THE RACING IN OCTOBER. BY CRAVEN. Everything that is going on has a democratic tendency." These are remarkable times. Despotism is going out of fashion a parson cannot hold a dozen benefices at once. In the good old times they used to roast people in Smithfield-to-morrow, or next day, there won't be so much as a sheep or a calf there for a drover to try his cudgel on. Who shall essay to retard progress? You might as well attempt to dam the Mississippi with a sponge-cake. At all events, it's not the office of the journalist: his duty is to walk pari passu with the prevailing taste-neither afore nor after, but " cheek by jowl." Betting has become the business of the British public. There are bankers and butchers and bakers, indeed, as heretofore; but these, as well as the whole population, take the odds and lay them. How is it this mighty movement has been so neglected by the mongers of the million? when £20,000 a-year is made out of the six words" wonderful cure of a bad leg." Not long ago a book was published, entitled "What shall I do with my Money?" To the best of our recollection, the work was reviewed in Punch, with advice that the sufferer should send his superfluous "tin" to No. 85, Fleet Street, and an intimation that the bearer might "ring at the private door." There is a present plethora of the precious metal at home as well as in California. Here, the symptoms are a craving on the part of the patient to get rid of his malady by a dissipation of effects. Where are the phlebotomists? Nicoll's "paletot" is matter so is Holloway's ointment: but a Sweep is "the fabric of a vision." The stuff whereof the coat or salve is made is stuff: the basis of a racing lottery is that logical device commonly called "gammon." Perhaps it was the duty of the legislature to have interfered anent the nuisance of Sweeps generally; but the body politic shifted the responsibility upon the body civic. The Corporation of London declared Derby Lotteries to be dangerous and illegal-if carried on in the houses of victuallers and persons licensed to deal in strong drinks. In like manner the Municipal Clauses Act imposes certain penalties for overdriving "cattle." But what is "cattle"? Lord Brougham said the framers of the bill didn't know that oxen and cows were cattle; so they compounded an "Interpretation Clause," whereby it is enacted that "horses" shall be understood to be cattle, also "goats," ditto "mules" -animals not very likely to be "overdriven" and "swine"-that defy the art of man to overpace them. You can't drive boars according to the opinion of the ex-Chancellor : the only way to make pigs or parliaments go forward is to pull them back. Let such as gainsay the theory look at the proceedings of the Board of Health. The plague fell on the land-the cholera was daily striking down its thousands. The cry arose "Do not make pest-pits in our streets away with churchyards from our doors---bury the dead apart from the dwellings of the quick." Did they do so? No. They said, "Let the corpse in future be in terred in an air-tight coffin-put it into a box of sheet-lead closely soldered down." Hearken what the chymist says of legislation like this, and can the dullest of apprehension doubt the truth of his denunciation?..." Are they aware of the terrible retribution with which Nature will punish the violation of her law, if they persist in obstructing with leaden barriers the corporeal absorption of the dead?... The pent-up gases first produced will exercise on the compounds subsequently formed a pressure, the effect of which will be to change their composition and increase their virulence. The coffins will be bulged by the expansion of the elastic fluids generated under compression within the acrid products of decomposition will gradually corrode the lead; and when, some few years hence, these horrible receptacles burst" (the Lord have mercy upon us!) "the fumes emitted will destroy those who happen at the moment to be in their immediate vicinity, and diffuse through the atmosphere the elements of a pestilence probably more virulent than that from which we are just emerging."... There! that's what we may count upon as the result of a Sanitary Commission. Suppose a Board had been instituted for the propagation of a plague, could it have adopted a more proper course? Do not suppose we wander from our theme or our purpose. Once at the worst, matters take a turn for the better one way or other. When a putrid fever has attained its climax, the next best thing to recovery that can befall the patient is to die. Onward, thou method of new madness, to the extasy of thy delirium! Best to minister to the public mind diseased is to hasten the crisis of its disorder. Up and be doing, gentlemen of enterprise and spirit. Where are ye, knights of the (prick in the) garter? hath not the thimble-rig one worthy representative left? The "road," on its last legs at the commencement of the century, perished when the rail appeared: the pea-rig in difficulties on the début of the new police, was done to death by the edict of Sir James Graham. But what of that? Because of steam and Home Secretaries, "shall there be no more cakes and ale"? Is not the "ring" a goodly alternative for the gentlemen of the road, and eke for the less gentle of the "rig"? How sleeps the spirit of enterprise? It is not becoming that sweeps and lotteries should sneek into notice through the class columns of the weekly sporting journals. Let then rush into the presence of the whole human race on the broad sheet of The Times, and create for themselves double supplements of the Herald like their twin brethren the railways. Is there no sporting Mr. Crisp that will condescend to marshal excursions to Newmarket, and put money in his purse? The railway directors will, under existing circumstances, no doubt afford him every facility, and he can secure any amount of material by accommodating the demand to the supply. The science of advertising, indeed, is in its infancy in this country! France, in that style of composition, stands in such relation to us as the muse of Homer to the laureate of Moses and Son. The late Charles Mathews used to illustrate this (matter of) fact by the cases of a London barber and a Parisian perruquier. Both were wig-makers, and equally given to puff their jaseys, but far different were their parts of speech. "My wigs," John Bull would say, "don't lose their curl if you dip them into a pail of water."......" These peruques," the Frenchman was wont to observe, "curl like the tresses of the Graces, though you immerge them in the ocean.” This deficiency has been made the subject of some 66 strong remarks by an appropriate censor of the age. That pungent philosopher has put forth certain samples in support of his views. He quotes, for instance, the announcement of " a profitable opportunity for a young man with £100," which sum he is required to pay in consideration of a certain employment, the duties of which are stated to be "of a merely routine nature. Now, "what the duties are," observes the censor, or what they will produce, except that pleasing sense of usefulness which the discharge of any duty will create, is not specified. The advertisement adds, that the sole reason for disposing of the business is the retirement of the proprietor'―a state of things we can well understand; for we have heard of persons after obtaining a few hundreds by the offer of an eligible opportunity,' sinking at once into such thorough retirement that all attempts to disturb it by finding it out have proved impossible." Punch's hint will, no doubt, not be suffered to fall upon a rock. It will, on the contrary, bring forth fruit in due season. And is not this harvest time? Byron called his "the patent age of new inventions." What a "bit" the Derby sweeps would have been for Don Juan! Well, we have them; and they are a mine of wealth which any one may "work." How is it that the mongers of the million, the Shylocks of the social system, do not make hay while the sun shines? "It's too good to last for ever," as Goldsmith's Old Soldier remarks of a residence in prison. "When they burn a bishop or two, perhaps they'll leave the doors of railway carriages unlocked," was a speculation of the Rev. Sydney Smith, as if he had foreseen the roasting that Dr. Philpotts was destined to get. When a scheme for employing the reserve fund at the bank in a Derby sweep, or for melting the plate at Windsor Castle into a lottery on the Ascot Cup, shall come out, then there is reason to suppose steps will be taken to "solder down" the prevailing gambling epidemic. When 66 some few years hence"-haply much sooner-those "acrid products" shall "bulge" their mysterious retorts: when "the horrible receptacles" of sweeps and lotteries shall "burst," and when "the fumes emitted have destroyed those who happen to be in their immediate vicinity," then shall Newmarket Heath be itself again, and men will speak of the Jockey Club as they do of the Board of Health—“ more in sorrow than in anger." As commentaries on the principle of betting for the million, I take leave to insert a couple of paragraphs copied from a late number of Bell's Life, together with a notice of an advertisement which recently appeared in that paper. "PEGASUS.-An imposter, assuming this signature, has been foisting advertisements on the public, offering to give racing information, wishing it to be believed that he is the gentleman who has for so many years contributed to our columns. Other signatures have in like manner been adopted with as little claim to confidence, and with the sole object of taking advantage of the credulity of Turf speculators "BETTING LISTS.-Every week brings us letters complaining of fellows who put up betting lists in the houses of licensed victuallers, and who, when they lose, either bolt' or ask for time.' " The landlords who lend the sanction of their names to such swindlers ought to be proceeded against at once under the Licensing Act." In a conspicuous portion of its columns appropriated to advertisements there was one headed thus, in emphatic capitals" PROFITABLE SPORTING: GENTLEMANLY." It called upon parties "having capital, or who could give security upon property in reversion, to suffer themselves to be introduced to a matter which would not interfere with their other pursuits, and which possessed the advantages as above" set forth in capital letters. Individuals so situated were requested to address themselves in letters, prepaid, to " Craven," at a certain post-office in the Opera-arcade. In reference to this announcement, I beg to say it is in no way connected with the individual so long -may he venture to hope not unfavourably ?-known to the readers of these pages. In the same journal of the 21st ult. there was an advertisement commencing "Judex, the true prophet, is again at his post," &c., &c., &c. Is this the clever contributor of former days to the Post, or another speculating imposter? Do not these things point the moral of betting for the million? "Spero meliora." There is a good time coming: let us "strike the harp in praise of "-Olympia. The first of the trio of autumnal meetings at Newmarket fell upon the 25th day of September, in the present year of grace. The vast amount of racing which they produced renders it necessary greatly to epitomise its details. In character, the First October week had signally improved upon its recent anniversaries. The infusion of new matter into it, in shape of the justly-popular Triennial Stakes, gave it a wholly fresh zest. There was, moreover, a rally to rescue it from annihilation, a condition into which it was fast declining, with what success remains to be seen. The passage from Shoreditch station to-anywhere—would throw the latter into a grateful relief: no wonder that Newmarket Heath is pleasant to the eye after a morning's drive through Smithfield to the metropolitan terminus of the Eastern Counties Railway. The Tuesday's list opened with a Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each, miscellaneous ages, T.Y.C., thirteen subscribers and seven starters; the winner, by a neck, was Jest, Sagacity second; the start was delayed considerably by the restiveness of Cigarette and Condé. Match, 100, first half of the Abingdon Mile; the filly by Jereed out of Muff beat Sultana in a canter by two lengths; 5 to 4 on the loser. The Hopeful, with twenty-seven subscribers, had eight at the post: I say nothing of the conditions, as they are known to all the racing public: Penang was backed at 5 to 4 against him, 5 to 2 against Cariboo, 4 to 1 against Bolingbroke, and 8 to 1 against Harum-Scarum; the course was the last half of the Abingdon Mile; it was run at score by Bolingbroke leading to the bushes, where the favourite caught him; but though his head was for an instant in front, he soon gave way, and was cleverly defeated by a head-Bolingbroke first, Penang second, Nutshell, Cariboo, and the Agnes filly running a dead heat for the third place. Match for 100, h.ft., T.Y.C., Glauca, 8st. 71b., beat Slashing Alice, 7st. 91b., by a length; 3 to 1 on the winner. Five matches having " paid," the end was accomplished. Wednesday morning opened with a business-look. By noon the town was-so to speak-full. The weather was delicious, and the sun of the fielders shone forth with a glory it rarely exhibits in the vicinity of the Devil's Ditch. It was an occasion to be noted in the annals of Newmarket by the victory of "the field" in every instance. The sport opened with the Granby Stakes, for two-year-olds, 11 subscribers, and three at the post; they laid 5 to 2 on Preslaw, but Catalan won, the property of Mr. H. H." Frankum," which is not an inappropriate title for a proprietor of race horses. A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for all ages, Rowley mile, brought the whole of the nominations, three in num ber, to the post. Grimston won the "score," which, deducting expenses, could not have been a very profitable spec. First year of the Second Triennial Produce Stakes, of 10 sovs. each, for two-year-olds, &c., &c., &c., T.Y.C., 76 subscribers; a lot of nine mustered for this, the crack event of the meeting; the odds were 6 to 4 agst. Hardinge, 7 to 2 agst. Knight of Avenel, and 7 to 2 agst. William. It will be seen there were coursers of account gathered together on this occasion: the encounter, moreover, became them-it was what is technically called "a slashing race." In running up the cords there were some of the common consequences of a crowd, the leaders especially fouling each other, but unavoidably. The Knight of Avenel won eventually by half a length, brother to Epirote next him, and William the Conqueror third. These three were too close to be pleasant. Verb. sap. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for two-year-olds, T.Y.C., 8 subscribers; four ran; even and 6 to 5 on Bordeaux, 5 to 2 agst. Longinus, and 4 to 1 agst. Ondine; a cautious run up to the cords ended in Longinus there going to the front, and winning easily by a length, the favourite second, Match for 100 sovs. each, h. ft., last half of Abingdon mile; Hippia, 8st. 3lbs., beat Barley, 8st. 7lbs., by a head; 7 to 4 on the loser. A Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sovs., for two-year-olds, T.Y.C., four named, and all went; Scampa Via was backed at even, 2 to 1 agst. Alfreda, 3 to 1 agst. either of the others; Alfreda was the winner, and this was what is literally called "a slashing race." The St. Leger had 15 nominations-a shocking bad lot-whereof one-third “ came to the scratch," pugilistically speaking; Quasimodo was at even, 11 to 5 agst. Queensberry, and 4 to 1 agst. Edipus: it was a hard tussle, of which Edipus finally had the best by half a length; Queensberry was second-the pair making the best of their way "home" in more than the racing sense of the word. Fifty Sovs., for all ages except two-yearolds, the Ditch-in; three ran; 6 to 5 on Brandyface, and Sotterley, 2 to 1 agst. him, won; it was a very hollow thing, as the investment of the talents proved also. Three matches were off, and so the list was run out. Thursday was again summer thorough." The programme was so prodigal of sport that the time named for the first race was eleven o'clock. Perhaps the opening event might have been as well dispensed with, considering the scene of action. It was a Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, for all ages, Rutland Course, three subscribers, run a match; the pair consisted of Rochester, 5 to 2 on him, and Cayenne; the favourite won. A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each for all ages, T.Y.C., four subscribers, was a walk over and a compromise of no concern to any but the receiver. Then followed a Match between Philosopher, 8st., and the Bishop of Romford's cob, 8st. 8lb., for 100 sovs. aside, T.Y.C.; they laid 2 to 1 on the former, and he won, for the poor Cob has had all the shine taken out of him-his race is run. The Cracow Stakes, 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for three-year-olds, Cesarewitch Course, of the fourteen named, induced three to show these were Fire-eater, 7 to 4 on him— Memento, 5 to 2 agst. her-and Abd-el-Kader, with no friends. They came in as here set down-the winner first by several lengths, and the "true believer" just where opinion had placed him. Second year of the First Triennial Produce Stakes of 10 sovs. each, for three-year-olds, &c., &c., &c., across the Flat, 126 subscribers; the field consisted of eight; Tadmor the favourite, at 11 to 8 agst. him, 9 to 4 agst. Vatican, and 20 to 1 agst. Hotspur. The history of the race is soon said |