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GOODWOOD RACES, 1842.

BY RIDDLESWORTH.

GOODWOOD, with all its peculiar features of attraction-its lovely scenery-its crowd of fashion, and its comparative scarcity of "mobility"-is always my "particular" holiday, and the welcome addition of beautiful weather (too rarely smiling on the week's delights) made the Goodwood meeting 1842, all that could be desired.

Mr. Etwall's holiday nag, the Melody colt (recently christened Discord) opened the ball as winner of the first race. This Discord is always in a peculiar key; -winning once a year in superior style, and losing throughout the remainder of the season. "I believe that he breaks down after every race," was my remark to his worthy owner. 'Oh, yes!" was the reply, "but he has got used to that now."

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The Lavant Stakes brought out one of the most promising of Scott's two-yr olds, in Lord Maidstone's Caster, who, after winning this stake, put the seal upon the performance by winning the Molecombe, on Thursday, with seven pounds extra on his back. The fields in both races, were bad. Caster is not in the Derby, 1843, but promises fairly to run forward for the Leger.

The appearance of Attila gave an additional interest to the Drawing Room Stakes. He carried eight pounds extra, over a course at once more severe, and longer than that at Epsom, and he succombed—I thought that he did not look quite up to the mark. He was cleverly beaten by Envoy and Seahorse, but the event does not seem in any wise to have affected him in the betting, although I must own, that, in my humble opinion, it made him at the best but a middling nag.

The Gratwicke Stakes showed what Robert de Gorham can do when he will, he beating Wiseacre, Firebrand, and two others, half a distance. Had Attila been in this race, my impression is, that their Epsom places would have been reversed.

An interlude succeeded in the shape of a Gentleman Jockey Stakes, won by General Gilbert on the Tiger-the betting being in favour of the jock, rather than of his horse. Lord George Bentinck had two in, ridden respectively by Lords March and Maidstone. Lord Maidstone had "waiting orders," which he obeyed to the letter, by stopping behind when all the others started.

The match between Charles XII. and Hyllus, justified public opinion in the event. Hyllus is a nervous horse, and never will show his nose first at the post.

After a dead heat for the Welter Stakes, between Vulcan and The Currier, the Ham Stakes brought out a Derby favourite in Lord Eglinton's Aristides. The field was wofully bad, the betting being only 7 to 4 against the winner, and Murat running second.

Vibration carried off the Queen's Plate from Vulcan, Wardan, and two others-Vulcan was amiss.

The Goodwood Stakes had as many favourites as had the Hydra heads. Welfare, Knight-of-the-Whistle, St. Lawrence, and ever so many more, were all sure to win; Retriever, however, took the lead, kept it, and won in the fastest race ever run in England (for the same distance), the pace being greater even than in Harkaway's year. Some folks objected to the start, but, although favourable to Retriever, it was perfectly fair-some people will be found to object to any thing. Forth's stable came out in high relief for the Duke of Richmond's Plate, Camelino and Vibration running first and second.

The Racing Stakes gave the measure of Scott's dark light, Meteor, who went out at once, like a farthing rushlight, with more noise than fire. He "cut up" very badly.

The Goodwood Cup brought this year but a small field to the post, but the race was interesting, from the number of Leger nags thrown together by it. Nine were mounted : viz.—

. Robinson

Bell

. J. Howlett .....J. Day 11lb. Marson

........

....

Hesseltine

.W. Howlett

Mr A. Johnstone's Charles XII., by Voltaire, 6 yrs, 9st. 9lb. Mr Forth's Policy, by Bustard, 3 yrs, 6st. 10lb. Mr Ferguson's Fireaway, by Freney, 3 yrs, 6st. 11lb. Mr Etwall's Thistle Whipper, by Beagle, 4 yrs, 8st. 5lb. Lord Westminster's Sleight-of-hand, by Pantaloon, 6 yrs, 8st. Mr Bell's The Squire, by The Saddler, 4 yrs, 8st. 5lb. Mr W. Allen's Belcœur, by Belshazzar, 3 yrs, 6st. 5lb. Lord G. Bentinck's Yorkshire Lady, by Voltaire, 3 yrs, 6st. 6lb.....Sharp Mr Higgins's h. by Priam, out of Seamew, 6 yrs, 7st. 12lb. All had their friends—the foreign horse (Seamew) was to do wonders -Charles XII. was by eight pounds a worse horse than before his race with Hyllus-Policy was "to run forward"-The Squire was an immense pet, although he looked, to my eye, "out of sorts"Fireaway had a strong party, as also had Belcœur-Thistle-whipper

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....F. Butler

The race was run by Charles, waiting to within the last quarter of a mile, where he came up and won easily. At the stand, Fireaway was a fair second, but when whipped by his jockey he at once stopped and kicked. Policy taking advantage of this disposition, made a rush and got the second money. I must own that I had fancied Fireaway for the St. Leger, but his display at Goodwood, where he certainly ran cur," has shaken all my faith. Policy, I think, will run well for the great Northern Stake.

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Dilbar, the favourite for the Oaks, carried off the Nassau Stakesshe is a very nice mare. Celia, I did not like, and being in Lord Exeter's colour, she, of course, ran second.

Retriever carried off the Chesterfield Cup, in the same style as he had previously done the Drawing-Room Stakes. Little Wonder ran a good horse in this race, over-weighted as he was.

The journals of the day having given the commoner events of the meeting, they must be familiar to our readers, but we have thrown together a table which will give a bird's-eye view of the whole meeting, and show the magnitude of the statistics of the Goodwood Races.

At the same time, in forming this table, I have had cause to observe, that it is to be regretted that the measurements of principal courses such as the Cup Course, the Drawing-Room Stakes Course, &c., are not to be depended upon. The answer given to my complaint of this, to a sporting friend, was, "Oh, it is correct, at least, within a few yards." But when we come to consider, that at the rate run by Retriever for the Goodwood Stakes, a horse covers forty-five feet in every second, it is certainly important, above all, in these days of handicapping, that the exact centre lengths of the courses should be ascertained by the chain, and correctly given, even to the odd feet. STATISTICS OF THE GOODWOOD MEETING, 1842.

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Stakes run for..28-Gross value £20,075.-No. of Horses started 174.

RIDDLES WORTH.

Heats, once Round.-Distance not known.

REMARKS ON THE MERITS OF THE YOUNG RACING STALLIONS OF THE PRESENT DAY.

THERE seldom appeared on the Turf three animals more worthy of renown than Touchstone, Bay Middleton, and Elis. The first of these, as all the world knows, combined great speed and stoutness; two faculties exhibited in his winning the Ascot and Doncaster Cups; the other two have scarcely less fame as being most speedy three year olds, and every sportsman must well remember their tremendous race for the 2000 guineas, which Bay Middleton won; after which, the one carried off the Derby and the other the Leger.

This year first introduces to our notice their produce as three year olds, and it is seldom that the same year brings to the notice and choice of breeders the stock of three equally valuable and highly-bred nags. From Touchstone we get the stoutest blood, combining as he does the Whalebone, and Master Henry stoutness; and from each of the others the Selim blood, generally considered speedy.

Auckland and Jack were the two first who appeared of Touchstone's stock as two year olds and winners; Bay Middleton's bad-legged son, Johnny Faa, by great luck carried off the rich Stake, at Goodwood; and Elis's daughter, Passion, by carrying off the Chesterfield and a stake of Goodwood, gave great promise of future excellence, which has entirely ceased in her three year old form.

As three year olds, however, we have a greater variety on the green sward, and a few words with respect to them may not be out of place. Of all the young ones, the Touchstone's hitherto bear away the bell, and if any one inspected the three fillies, Lady Adela, Celia, and Dilbar, when stripped for the Oaks, he must indeed be particular, who did not consider them very superior in form and general racing-like qualities. The former of these was dead amiss for the Oaks, but her winning the Steward's Cup, at Goodwood, giving three pounds to Misdeal, who ran very well there, showed her to be not a bad one. Celia, too, won her two races at Ascot, and Dilbar won the Nassau Stakes, at Goodwood, besides two at the Spring Newmarket Meetings. Between these two, however, the game has been up and down, as at Ascot Celia beats Dilbar, and at Goodwood vice versâ.

Besides these fillies I must not omit to mention that Auckland and Jack did not disgrace their sire when stripped for the Derby. Auckland though a lazy goer is a fine powerful horse, and has, when extended, a very great stride. He ran very gamely for the Derby, when he was far from up to the mark, and won two races and ought to have won a third at Ascot. It is seldom that a three year old likes hard races on three consecutive days, and it is to be feared that from that cause Auckland has for this season taken leave of the green sward. Jack has not yet shown well, but ought from his stoutness to improve

and make a cup horse. Rosalind is another neat mare of Touchstone's get, and a winner. Take him all in all, Touchstone may well be considered as an acquisition to the turf in the greatest degree.

I now come to the rivals-Bay Middleton and Elis, and of these at present it is difficult to say which will prove the best. Bay Middleton has had the greatest chances of any young stallion, as no less than fifty-two of his stock are deeply engaged which is double those of Elis's, and treble those of Touchstone's.

The unfortunate result of his stock at present to Lord G. Bentinck is a terrible thing; what with deaths and the utter worthlessness of the animals deeply engaged; among whom Farintosh, a remarkably fine colt, but a roarer ought not to be omitted. Bay Middleton is himself a large lengthy horse, with splendid quarters, indifferent middle-piece and fore legs and a head like a battering-ram. It is singular how his stock take after him, especially Gunter, The Puncher, Fly-trap, and Tedworth; three of which were winners early in the year, but have since turned out most wretchedly, as have also Tiptoe, Ballet, Deerslayer, Don't-say-No; in fact, all but Aristides, who may be a good one, and is out of a good mare, Dr. Caius's dam.

Elis's crack daughter, Passion, having left her running with her twoyear-old form, we have nothing of his out this year, worthy of much notice, except Lucy Banks, who managed, by mistake, to beat Satirist.

To go a step back in the racing world to those stallions of fame, who a little preceded these three cracks; we find this years' Oaks carried off by the daughter of a very speedy horse, Bran (who ran second to Touchstone for the St. Leger), and Meal, another daughter of his, running second.

Bran's stock have shown a good deal of running, and won several stakes; among them, Combermere ought not to be forgotten.

I think that Glaucus and Muley Moloch, have but little answered the expectation of the many who favoured them with their patronage. Colwick, from the success of Attila, is most deservedly on the ascendant. He is particularly suited for the Newmarket courses, and will, I think, be a bijou to my Lord of Exeter.

Among our this year's Two Year-olds, there is a fresh lot of stallions brought to our notice. Of these, the best are Jereed, Slane, Bretby, Gladiator, Inheritor, and Hornsea. The first two have the chief claims, the one from his blood, the other for his stoutness. Bretby is one of the few remains we have of the matchless Priam; Gladiator is much thought of, and his yearlings, last year, at Doncaster, brought high prices. Inheritor, from his Lottery blood, and his own stoutness, is worthy of regard, and Hornsea has a considerable chance from his want of power and good form, to be the lag of the party. Can any breeder complain that we have no good horses left in England?

RED ROVER.

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