MEETINGS.

SIR,

At Amesbury November Meeting 1824, for the Figheldean Stakes, BLAST beat Mr. Dansey's blk. d. Dreamer, Mr. M. Mills's blk. b. Mouse, and Mr. Heathcote's yel. and wh. b. Harebell, and won the Stake.

At the Highclere December Meeting 1824, for the Cup, BLAST beat Dr. Meyrick's blk. b. Maid Molly, Mr. Goodlake's blk. b. Gawrey, Mr. Chas. Long's blk. and wh. b. Leda, and Mr. Phelips's f. b. Ruby, and won the Cup.

At the Amesbury January Meeting 1825, for the Tidworth Stakes, BLAST beat Mr. Northey's blk. d. Nardock and Mr. Pettat's bl. b. Prattle, and won the Stake.

At First Union Meeting at Deptford 1825, for the Cup, BLAST beat Mr. Wyndham's blk. d. Woden, Sir H. Vivian's blk. d. Voltigeur, and Lord Molineux's red and wh, d. Medlar, and won

the Cup. Blast won also many

other matches.

mented that so little is to be the turf at the First October seen on paper, and so little done on Meeting. I can account for this in no other way than by the increasing sport at Doncaster, which so immediately precedes it, swallowing up as it were all other considerations connected with racing; besides the harass created by the extraordinary bustle of a long week's sport, long journeyings, and too often deranged financeswith the time too short for the fever to subside, the pocket to recruit, or the scene to become one of novelty. For the last thirty years, however, I never observed Newmarket suffering to the degree I saw it now, particularly when the fineness of the weather and the vast number of horses in training were considered.

At the mustering on the Heath at two o'clock on MONDAY, of charioteers, with horse and foot, I must own I never saw so scanty a meeting; and, what is worse, among the absentees were a great number of the turf's best supporters; but to our comfort, and as some prospect of their soon coming back, I assure you the show of fine, welldressed, agreeable, pretty women, was never exceeded in the best of our days.

As usual, the first race was the Trial Stakes. Seven started, and kept well together, running more like trying for the prize than the speed of horses; presenting a welldressed front for a long time, when the three best made an advance to do their utmost. Pastime went in first, well rode by

Robinson, little thought of; Belzoni, as little, second; and Lamplighter third, to the surprize and dismay of those who had backed him against the field at six to four, which was the current betting. Lamplighter must be going down the ladder a little. At one time he was thought to be as good as Pastime, giving his year away; or he has, which is most likely, been too long living in indulgence in the Colonel's country quarters, and has lost some of his discipline. If he was in the possession of certain people I could name, the jealous and discontented would have said, looking at the betting, "All is not right." But the characters of Colonel Wilson and Frank Buckle are above all suspicion-leaving nothing more to be said, than "one man may steal a horse, while another must not look over the hedge!"

The next race in a great mea sure goes to prove this position. Glenartney was as great a favorite in this, the Grand Duke Michael Stakes, as Lamplighter was in the former; but with the betting only at five to four on him against the field. Eight ca me to the post, in better twig, as they call it, than they had met for the Derby; but even this difference, both in health and condition, could not wipe away the false notions many had imbibed at Epsom. Being now Being now handsomely paid for, I shall leave them in quiet possession; or, as I have some friends amongst them, will borrow a hint from my birthday (which is just over), and wish them "many happy returns of the day." In describing this race, the same words as those used in the Trial Stakes would explain it they started the same; came to gether the same; the favorite took

the same place in front; lost it the same; and was placed third the same a very bad place indeed, being more than twenty yards from the winning horses. The winner, Espagnolle, was finely rode by Frank Boyce. He ran a long way in distress, pretty well knocked about by Gaberlunzie, a large horse, also in distress, second; but a judicious little pull, and a small ascent in the ground, gave the little horse the advantage of a head, and did not, I assure you, Mr. Editor, leave the jockey without one.

We had four races on the TUESDAY; the first, 50gs. free for any horse, weight for age, begin ning at four-year-olds and upwards, Beacon Course. Mortgage, Black Swan, and Memnon, only entered. Memnon could not have lost, if he had started; but, as kings do handsome things to their subjects, it is but fair that subjects should shew they are sensible of them. Mortgage and Black Swan should have started; but, either through mistake or obsti nacy, Mortgage ran the four miles alone, went home, and was just upon the point of "setting a feeding," when a messenger was sent after him, saying it was a false start (out of compliment and in imitation of Doncaster); so the poor fellow had to walk over again, and run back against the Black Swan, making it a trip altogether of sixteen miles; but his winning quite in a canter did away with the vexation.

The Duke of Grafton's Problem 8st. 71b., beat Lord Jersey's Dragon, 8st. llb. Here the elder Buckle gave us as fine a specimen of jockeyship, though more than sixty years old, as any "prime-oflife" man in this or any other age;

and, could I trust the friendship I bear him, I should say far superior. Mr. Mills's Lunacy beat the Duke of Grafton's Chloris very easy. Sam Day's fine riding was more than sufficient.

Sir John Shelley's Johnny, 8st. 7lb. beat! Mr. Prendergast's Garnish, 7st. 11lb.-a very fine race. Jem Robinson rode the winner, to whom we are mainly in debted for the hearty laugh and smiling face of the merry Baronet. We had only one race on WEDNESDAY, which was the Newmarket St. Leger; and out of the fifteen named in it, five only started, which all got places. High odds again on Glenartney:-The same infatuation prevailed in the people, who would not be denied, but persevered, as if his list of winnings exceeded in number the Duke of Wellington's victories; whereas he has never won a race yet, and in my opinion never will, so long as he meets better horses than himself; which he has hitherto done. There is no doubt but the horse can run, and that his owner would let him win if he could. Then, as an excuse for losing their money (for few people wish in right earnest to be thought fools), they say the horse is bad tempered. I grant he is; but having seen all his public races, I have observed invariably that he becomes angry when he becomes distressed, and is cursedly tormented by the whip and spur. I know that even my own sweet temper would be a little ruffled under similar treatment. They had much better say, they were dazzled by appearances; for he is, I have no doubt, the finest creature as a horse living; but what has that to do with speed? He is also of the most extraordipary bulk; but what has that to

do with strength? In the race before us he had every chance of proving what was said of him for the Derby. Good play was made for him; the distance and form of the ground were similar; he got the whip hand, with every other advantage; as well as the place of second, to which he is accustomed. When the three that followed him-Turcoman, Snowdrop, and Theorem all but stood still, Buckle, on the Antiope colt, at last a very easy winner, acknowledges that he was very much frightened considerably within a hundred yards of home. But Glenartney is a very decisive character. When he once finds himself in difficult circumstances, he immediately gives all up as lost-no hope, no perseverance; neither will coaxing, threatening, nor actual punishment have any effect upon him, unless to make him stand still a little sooner. Antiope colt is a beautiful little horse, just returned from Doncaster, where he had run for the St. Leger under very unfavorable circumstances, his feet being so bad at the time that plates could not properly be put upon them: but, barefooted and unfortunate as he was, he was amongst the throng of the body of the horses. For the Newmarket Leger he ran in shoes, which seemed to answer all the purposes of dancing pumps. Besides affording greater protection to the foot, they kept on more securely.

The

For the Town Plate, on THURSDAY, the entry was not only small as to numbers, but poor in pretensions, with the exception perhaps of Grampus, who was a decided favorite. The race was, as might be expected from the materials, a slow performance. A cry was

raised, just after passing the Duke's stand, in favour of Mr. Goddard's Anticipation colt, who, for the moment, seemed to have something left; but his courage, and the noise that seemed to raise it, died away together, leaving the emoluments, which are small, and the honours which are still smaller, in the possession of Mr. Wyndham and Grampus.

The next was a race arising out of peculiar circumstances, which I take upon myself to say should never be resorted to. A man's character ought not to be placed in a situation in which it might be affected by the hazardous changes everlastingly taking place in horseracing. It may be remembered that Goshawk and Recruit ran a Match some time back, which Goshawk won. A reflection was cast upon Robinson, the then rider of Recruit, that this was not Recruit's form; out of which so much anger arose, that Robinson lost a good master in the Marquis of Exeter, and his Lordship a most excellent servant in the person of James Robinson. In this match, which was for 100 sovs. each, with weights, ground, and distance precisely as before, Recruit won; so that Robinson lost on both horses; and to those who did not see the race, appearing in error-proving also, as I said before, that a man ought not to place his reputation on things so precarious; for Goshawk would not run with him a single yard.

The next was a Handicap Stakes, six subscribers, 10 sovs. each, Ditch Mile, which Upas won, rode by his owner, Mr. George Edwards the jockey. The youngster, finding he had been pretty well treated by the handicap makers, went off at a first-rate pace, and was never

headed. Moslem was second, but without a chance of winning.

The King's Plate, for 100gs. Round Course, the last day of the meeting, and the last race of the day-Monarch and Lamplighter carrying 10st. 7lb. each, as fouryear-olds, and Chateaux Margaux 11st. 7lb. for being five. These were all that came to the post. More, most probably, would have been brought out, but for the dreaded name of Chateau Margaux, who, after all, proved as innocent as a bettermost sort of small beer. Monarch, hacked about the country as he had been, made the running, which was not only true, but far from slow; the others following very respectably, when the weights, and the ifs and buts as to condition are considered. At about two hundred yards from home the three were head for head, each at his best; when Monarch first shewed symptoms of defeat; Lamplighter then caught the infection, and his hymen-like torch burnt blue, leaving Chateau Margaux to find his own way. In making too free, however, in ascending a small rise in the ground, Chateau was in his turn compelled to fall back, till he again came abreast with the Lamplighter, making a dead heat of it; sorely against his will. Colonel Wilson and Mr. Wyndham then agreed to divide the Plate between them, fearing that if they ran another heat, which must have been desperate, the horses in their present state would run great risk of being spoiled. Lamplighter afterwards walked over. The betting, which was two to one on Chateau, was then settled in the following way: the man that betted ten pounds to five, put the two sums together, then each taking half,

would leave the better of the odds, a loser of 21. 10s.-Thus ended a spiritless meeting.

NEWMARKET SECOND OCTOBER MEETING.

The increased bustle in the town, and a well-covered list of great matches, good Sweepstakes, large sums of money, and high-sounding names, gave promise of a brilliant Meeting; and, as far as wealth, grandeur, and numbers of strangers go, I am ready to admit that it was a very good one: but in the regular substantial turf supporters, 1 fancy I see a woful falling off both in numbers and spirit. Three forfeits out of four matches for the first day will go some way to prove it.

The first race was a Handicap for three-year-olds, 10 sovs. each. Lord Wharncliffe's Carthusian won it, carrying the top weight all but 4lbs. in such a canter, that, had his been the highest weight, with three in addition, he could not have lost it. Memina was a bad second; and the rest, five or six in number, no where.

One third of a Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each, was the next object of attraction. Gaberlunzie, the favorite at almost any odds, won it-his natural great stride making it so easy that it was very little more fatiguing than a walk overColonel Wilson's Rubens filly second, and the other two quite lost. Donna Clara, 8st. 5lb. beat Lord Exeter's Pantina filly, 8st. 2lb., the latter scarcely going fast enough to keep the other in a gallop.

For a Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, four subscribers, T. Y. C. four young ones started. A Mer lin colt (now called Richmond), his dam Mona, won it easy; Mr. Gre ville's Elinor second; Bernardo,

mentioned in the Derby for the last time I should think now, being beat fifty yards, at a slow pace, third.

The last race of the day was the Garden Stakes, for which six started-Souvenir first, Babel second, making but a poor show. The owner of Babel may accuse himself of rashness in trying to give such a smart little thing as Souvenir nearly two stone at this time of the year. If he had cast his eye upon old Sligo, which was last, he might see there what weight will do.

Lord Tavistock's Hostage by Abjer, his dam Pledge, beat in a match Mr. Mills's Lunacy. This was the first race on TUESDAY. George Edwards rode Hostage in rather a superior style. Sam Day upon Lunacy looked somewhat crazy; to be sure, a beaten horse does not shew a man to the greatest advantage. At the Bushes he exhibited no unfavorable symptoms; made his running into Abingdon's Mile Bottom in perfect sanity; took a gentle pull, which was all well enough; but in making his last rush, he was outrageously too. late.

Fifty Pounds for two-year-old colts and fillies, Two-year-old Course. Twelve started, or rather should have started. They succeeded, however, after at least twenty attempts, and an hour's miserable suspense, to get off, some in good and some in bad situations, depending at last altogether on accident. By way of amends they ultimately made one of the finest races of it ever seen, finishing with a dead heat between Lord Exeter's Tramp filly, her dam Bess, and Mr. Bush's Pentagon filly, by Skim; after which the Bess filly walked over. She having some good engagements, a compromise