EMBELLISHMENTS. PLAYING OUT THE PLAY;" ENGRAVED BY J. H. ENGLEHEART, FROM A PAINTING BY J. D. COOPER. SPRING MEETING- r 4 19 19 2 r 4 16 10 T Newmarket Second Spring M. 15 Whit Sunday. 4 Morning. r4 13 5 0 4 20 4 40 14 55 5 15 5 30 5 55 s 7 41 6 0 45 r 4 10 7 1 20 16 M Cr.-Notts v. England, at Lord's. s 7 44 8 1 48 6 15 6 45 7 10 7 45 23 M Cr.-Two picked 11's, at Lord's. r 3 59 15 9 0 1 50 2 15 24 T Epsom Races. 25 W Derby Day. s 7 551610 20 2 35 3 0 r3 571711 25 3 25 3 45 26 T 27 F Oaks Day. 28 S Hambleton Races. 7 58 18 Morning 4 10 4 35 r3 55 19 0 15 5 0 5 30 020 0 50 5 55 6 2 s 8 29 S First Sunday after Trinity. r 3 5321 1 16 30 M Cr.-M.C.C. v. Surrey C., ats 8 222 1 37 31 T London Y. C. Regatta. [Lord's. r 3 51 23 8 Prince of Wales' Yacht Club (Blackwall). 18 Royal London Yacht Club (Blackwall) 7 Royal London Yacht Club .......... 31 Hammersmith 16 Because April has been selected as the starting post of these "currente calamo" sketches, let it not be assumed that any inference is thereby insinuated anent the anniversary with which that month commences. The Ring-whilom the Turf's cynosure, has become its symbol. Like that mysterious circle, it has neither beginning nor end. Your "leg," when there is-or more properly-when there are -no more to be done in the West-which stands for Tattersall's"puts on his wings"-that is, calls a cab or a 'bus-and is "off to the East"-represented by "Beetons," and vice-with or without the accent on the final letter-versâ-from New Year's day to the 31st of December. With the passages of his individual life the pen of the historian is not permitted to meddle, and the gaze of public curiosity is forbidden access to the arcana of his biography, and all insight of that small supply of stationary which stands him instead of Paddy's light bosom and pair of thin-smallclothes. Pardon "poor exile of Erin," the fancy that couples thy kind nature with such keen company. What though thy toilette be not of the fairest fashion, there is an eye which regards with more favour "a shocking bad hat" (and, sooth to say, the rural caster of thy country is a sight_to make a scare-crow swoon) than a heart in a similar category. Returning to our muttons, as aforesaid-eschewing legging and its mere appliances in the abstract-we take up our tale of the turf-when that pastime is duly inaugurated by license of the Book Calendar. True, mention is made of meetings about the festival of St. Valentine apud Lincoln, and later at Coventry (Lady Godiva, immortalised for benevolence in "buff," chose a more genial time of the year for her equestrianism), succeeded by Liverpool Spring Races, and eke the like merry-makings at Doncaster and at Salisbury, and in especial at Warwick, and supereminent Leamington, where it was demonstrated by newspaper report that the hotels charged a man more for washing his feet out, than twice the cost at the Folkestone Pavilion of "That everlasting tiffin Shewn up by Master Biffin The Times, so stout and stiff in." Then, there was Catterick Bridge, and Northampton, and Pytchley, and several little goes-but only of Northampton is it our mission to say more than to suggest that such things were. Newton is disqualified by reason of its wind up with a Steeple Chase; and Croxton Park on the ground of "gentlemen up."...... Amid a chaos of "tip" schemes submitted for public patronage and penny postage stamp prepayment in the columns of the sporting press, pre-eminent was one that appeared on the 3rd ult., from which the subjoined elegant extract is made, with a view to afford by sample an idea of the general assortment. It would seem that "the parties" from whom it emanated, had addressed their "subscribers and friends" z 2 to the following effect......." Gentlemen"! (the writers are dealing with the Northamptonshire Stakes), "judging from an apparently simultaneous movement at Tattersall's and the Clubs on Thursday, and at Manchester on Friday, we were afraid that our greatest fear" -("on horror's head horrors accumulate")-" respecting Hobby Horse was correct, viz., that Lord Derby would not start the horse, as he has not much money on, and the public has made him" (horsesubauditur) "such a favourite, that he" (Lord Derby is understood) 'cannot back him" (Hobby Horse)" for more now."..... Here is a Peer of the realm and late Premier of this kingdom-the head of a noble house, proverbial for its chivalrous munificence in all that relates to the national sports-sponsor, so to speak, of the twin world-famous races, the parents of the turf as it isadvertised as the common huckster of this stud, jobbing it for its engagements, according as he has or has not "much money on." How long are we to suppose English gentlemen will promote, or countenance, or tolerate, a pastime, whatever its character or claims, turned into the pursuit of prepense rascalityinto a pretence for abusing their name and sanction as baits for popular plunder? In what spirit must Lord Derby, or any man of honour, contemplate the ineffable pollution of being associated with suggestions-albeit basely, as they are base-such as these? It was as I pondered over the inevitable issue which must wait upon these precedents that I chanced to glean from the morning newspaper the returns from Hyde Park Corner. There, on the 11th ult., I read how one Captain Scott had won a heavy stake upon the Metropolitan Handicap. Now-thus did it occur to me, and pass the alembic of my thought: As it has happened with the good luck of this gallant soldier, wherefore should it not, as a principle of fair play, fall out with all others who for the future are fortunate or unfortunate in their turf speculations? Henceforth, wherefore shall not all mankind, noble and gentle; officers of the army, navy, and marine corps; members of parliament and the universities; heads of public offices, and clerks beneath them; merchants, wholesale traders, retail shopkeepers, and youths who tend their counters, taking or laying the odds, or "hedging," be thus duly gazetted twice a week? And I was well pleased; for well I know that thus would betting be more effectually" burked" than if this instant session of parliament were to pass its whole existence in passing enactments for its suppression. Nor-for so the prospect was extended to my mind's eye will it be confined to reform in gambling upon horse-races, as relates to the fools who are fleeced: the knaves who shear them will come in for their share-but quite the other way. No sooner is Mr. Deputy Figg instructed by The Times that young Figg, his firstborn, operates in "Lists," than next licensing-day for his ward, down comes the sign of the Three Jolly Pigeons, where his son and heir negotiated his odds. And thereupon methought is this the civil Ducalionic era foretold by the noble poet-prophet? Hath not the Opera closed its doors to hide its nakedness from the scoffers? Has it a stitch to its back? or as much as a "brown" in its coffers? And may not Lord M- -e's "Deluge," after all, be not the worst of his " offers "?.... Although Northampton fell upon the penultimate afternoon of March, it is entitled to a note, or comment, en passant, just to record that, for the Great Stakes of that ilk, alluded to as above, Lord Derby was fortunate enough to run second, being beaten "after a splendid race by half a length." Her Majesty's Plate was won by Mr. Megson's Weathergage; while Mr. Thomas Parr's Defiance beats Hobby Horse, as aforesaid. What a floating stock is racingstock! nobody knows to whom a horse belongs: nominally, or by nomination, is a very different proprietary from that of goods and chattels. The Althorp Park Stakes, for two-year-olds, with a field of thirteen, must either have mustered a very indifferent lot, or the form in which Ruby cantered off with them should make him of his year A 1. As this is the height of the steeple-chase season, it may be as well to record that no whit of the chizzeling of that institute of sharp practice was bated during its anniversary of '52 and '53. On Tuesday, the 29th of March, at St. Albans so it was reported in Bell's Life-a mare called Annie Laurie, being about to walk over for "a silver cup, given by A. Timperon, Esq.," was "obstructed in her passage, sticks and missiles of every description being used indiscriminately; the rider escaping, after being unhorsed, with a ducking and a few bruises!" On the day preceding, there was a steeple-chase at Kildare, in the kingdom of Ireland; and there-as the same journal relates-one Annie Laurie, albeit her name does not appear in the list of starters for the race, in the Corinthian Cup " fell at the wall, and lost her chance." There is so much, then, "in a name," that Annie Laurie would have been a bad book animal for backers during the last week of March, '52. Croxton Park-arch-aristocratic in principle-all condescension and rural cordiality-opened the revels Olympian for April. Fortunately, too, Cheltenham was on coincidently; so that the profession was scarce. Malheureusement for the sport, there was a "mull" about the chronological arrangements, so that for a Two-Year Sweepstakes, run for and won on the Tuesday, by Contender, but three of the seven entered ran, certain others arriving when all was over. This race appears in the Appendix to the Book Calendar, without any date. This is inconvenient. Stakes should absolutely come off on the day-the definite day-for which they are made: a loser for the Monday may train on into a winner for the Saturday of the same meeting. This is antagonist to the principle of horse-racing-that is to say, if any principle still adheres to its policy. The regular business of the first week was that put upon the scene on Epsom Downs the 7th ult. This-the Licensed Victuallers' Great Metropolitan Surrey carnival--is reported to have been a great success. Capel Court was a great success in the year of gulls-1846. So was the dodge of which Mr. Hogarth has left a characteristic sketch-the South Sea Bubble, before it "busted." It won't be the last eminent explosion of its kind. What has Punch been thinking of, that he hasn't left to posterity so rich a legacy as "The Great Metropolitan Myth and Mrs. Gadabout"? All the wizards of the odds knew all about her, and they all told it to all their subscribers, and hope their liberal patrons won't forget the premium. "The Blue Ribbon of the Turf," by the Wizard of the North, has announced the winner of the Derby; so that is fait accompli....... Extraordinary Rogers, of Newmarket, transmits all private trials, by return of post, and receipt, &c., &c. "The Prophet-King" stipulates for postoffice orders in advance...... The Turf Monitor forwards his |