1831, against Mr. Fox's Glendower and Mr. Egremont's Edwy. The first heat he led throughout, and won easy in 4m. 3s. The second, Glendower took him off at a good pace, but could not head him; at the mile Edwy ran up and took Glendower's place, and with as little chance, Glendower again making a push at the distance. "Sackcloth" still kept his advantage and won easy, in 4m. 1s. This was conclusive as to his being a good one, the two horses having done their best against the common enemy, without the smallest chance of success. He next appeared on the 22nd, for a Sweepstakes, 11⁄2 mile, 8m. 4s. with Fitz Orelio and Tofino. "Sackcloth" and " "Fitz" rated it from the post at a tremendous "Sackcloth pace, and Won sorry easy in 2m. 58s., Mr. Fox's Tofino cutting but a figure against the two clippers. This made people open their eyes, Fitz having won the first maiden three miles in 6m. 45s. first heat, and 6m. 24s. the second. On the 27th he started for a Sweepstakes, two miles, 8m. 7s., opposed by "Knave of Trumps and " Glendower." The Knave did his best to make a race of it, but "Sackcloth" won very easy again, in worse time than the second maiden. On the 29th he was once more at the post, with little Edwy as a competitor. A Sweepstakes 2 miles, 8m. 10s. The gallant Edwy rated it alongside of him the whole way at a killing pace, till the last hundred yards, when "Sackcloth" went out and won positively easy in 5m. 3s. Edwy in this race proved himself a trump, but more than a trump was required to beat the big one. An hour afterwards he appeared for the Civilian's Cup, 11⁄2 mile and a distance, with 8st. 10lbs. on his back, against Dreadnought and Honesty, each carrying 8st. 12lbs. Honesty had the post, and went off at a slapping pace, and kept it up to boot. Sackcloth well on his quarter. At the distance, for the first time in his life, Sackcloth was pushed out and touched with the whip; he answered immediately, and won the race by a length and a half in 3m. 11s. we This time is unparalleled when consider that he had just won a severe 2 miles race in 5m. 3s. with 8st. 10lbs. In half an hour after he walked over for a three-mile sweepstakes, thus winning six times during the meeting, and five of them contested races. He is now the property of Gen. McDowall, and is one of a stud of eighty. His late owner, no doubt, though, will manage to give him a maiden licking next year with Emilius. "Honesty" has just been sent to England, and I think your correspondent S. Y. S. must allow that in him they have a stallion of blood,' make, and strength-his speed and bottom are recorded. Yours, THE STEEPLECHASE. This dangerous and delightful amusement, so much in vogue among the crack sportsmen of England, seems to have found no supporters or patronisers in the East, and I am the more surprised at this neglect of such an excellent kind of sport, since the Deccan can certainly offer many grand spots for the trial of nerve and the exhibition of good horsemanship, and as certainly lots of dashing riders to evince their courage as well as their judgment and skill. I wonder then that some of these choice spirits have not thought of good round Sweepstakes for a Steeplechase; and, if this should meet the eye of any of them, I trust something may be done towards having a little amusement in that way. I am confident it would be more satisfactory to witness the gallant riding of four or five real good ones across a bad country in a crow-flight, than to toddle after a mongrel pack of curs trotting an assafoetidaed fox to death. For my own part, though somewhat too bulky to get over a rough road very cleverly, yet I would gallop many a long mile to witness a good DEAR MR. EDITOR, steeplechase, and what would the Deccanites say to one from the Gibbet hill or Scindia's palace, up to the top of Parbuttee, fifty rupees each rider, and the last to pay the second rider's stakes. Put this into your next number, if you please, and if this succeeds, and the gentlemen will give us Bombayites a timely notice through the Courier or Gazette, they may depend on having three or four of us among them. Good-bye, Mr. Editor, and be at your post by the first week in May, and you will revive the confidence and good will of the subscribers and contributors of the O. S. M., now so much weakened by so many disappointments in the issue of the quarterly numbers from the press. Yours faithfully, KURNAUL RACES. Should you think my former communication worth inserting, you will probably give the following account of the Kurnaul meeting, 1831, a place in your amusing periodical. com The Kurnaul Meeting menced on the 9th February, with the Give and Take, heats R. C. (one mile and a half and 15 yards), for which the Confederates' G. A. Marmion, at 8st. 6lbs. (jockeyed by his owner), Mr. Parry's G. A. Savadah, at 7st. 12lbs., and Mr. Bacon's C. A. Creeper, at 9st. 7lbs., made their appearance. Creeper, who unfortunately broke a blood vessel during the first heat, the favourite, and had it not been for the accident would probably have won the race, for it was evident from Marmion's running that he had trained off since leaving Meerut, or he had never have STEEPLE. allowed an inferior horse like Savadah to win the first heat in such bad time as 3m. 7s. ; he managed however to win the second and third heats with apparent ease, in 3m. 8s. and 3m. 11s. The second race was for Maiden Arabs, weight for age, heats two miles, which Mr. Houston's G. A. Tyrant, five years old, at 8st. 7lbs. (Rammoola), won at two heats, with the greatest ease, beating Mr. Stalk's B. A. Cock Robin, 8st. 7lbs., and Mr. Ceto's B. A. Good for Nothing, 8st. 12lbs., in 4m. 15s. and 4m. 25s. Third race, Mr. Clinton's bay pony Varmint, 7st. 7lbs., beat the Confederates' G. P. mare Padrina, 8st., in a match twice R. C. Padrina from an accident was unable to train, or the result might have been different. Fourth race, the Ensign's roan horse Half Batta (owner) beat the Confederates' dun pony Tickle Toby in a match R. C. Tickle Toby had no chance at any part of the race. -Second day. First race, for the General's Purse, heats R. C. The following horses were entered :the Moss Trooper's C. A. Chester, 9st. 9lbs., Captain Duckett's G. A. Hudibras, 9st. 9lbs., Mr. Mootee's G. A. Ecarte, 9st. 4lbs., and the Confederates' C. G. Rufus, by Slender Billy, 9st. 6lbs.; but an objection being made to the Moss Trooper's horse, in consequence of some mistake in the nomination, Hudibras, Ecarte, and Rufus only came to the post. The first heat was beautifully contested, Hudibras winning by a length, and Ecarte beating Rufus by a nose, in 3m. 15s.; had not Rufus, however, endeavoured to bolt, by which he lost nearly 100 yards, there is little doubt but he would have won the heat. The second heat was well contested between Ecarte and Hudibras, the latter winning by half a length, in 3m. 13s. For the Galloway Purse it was no race, Mr. Parry's G. A. Savandah, 8s. 5lbs., beating Mr. Mootee's G. M. Wagtail in a canter, in 3m. 20s. Third race, the Ensign's roan horse Half Batte (owner) beat Mr. Clinton's G. H. Nosey in a match, 1 mile, won in a canter, time 2m. 15s. Same day, for a Handicap Sweepstakes, two miles, the following horses started:-Mr. Houston's G. A. Tyrant, 9st. (Rammoola), M. Ceto's B. A. Good for Nothing, 7s. 12lbs., Mr. Stalk's G. A. Sampson, 8st. 2lbs., and Mr. Bacon's G. A. Popinjay, 8st. 7lbs. The race was Tyrant's the whole way, he winning easy by a couple of lengths, in 4m. 13s., Good for Nothing second, Sampson third, and Popinjay fourth and last.-Third day. First race, for the Maiden Country Bred Purse, heats R. C., the Moss Trooper's C. C. Rob the Ranter, 7st. 7lbs. (Rammoola), beat Mr. Bacon's B. F. Caifacaratadadara at two heats easy, but in no time, Rob being lame and the Filly trying to bolt. For the Pony Purse, heats one mile and a quarter, a splendid race was anticipated between the two famous ponies, Stargazer and Zarah, but Zarah unfortunately being amiss, was unable to make her appearance. Mr. Parry however (perhaps depending on the glorious uncertainty) ventured to enter a pony called Black Sally against the noted Stargazer; and although Stargazer cantered in front the whole way, coming in first by several lengths, he was declared distanced in consequence of his owner carrying above his weight and not declaring it. Third race, the Ensign's roan horse Half Batta (owner) beat Mr. Lawrence's B. H. Ginger Pop R. C. in a canter, after which came the Station Cup, twice R. C. and a distance, and from the number of horses entered (eight) a good race was expected, but from accidents in training three only made their appearance at the post, viz. the Moss Trooper's B. A. Stanley, 8st. 7lbs. (Pannchoo), Mr. Ceto's B. A. Good for Nothing, 8st. 12lbs., and Mr. Benjamin's G. F. Emerald, 6st. 10lbs. ; even betting between Stanley and the Filly, and almost any odds against Good for Nothing, who had not been in training a month. The horses passed the stand well together, but the race was between Stanley and Emerald; the latter appeared to be winning easy, when unfortunately within a few yards of the distance post bolted, by which accident. Stanley was enabled to win, greatly distressed, in 6m. 51s., Good for Nothing just saving his distance. Stanley, I hear, had been amiss several days previous to the race, but had not that been the case, I doubt whether he would have been able with 8st. 7lbs. against 6st. 10lbs. to have done much against the Filly, for two stone difference in weight must tell, especially in so long a First race, race. Fourth day. for the Arab Purse, heats two miles, five horses started, viz. Mr. Houston's G. A. Tyrant, 8st. 7lbs. (Rammoola), the Moss Trooper's C. A. Chester, 8st. 12lbs., the Confederates' G. A. Marmion, 8st. 12lbs., Mr. Bacon's C. A. Sinner, 8st. 12lbs., and Mr. Parry's G. A. Savadah, 8st. 12lbs. Marmion the favourite at 12 to 8 against the field, but the favourite is not always the winner, Marmion being dead beat both heats half-amile from home, and the contest being between Tyrant and Chester, which latter ought to have won the first heat, but his jockey was asleep, Tyrant winning it by a length in 4m. 10s., and the second heat easy in 4m. 13s. Marmion third both heats, Sinner fourth, and Savadah fifth. This is not like Marmion's running at Meerut, but if reports are true, which state that Marmion met with an accident, and was obliged to run in a bar shoe, this, combined with his having trained off, will in some measure account for his bad running; he is a good, honest little horse, and, if I mistake not, will regular next year turn out a clipper. I almost forgot to mention a very pretty bit of running on the third day, viz. between the Ensign's horse Half Batta (who, I hear, for his performances is to be hereafter named Full Batta) and Mr. Mootee's G. H. Jem, 9st. 7lbs. each, half a mile; both got a beautiful start, ran neck and neck the whole way to the distance post, when both were brought to the whip, and a beautiful race terminated in favour of Half Batta by a nose in 1 minute. the After the Arab Purse on 121 fourth day, a Sweepstakes, half a Horse B. M. Toddles. The first heat a G. H. Nosey in a match, quarter him a little time to breathe, he a Handicap Purse, R. C. and a distance, 10 horses were entered, and 7 only started, viz. Mr. Benjamin's G. F. Emerald, 8st. 6lbs. (Ross), Mr. Houston's G. A. Tyrant, 9st. 5lbs., the Confederates' C. A. Tom Tit, 8st. 7lbs., Mr. Bacon's C. A. Sinner, 8st. 10lbs., Mr. Stalk's B. M. Toddles, 7st. 12lbs., the Ensign's horse Half Batta, 6st. 5lbs., and the Confederates' C. G. Rufus, 8st. 4lbs., who soon lost all chance of winning by bolting to his stable. The race was well contested between Emerald and Tyrant, the former winning with little to spare by half a length in 3m. 27s. Tom Tit third, Sinner fourth, Toddles and Half Batta, though not placed, fifth and sixth. Thus ended the SIR, Kurnaul Meeting of February 1831, and I hope next year the racing men will be more fortunate in their stables, and renew the sport with redoubled vigour. It appears the Confederates have great confidence in the powers of their horse Marmion, they having backed him against Mr. Bacon's G. A. Lancer, 8st. 7lbs. each, three miles, for 5000 rupees, to be run on the first day of the next Meerut meeting. Hoping the best horse may win, and wishing your Magazine every success, believe me, dear Mr. Editor, your constant reader and well-wisher, FAIR PLAY, A PONGO PICNIC. The greater number of your readers are no doubt aware of the many thousand pleasurable anticipations which the promise of a picnic party never fails to awaken in the bosoms of even the most home-loving people, and they who are sportsmen in the truest sense of the word will, I am confident, give me their commiseration when they read my miserable story and are told that, though no longer a youth, the spirit of sport still flourishes and blooms in my remembrance, and clings round. my heart with a tenacity which not two-and-twenty years of hot service have weakened, nor the loss of half tentage can untwine from its hold, nor threatened reductions can loosen in its attachment. I cannot, however, help fancying (I hope it is only fancy) that Sport, and all its varied charms, is in its decline, and that the zeal and perseverance which once distinguished the true hoghunter from the mere amateur are sinking into a feeling that assimilates such widely different characters, and that the the few parties that now take place are caused less from a love of sport than by a desire to escape from the bore of office work or the monotony of drill parades. But I wish not to show myself to your readers as a "Laudator temporis Acti," however much I may be so in heart, and therefore revenons à nos moutons." I was dealing out my praise of picnics in general, and spoke of the revulsion of feeling, which the one I have just returned from had occasioned, turning hope into disappointment, and changing the reality of enjoyment into a mere mockery of pleasure -still, though unlike what I had always seen of picnic parties, there was much to be amused at, and much to be pleased with, 66 |