that's the ticket. After having broken every bone in my body, and taken nothing by it, I began to think there might be something got out of gammoning to be killed. That dead dodge' has been the saving of my life. Fellows, who have begrudged me a cigar beyond my regular ride when I've dared death and the d-1 to win a Fifty for 'em, have left their hundred pound-in fine new flimsies-on my dressingtable, when I've let myself slip off their horses quietly into a ditch, and come the dead'un. A country surgeon takes his office from the state of your top-boots; shakes his head, sticks in his lancets, orders a bucket of physic, and the patient to be kept quiet. The man that mounted you has the coroner's inquest before his eyes, and stumps up to sawder the verdict. I tell you what it is, that dead dodge has been the making of me I've three thousand pounds at my banker's now, and nothing to do but look out for a soft place to fall in."

......

as it

"Them as haves jackets shall get great coats." So runs the proverb, which it behoves those who run for a profession to read. The tide in the affairs of the amateurs is at the flood which leads to fortune was at Epsom so it will be found at Ascot. This princely meeting commenced on the 5th ult. Tuesday and Thursday have been long selected as occasions for the Royal presence when it may please the Sovereign to honour the Heath by a visit: this year Her Majesty and suite attended on both those days. The fashion of that most gracious spectacle has been so often detailed in this work, that it will be sufficient to say it failed in no point of its gorgeous character, and lacked none of those loyal and loving demonstrations which wait upon the Queen of England wherever and whenever she meets her people

"She won them well, and may she wear them long."

From whatever quarter you approach Ascot Heath, you pass through some of the most lovely rural districts in the island. The Londoner has for option the classic shades of Windsor, or the pleasant lawns and limpid waters of Richmond-the sheen and savoury. And there is store of railways for his choice: the Great Western-which should be called the imperial; for, of a surety, it is the monarch of highways and the South-western, with less of circumstance, but not a jot behind in comfort or convenience. The Derby "settlement" had in no sense been effected, so that speculation was far from firm. What necessity there is, at a great popular fête-at a pleasure-pageant for a howling wilderness of legs, splitting the ears of the gentle and the simple with shrieks and shouts produced by agonies of the odds, I am not in a condition to ascertain. The journals deal with a race-meeting as if it were an anniversary held in various parts of Great Britain for the purpose and promotion of betting. The attendance of the professionals is canvassed as the test of success or failure. "There was little or nothing done in the ring" is written as equivalent to a declaration that there might as well have been no race at all, which seems to be classlogic, at all events-some will say sophism. Unless I am deceived, the day is past for luckestry in horse-racing. Nous verrons....

Tuesday, the 5th of June, aforesaid, dawned, as related to the re

gions around the Metropolis, " in thunder, lightning, and in rain ;” in the capital, all was "sunshine and fair weather.' During the day there was rain on the course; but the latter portion of the afternoon was fair, and very favourable. The royal cortège, in all its courtly appendages complete, arrived by the New Mile duly at one P.M. The picture is the most appropriate that can be conceived. In "the observed of all observers" there is far more courtesy than condescension, and more kindness than either-a characteristic of all the royal etchings. The "fair women and brave men, "the peerless equipages, the perfect keeping of all the accessories, and the welcome-these, all these, must be witnessed to appreciate the fitting mise en scene of an interview between a British Queen and her subjects at a celebration of one of the great national sports.... Business opened with the Trial Stakes, which brought three to the post. They laid long odds on Collingwood-from 3 to 5 to 1; and he won "in a concatenation," accordingly. The Gold Vase-a very gorgeous prize-was the next race, for which there were a dozen subscribers, seven starters. They laid 5 to 4 against Canezou, a point more against Cossack, 5 to 1 against the Flea, and twice as much against Glenalvon. It was a slashing finish, Glenalvon winning on the post by a head, the two favourites making a dead heat of it for second place. Thus Lord Exeter opened the ball, in which other noblemen and gentlemen presently took distinguished parts. The Ascot Derby-another "certainty"-resulted in a "follow suit." There were twenty nominations, of which half-a-dozen ran-the odds, 5 to 4 against Drakelow, 4 to 1 Repletion, 5 to 1 The Jester, the same Lord Sidney, and 12 to 1 against Lepidus. The favourite soon "showed in the race," which, albeit Testator led the greatest portion of the distance, was won from end to end by Repletion. He was first past the post, a length, at his own pace-nothing could make it faster, A Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for two-year-olds, threequarters of a mile, eight subscribers, had three to go. Sicyon was the best-liked his price, 7 to 4 on him; and 2 to 1 against Cariboo. The non-favourite, however, led all through, and won in a canter. The second year of the first Ascot Triennial Foal Stakes, of 10 sovs, each, with 100 added, New Mile, 67 subscribers, induced eleven to try their pretensions. The fancy was Hotspur, backed at 2 to 1 against him, sadly unfit as he was; but nobody knew it-not even the talents"... "Cui lumen ademptum.' Elthiron was backed at 7 to 2, Nunnykirk at 9 to 2, Vatican at 6 to 1, Osterley the same, 7 to 1 Honeycomb, 10 to 1 Borneo, and 15 to 1 against Repletion. There was a ruck in front to the road, where Osterley made a rush for the race, but was passed by Vatican, who led to the distance. There Borneo beat him, kept in front to the finish, and won cleverly by a length. Nunnykirk was second-a better performance than that which he achieved at Epsom. The Ascot Stakes, handicap, 124 subscribers, of whom 94" declared," had a field of 16. The favourite was Essedarius, at 4 to 1 (6st. 4lbs.); and many of the others were backed at miscellaneous figures. The race was of course a very resolute affair— some of the jockeys going "off" with their horses from the post, and some of the horses doing the same by their jockeys. The distance is two miles and a-half, The tug of war commenced about the rise from the old mile-post, where Vampyre and Essedarius were "at it," slipping the body of competitors round the turn, where they were first or there

abouts. I say "thereabouts" advisedly-wherefore, we shall see byand-by, The former won cleverly by a length, Wanota beating Essedarius for second by two lengths, Vampyre, carrying 6st, 5lbs., won this stake last year. His weight to-day was 7st. 91b.-a difference of eighteen pounds between a five and a four-year-old. A Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for three-year-olds, once round, fourteen named, and four went; 2 to 1 on Vatican. The favourite waited to the stand, where he forced the running, went to the front, and won, but not without a struggle for it, by a head. The Welcome Stakes, of the eleven nominations, brought three to the post: 6 to 4 on Osterley, At the stand, the pick of the ring proved the confidence placed in him correct, and won with all ease by a length. . . . The royal party left at the finish of the Ascot Derby, greeted by every demonstration of popular respect and observance. It was in returning from the heath this afternoon I learnt for the first time that a noble property, whose locality is endeared to me by many, many happy associations, was forthwith to be brought to the hammer.... "from the same causes that have led recently to the dispersion of several other noble estates." The owner is distinguished for the lead he took on the turf previous to the sale of his enormous stud to the nobleman who now occupies the same prominent position in the racing world. Alas! Don Cæsar de Bazan, you are not the only frank, free spirit that "the rascals cleaned out," neither are you likely to be the last by some generations.

;

Wednesday-a bye-day, with a bad list-was not, as may be supposed, very attractive. But many of the turf leaders are "planted" for the week around Windsor, so that there is sure to be "quality," if not quantity, to grace the revels. Moreover, the skiey influences were malignant; and it was not pleasant that's a fact. The Coronation Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft., for three-year-old fillies, New Mile, twenty subscribers, could only muster three for the fray. The winner of the Oaks, malgré her 7lbs. penalty, was backed at 5 to 2 on her and she won, as she ought to have done "at the price," by a brace of lengths, in a canter. Lady Evelyn is likely to turn out "one of the paying sort," as they say in the stables. A Sweepstakes of 30 sovs. each, 2 ft., for three-year-olds, the Swinley Course, eight subscribers, had also a trio at the post. Teflis and Queensberry were each at 5 to 4 against them, and Camden was at 5 to 1 ditto. The gelding, that is to say Teflis (Georgia is notorious for the emasculate gender), had the best of it by a neck. The Fernhill Stakes, handicap, 15 sovs., 5 ft., and 50 added, had eighteen subscribers, whereof eight went. Officious, backed at 7 to 4 on her (and a smart two-year-old she is), beat her field to fits, and won in a canter by two lengths. Next came a walk-over for a Sweepstakes of 40 sovs. each, for three-year-olds, three subscribers, by Lord Exeter's Tancred; and then "The Royal Hunt Cup" was put in preparation. When I spake of "a bad list," the reference was to the prestige of the events; and albeit this cup was a very sightly trophy, it didn't quite keep caste with certain of its contemporaries. However, with 44 subscribers at 10 sovs. each, the value of the plate also £200, which was added from the fund, and one-andtwenty starters, it was by no means the style of thing to suspend, as Horace says, "naso adunco." There was a mass of speculation too mighty to insert, the favourite being Hornpipe, with 3 to 1 against him, which was not much for a handicap, They laid 8 to 1 against

Collingwood-it may as well be said, as that it was, moreover, a very emphatic passage of "betting round." The course being the New Mile, and the starting out of sight, how it was accomplished I cannot say. How it was run up to the distance is in a similar category; but at the stand, Collingwood, with the issue at his command, was in close waiting upon Newcourt, whom he presently gave the go-by, and won in a canter by two lengths. I read, attached to the notice of this event in the newspaper returns, "The rain prevented our timing this race. What rain has to do with the operations of a stop-watch I am not competent to declare; but those who are familiar with such instru ments will probably be able to inform me on this point. I should really be glad to be enlightened; for I cannot suppose so deliberate an assertion put forth except upon very positive grounds. . . . The Windsor Town Plate of Thirty-five Sovereigns! ("Proh pudor!" are there no Merry Wives i' th' town, to put a little more life into the burghers?) drew out a dozen: 3 to 1 against Philosopher, the same Bokhara, 5 to 1 Whitstone, and 7 to 1 against Whitley. The stake was "made up" fifty-no thanks to the royal town, as aforesaid. The course being the T.Y.C., they all came away as hard as they could split, and so they finished, Whitstone winning by a head, and that a "close shave."

Thursday, which is here the especial gala, was as bright and beautiful as if it had been ordered for the nonce. The attendance was "prodigious:" London, as it seemed, had poured forth nine-tenths of her citizens, and the provinces had certainly not been backward in coming forward. Perhaps there was not so large a proportion of bon ton as in time past, but then it should be remembered, just now democracy is in the ascendant. The sovereign was present with the royal children and a brilliant court, and the country had sent its representatives by hundreds of thousands to tender its homage. Ascot Cup day is an occasion when the monarch holds a levee, at which the receptions are en masse. As usual, the racing began as soon as her Majesty had interchanged greeting with the throng that shouted its welcomes as the royal party presented itself at the windows of the stand. The opening event was a Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for three years old, Swinley course, 16 nominations; five of these went, the betting being 6 to 4 against Fire King, 2 to 1 Strongbow, 5 to 1 Stanton, and 9 to 1 Cambria: the latter ran in front to the turn, where he was passed, and the race was an open one till between the Grand Stand and the Chair, Strongbow had obviously the result in hand, and he won by a couple of lengths, or very little less. The Visitors' Plate, handicap, 100 sovs, and 25 for the second, brought nine to the post: they took 5 to 2 about St. Antonio, 7 to 2 Hornpipe, 4 to 1 the Mandane colttwo or three others were backed. Lord Stanley's fancy-coloured horse, hight (appropriately) "CIRCUS," ran in this race as Cambria had done in the preceding one-to the turn he led and then fell back, St. Antonio taking his place, and there remaining to the end, a winner by three lengths in a canter; his age is four years, his weight was 6st. 4lbs. The great issue of the day had now reached its turn. I have said nothing of the vicissitudes in the appointments for the Emperor's Vase, such as the scratching of Canezou and the like, because they can be of no interest so long after date. It was known, from the assembling of the ring, that but four would go for it, namely, Van Tromp, Chanticleer, Cossack, and Collingwood. The betting at the start was 5 to 4 on

Chanticleer, greedily devoured by the Irish party: 2 to 1 against Van Tromp, 6 to 1 against Cossack, and 10 to 1 against Collingwood. The accustomed formality of parading before the Royal Stand being duly performed, the quartet drew up in a line with the starter's flag-and down it went, and off they went in good earnest. Marlow came away with "the Trump," as the ring particulars call him, looking devil-I beg pardon, I mean a deal more like a nag to back at odds than the Irishman, at a slapping bat: " and uncommon like a race-horse he went sure-ly "—so said Beresford (not a bad judge of such matters), who stood at my elbow. A couple of lengths astern was Chanticleer, the other two some lengths behind him. It was stated that at the turn the grey collared Lord Eglinton's horse, but I know not how that was; it was also reported in the newspapers that the finish was a very severe one—" Van Tromp winning by downright gameness by half a length-the pace very good the last two miles.' Now the course is called in the Calendar "about two miles and a half;" which it can hardly be unless, indeed, "about means two miles and a quarter. The course at Ascot, that is to say "once round," is 66 yards less than two miles; these added to the four furlongs that go to the half mile, would remove the starting-post of the Cup Course considerably nearer the New T.Y.C. post than it is at present. However if the pace had been "very good for the last two miles," the running must have begun at all events at the upper turn, which undoubtedly was not the case; in fact at the bottom of the Swinley fall it was signally bad, for the truth of which I appeal to any racing man who observed it. My impression was, and is, that Van Tromp was a clever winner-the grey was severely spurred and got a strong dose of whalebone. But by the practical test of speed I have not been able to estimate the pace. I looked in Bell's Life for the time, but there was no allusion to it for this race, neither in reference to any other, except the Royal Hunt Cup, of which it says, "the rain prevented our timing this race;" what prevented all the others being timed does not appear.... The St. James's Palace Stakes run a match, between Uriel and Companion, the former, with 6 to 1 on him, won with ease by a length. The New Stakes, the most interesting event in the Ascot catalogue, of its thirty-two nominations had an array of half a score at the post. The ring selected William the Conqueror, at 7 to 4 on him-but he was not victorious for all that: the "legs, blarney didn't succeed, but Mr. Dixon's Blarney did—a wiry-looking colt, which old "John " introduced as the winner of the next year's Derby. There were some nice animals among the ten-of thees Penang was a favourable sample. The Queen's Plate had three runners-Glendower for choice; the ring was correct, for he won easily by a length. The Grand Stand Plate wound up the list. There was a monster field-fourteen in number, at all sorts of odds, Cossachia first, at five to 2 against her; this estimate was also correct, the favourite winning by a length. The royal party left as usual long before the con clusion of the sports, and there were others (for which I can honestly vouch) who would not have been sorry had they adopted the same plan. The return from the Heath was no joke for those who happened to be sober and in their senses.

Friday is said to be the most enjoyable of the four-but it is slow-undeniably tardy. The retirement of the vagabondage from the scene, however, is a grateful change. Beyond any meeting in England Ascot