THE RACING IN SEPTEMBER.

BY CRAVEN.

"Pooh! pooh!' said Reineke, can't behave as in a monastery. then.'"-REINEKE, THE Fox.

August closed with a positive glut of race meetings. There was Stourbridge, and Derby, and Taunton, and Egham, and Lynn, and Stirling, and Southport, and Lee and Mottingham, and Edgeware, and very probably many other provincials unknown to type. The majority of those enumerated must pass without especial memorial, but not "unhonoured," though "unsang." Runnymede, however, must have a place to report that it is looking up," and that in the future it may aspire to merit the title it inherits. The sport extended over two days; and the added money-after debiting expenses and profits on a Selling Stakes, and also the Queen's Plate-amounted to £141 some shillings, errors excepted. Whether Egham could not do better if it would, is a point I am not qualified to adjust. At Derby, during the two days, after all deductions, there was a clear £360 to the credit of the turf. These discrepancies suggest doubts as to the system of race course policy. Is it founded on a per-centage calculated from profits, or is it altogether without principle? Our friend Reineke's allusion to the practice of licking the fingers, I fear smacks of the custom of other trades as well as that of the dealer in honey......Warwick Races commenced on Tuesday, the 2nd inst., and closed the day following-another sample of the season's "flat and unprofitable" business. The racing was ample; but consisted chiefly of indifferent "stuff." Compensation is the distinguishing condition of life; so while at Warwick the accessories are admirable, such as the Regent at Leamington, wherein to set up your staff and the rural characteristics wherewith to recreate your taste, the race-course and its tributaries are abominable. The Stand would probably not have been so inconvenient had the design been to make it as unaccommodating as possible; and the course is-capable of considerable improvement. In the department of exchequer, as far as related to public profit, the ease was somewhat in this wise: I say somewhat, because accounts generally admit of two readings-one to suit the book of the disbursing party, and another to disagree with the views of the recipients. The whole amount professed to be "added" was £610; from this subtract for her Majesty's Guineas, and expenses

and profits on sales £219, and the actual contribution of the Meeting was £461.

For this event there The sports began with the Racing Stakes. was an entry of seven, only two of these finding friends in the ring. The odds were 5 to 4 against Prestige, and 5 to 2 against Chaffinch. Owing to some mismanagement, neither Prestige nor Chaffinch was at the post when the flag fell. The field consisted of Scar, the winner by a length cleverly, Julia, Tiny, and Brennus, placed in the foregoing Of order. Not one of these, as aforesaid, had been in the betting. course there was a "to do" about the brace that were left behind. The starter pleaded that he was informed Prestige and Chaffinch had been sent back." The result was......" The Stewards decided that as Prestige and Chaffinch were not called upon to go to the post, the bets against them were off." This decision, I presume, was made upon the authority of Rule 40 of Rules and Orders of the Jockey Club-to wit: "When the riders of any horses brought out to run for any race are called upon by the person appointed to start them to take their places for that purpose, the owner of every horse which comes up to the post shall be considered as liable to pay his whole stake; and all bets respecting such horses shall be considered as play or pay bets." That is, all nominations engaged in a stake, which are "brought out to run"-a process that implies being weighed, mounted, and the like (or how else could a starter call upon the riders to take their places for that purpose?)-shall be held liable for the entire stake, and debarred the privilege of forfeit when such a condition applies to the issue. When the conditions do not recognise a forfeit, of course the rule becomes a dead letter. In like manner-part and parcel of the principle, it is declared that when horses are so brought out to run, go or not (or wherefore the provision?), all bets respecting them shall be considered as "play or pay:" this contingency, of course, having reference to such bets as are not p. p. Where they are play or pay, the rule, ipso facto, becomes a dead letter. Now, unless there be an express stipulation to the contrary, all wagers in the ring are considered How then could the short comings of the riders of Prestige and Chaffinch, whether unintentional or of malice prepense, affect engagements both in the letter and the spirit play or pay: whether the horses laid against when the race comes off are dead or alive, brought to the ground, or laid beneath it? If by bringing out a horse to run-causing the starter to be informed he has been "sent back," and not starting him the operations of the bettors round may be " nullified," it requires no soothsayer to foretell what Fate has in pickle for the bookmaker..... The Foal Stakes, 8 subscribers, Leap Year, with 7 to 4 on The Leaminghim, won; beating a bad brace, in a shocking bad race.

p. p.

ton Stakes, 88 subs., the handicap of the meeting, brought out a field of fifteen. They laid 3 to 1 against Goldfinder, 7 to 2 Herbert, 7 to 1

Fugleman, 8 to 1 Cocktail, 12 to 1 Grief, 20 to 1 The Wren, and the same against Avia. The favourite, finally, was the winner; with, however, nothing to spare. There were, of course, all sorts of chops and changes in the running, in which the once-mighty Windischgratz showed among the fallen of that ilk. The Castle Park Stakes, 12 subscribers, came off a quartet. They laid 6 to 4 against Hirsuta, 5 to 2 against Ibis, and 3 to 1 against Mary Ann. The favourite won all through, and passed the post first by a length. The Queen's Plate had also four runners In the first heat the best fancied was Nutcracker, at 5 to 4 against him; and the worst, King of Oude, at 5 to 1. He contrived, however, to win easily; whereupon he sprung to 6 to 4, and finally disposed of the guineas by winning, with all ease, by three lengths. The Corinthian Stakes Captain Little carried off with Longinus, 5 to 2 on him; and thus closed the first day. Wednesday was put on the scene with much éclât. But alas, and a-well-a-day, for the weather! As moonlight to the ruins of Melrose, is a downright dog-and-cat afternoon to Warwick races. You must pass a few hours of unmitigated rain there to "view them aright." Will progress ever put awnings over the lawns of race-courses, and secure shelter for the ring? It is not to be wondered at that the spirit of enterprise was damped, considering that the body was up to its knees in mud. The Borough Handicap, 13 subscribers, brought five to the post. The odds were 5 to 2 against Deceitful, 3 to 1 against Paddy Bird, and 4 to 1 Cane. The favourite won, with all ease, by a length. The Welter Cup, for amateurs or professionals, 19 subscribers, came off a quartet. Egis was backed against the field, and 5 to 2 was betted against Aristos. The finish was a very close thing between the crack and Upton, of which the latter had the best by a short head. The County Stakes mustered thirteen runners. The talent selected The Harp, at 5 to 2 against her; and laid 5 to 1 against Landgrave, 11 to 2 against Post Tempore, 7 to 1 against Catalpa, and 10 to 1 against anything else. After a good deal of finessing for the start, they got off; and in a race full of difficulties, ultimately the favourite won by half a length. The Avon Stakes, 10 subs., produced four at the post. Of these they selected Grey Tommy for the winner, at 5 to 4 on him; and they laid 7 to 4 against Peppermint, and offered 10 to 1 against either of the others. It was touch and go notwithstanding, Grey Tom only beating Old Rowley by a neck. The Town Plate, 17 subscribers, had another quartet of starters. Also, as before, they wagered 5 to 4 on oneTonic-and 4 to 1 against Muta. In this instance the pet of the fancy won in a canter by half a dozen lengths. The Warwick Cup, 28 subscribers, only numbered seven as competitors. Here again there was "a bull in the china shop," The Black Doctor being backed at 6 to 4 against him, 7 to 4 against Cariboo, and 5 to 1 against either Leap Year or Macaw. As regarded the favourite, it was a waiting race, Cari

boo running cautious, by the assistance of Remunerator-"what's in a name?" The final set-to was with the pair of leaders in the odds, of which the first in the betting was also first past the chair, Black Doctor winning easily by a length. The Scurry Handicap, of its eight nominations, saw a moiety at the post. Scar was backed at 5 to 4 against him, and 5 to 2 was laid against Chaffinch. The latter won easily by a length. The Great Warwickshire Stakes (?) of 10 sovs. each, seven subscribers, came off a match between Ianthe, with 6 to 4 on her, and Catalpa, The pet won in a canter by a couple of lengths. The meeting was wound up with The Selling Stakes, won in three heats by Exhibition..." a sorry sight."

About this time there was racing also at Scarbro' and Wilmslow and Oldbury and Lincoln and Rochester and Chatham and Eccles and elsewhere. If the business of betting round don't pay under these circumstances, then is the ring a forlorn hope. The second week of September was even more prolific than its predecessor-it was, in fact, a regular turf "diggings, It opened with Radcliffe Races-three days choke full of horses, and people to back them. The course is within fifteen minutes of Manchester, which accounts for the betting; and where the books are, there the steeds will surely be gathered together. Morpeth consisted of two meagre days--corn can't compete just now with calico. Leicester came out in better form than it was wont, and in future promise bids fair for Olympic fame. Great Yarmouth is in a similar category, Lichfield Races occupied two days— the running good, but the business slack. The ring can't be in two places at the same time-it would if it could. Bromley Races were "on" simultaneously. To these succeeded Tunbridge Wells, predominant in heats; and also Weymouth. At Dover the heats touched four! Liverpool Hunt Club Meeting, over Hoylake, in two days helped the gentlemen jocks to a dozen races; and Barnet Fair, the "yokels" to a shy at the odds. Then there was Totness and Weston Zoyland and Bridgewater and Dulverton Hunt and Haldon; but, with your leave, we will take a slight pull before starting for the north-without however stopping to bait at Tenby or anywhere else.

Doncaster, in this especial year of grace and gobemoucherie, fell earlier than used to be its wont. Like the antecedent important meetings of the year, there was great discrepancy between the quantity and quality of the company. A correspondent of the Times, alluding to the advent of this great northern tryst, began his letter by stating that the cheap trains-now a feature of railway policy-are constituted "for the especial service of the London thieves and the London prostitutes:" an item of domestic intelligence not eminently ealculated to induce gentlemen to take their families "to the races. Other contributors to the columns of the daily journals set before their readers the fact that the platforms at the various railway termini are now regularly taken possession of by the swell mob, whose members walk off as matter of course, with such moveables as suit their fancy or convenience. What used to be roulette on the sly-is now robbery as plain part and parcel of the turf system. Perhaps the Olympian climax will not be complete until the rogues carry off the people as well as "the plunder."... Let us assume that, despite these perils, we have made our own way in safety to the land of the Leger... The episode of a drive from Swinton has been saved by

means of transit by the Great Northern-a relief for which it would be base ingratitude not to express "much thanks. The reviewer is spared the anguish of invention entailed upon the reporter, whose record is expected to contain a spice of the descriptive. Doing the turf business has become "dreadful trade." The subject, save in matter of fact, is as exhausted as a vacuum. Breathes there a man that can find anything to say of Doncaster-the inhabitants—their houses their habits-which has not already been sung a thousand times? It is a town in Yorkshire, whose chief manufactures are horseraces, filberts, and London stout; at least, such it is to the vagrant Septembriser. This preface suffices for, or is fain to suffice for, the nonce. How the foolish were spoiled, how the fast went a-head, and in what manner our general public paid the piper, we shall learn anon, On Tuesday, the 16th ult., commenced a series of events, at the whereabouts alluded to, confirmatory of the adage, "the race is not always to the swift".. The sharp got a turn now and then as the speaker in our thesis observes, one has to make one's way in the world." This some people essay by means of a blank duodecimo volume, a metallie pencil, and their brains-" one can't behave as in a monastery". The sport opened with the Fitzwilliam Stakes," transmogrified" into a handicap--nine runners. The odds were rather round, prices being 4 to 1 against Radulphus, ditto Post-tempore, 5 to 1 The Cutler, and 6 to 1 Mrs. Birch. The first of this lot won cleverly by a length. This was succeeded by a Match for £300 a-side, between Wingenund, 8st. 7lbs., and Canina, 8st. 4lbs. ; both two-year-olds; the Red House-in. A point of odds was betted on the former of these twain, who won in a canter by two lengths. The next event was the Champagne......

"The spring-dew of the spirit-the heart's rain,"

The course as before. The betting, 6 to 5 against Homebrew'd, 5 to 2 Bay Rosalind, 8 to 1 Vortex, the same about Prince Patrick, 10 to 1 Daniel O'Rourke, and 10 to 1 Augur. Of the 26 nominations the muster gathered together nine competitors. A good start and a gallant scurry soon settled the issue. At the stand the race was solely between the two last in the betting; and of these Augur finally was the foremost, winning by half a length. The pride of the Goodwood stable was "nowhere.' A Match for £50 each, owners to ride, catch weights, St. Leger Course; Mr. Hesseltine's Flash beat Lord Cardross's Scarborough, in a canter, by two lengths: 6 to 4 on the loser. The Great Yorkshire Handicap had 101 subscribers, and, after many a change and chance, 17 of them at the post. The last betting was 2 to 1 against Calculator, 5 to 1 Cossack, ditto Clarissa, 9 to I Miss Ann, 11 to 1 Antigone (legice, Aunty-gone), and 12 to 1 Confessor. As they were proceeding towards the post to be started, a ruek of them broke away, running various distances, Miss Ann making an entire circuit of the course. It was entirely a "mull," one way or another. The feature in the early part of the race was that a majority of the field was beaten on the wrong side of the hill. When the real tug took place, the foremost in the fray was Aunty-gone-as aforesaid-The Sweep, and Confessor, the last of this lot a clever winner by a length. Miss Ann finished before The Sweep, but " bad was the best.' The Stand Plate was run for by half-a-dozen, and won in a canter by two lengths, by