66 that have so lately been enacted, and then chime in with the oracle of the Quarterly" in upholding the turf as a sport that "diffuses its pleasures far and wide." A sport in whose triumphs all may participate, from the well-wishing friends who have shaken their heads at races and race-horses all their days, knowing they ne'er could come to good, down to the sore-neglected sad-spirited prisoner, whose poverty is his greatest crime. Round and round let it pass, food for the hungry, drink for the dry, and happiness for all; while merry maids in natty white caps and sweet violet ribands are making the offering with a force of argument that proves racing anyhow not exactly the selfish cut-throat black-hearted business some of us have been so ready to believe it. Even saintly Master Snuffle, the pious parson and shoe-maker, who has been damning seriatim et verbatim every horse, man, and boy in the parish connected with the training-stable, on every Sunday evening for the last three years, can't resist Sam Day and the Derby Day. Not he, indeed! but drinking back-handed, fore and aft, every time he can get a pull at the good measure, at length rushes home in the strong beer veritas of an overflowing heart to break his shop windows and his wife's head. And thus has fortune at length deigned to stop her wheel at Stockbridge, though really the boy cried wolf so often that, until the vici had followed the veni, there were many who would not accredit the vidi. The dead certainties and terrible pots that had of late years boiled over on honest John's or somebody else's head, the cracks from Danebury that sunk down into cripples, and the succession of secrets that blew out into bubbles, were almost enough, certainly, to shake the belief of the most faithful. Within the last ten seasons the Ugly Buck, in 1844, at five to two as the starting price, Coldrenick, in 1842, at eleven to eight; and Grey Momus, in 1838, at five to two, have closed as first favourites for the Derby; while in 1845 Weatherbit at three to one, in 1840 the Melody colt at seven to two, and in 1835 Venison at seven to two, have been just within a point or so of that proud position. Of the other four eras, the best excuse for non-favourites at the post in two of them, 1843 and '39, were non-starters; a good reason to show cause that might have made a yet greater hit of it in '46. We will, however, be content to take the goods as the gods provide them, and so proceed with the history of a champion, who, though long expected, could not have arrived at a more appropriate period. PEDIGREE. Pyrrhus the First, a chesnut colt, was bred by his present trainer, Mr. John Day, in 1843, and was got by Epirus, out of Fortress by Defence, her dam Jewess by Moses, out of Calendulæ by CamertonSnowdrop, by Highland Fling. mare for Fortress, bred by Mr. Tattersall in 1836, and own sister to Martello, never appeared in public, but has already made ample amends as a brood any want on active servive, as witness already, after only having been five years in the stud, the following, amongst her produce: Delapre, a very decent runner; Old England, who ought to have won the Derby last year; and Pyrrhus, who did win it this. Fortress consequently now ranks as one of the picked racers of England, and that means of the world. Epirus, own brother to Elis and Stockport, and as fine a horse to the eye as ever was trained, was bred by Mr. Bowes in 1834, and got by Langar, out of Olympia by Sir Oliver, her dam Scotilla by Anvil, out of Scota by Eclipse-Herod, &c. As a race-horse Epirus was considered a right good one, running well and on, and always, moreover, in the best of company. As a stallion he promises to be even more valuable, considering Pyrrhus the First is the first of his stock out. The plentiful allowance of stout blood thus flowing through the veins of the last Epsom wonder, we leave to the study of all sticklers for pedigree, while we add on Mr. Herring's workmanlike description to his unapproachable portrait. Pyrrhus the First is a golden chestnut, with marks of white, after the manner of Elis, on his hind legs, and a blaze on his face; a beautiful blood head and light neck; very fine deep shoulders, good arms and legs, long quarters, muscular thighs, and hocks remarkably well let down. He stands fifteen hands three inches high, and is altogether a fine specimen of a first-rate race-horse. PERFORMANCES. In 1846, at Newmarket First Spring Meeting, Pyrrhus the First, ridden by S. Day, won the Newmarket Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft. (20 subs.), beating Col. Anson's Iago (2); Lord Exeter's St. Demetri, by Colwick, out of Galata (3); and the following not placed: Lord Albemarle's The Little Vulgar Boy, Mr. Wigram's Hereef, Lord Stradbroke's Polecat, Lord G. Bentinck's Marquis of Conyngham, and Duke of Rutland's Sister to Flambeau. 3 to 1 against Pyrrhus the First, who won by half a length. At Epsom, ridden by S. Day, he won the Derby Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft. (193 subs.), beating Mr. W. Scott's Sir Tatton Sykes (2), General Shubrick's Brocardo (3), and four-and-twenty others not placed, whose names not having yet been given in our pages, we here subjoin: Sir R. Bulkeley's Joinville, Mr. A. Johnstone's Grimston, Col. Anson's Iago, Mr. Meiklam's Fancyboy, Lord E. Russell's Sting, Lord Maidstone's Tom Tulloch, Sir Gilbert Heathcote's b. c. Hetman Platoff out of Nanette, Lord Orford's Blackie, Sir J. Hawley's Humdrum, Mr. Gurney's Cantley, Mr. J. Drake's Bold Archer, Mr. O'Brien's The Traverser, Lord Eglinton's Sotades, Lord Chesterfield's Ginger, Mr. Drinkald's Wildred, Mr. E. Peel's Spithead, Mr. Mostyn's b. c. by Phoenix out of L'Hirondelle, Mr. E. R. Clark's Conjuror, Mr. Ramsay's Malcolm, Mr. T. Powell's Holloway, Mr. Balchin's Sir Edmund, Count Bathyany's Tragical, Mr. Watt's Crown Prince, and Mr. Merry's br. c. by Don John out of Peri. 8 to 1 against Pyrrhus the First, who won by a neck. The first Derby winner John Day ever brought out, and the third Sam Day has brought home-the two previous being, in 1821 Gustavus for Mr. Hunter, and in 1830 Priam for the Chifneys. SUMMARY OF PYRRHUS THE FIRST'S PERFORMANCES. In 1846 he has started twice, and won twice: value clear. £ 650 5250 For the Welcome Stakes at Ascot, in which, with 9lbs. extra for his Epsom achievement, he would have met Iago, St. Demetri, Humdrum, and others, Pyrrhus very prudently paid forfeit. His remaining engagements for the present year are the Foal Stakes at Winchester, a Sweepstakes at the County of Dorset, the Grand Duke Michael at Newmarket First October Meeting, and the St. Leger at Doncaster. For the greatest of all these events the Ring is now pricing him at ten and eleven to one, though according to the experience of late years it will be a difficult task indeed to place him there again as Pyrrhus "the First." ENGRAVED BY J. SCOTT, FROM A PAINTING BY J. BATEMAN. Far as Bengala's teeming plains extend, A health of body and a strength of mind. INDIAN SPORTING REVIEW. To "the officer and gentleman," young in years and strong in spirit, a safe arrival in the Indies ensures not only a change of climate, but most probably opens the way to an almost new state of existence. In saying this, we should be understood as referring quite as much, if not indeed more, to the pleasures than to the professional duty of cadet life and times; for the one we may expect to find him tolerably well grounded before he puts a foot out of the old country, while for the mere occupation of his leisure-a pretty good slice of the sum total, mind you he has no alternative but to leave the vacancy to fashion and the fortune of war. Only just picture, then, the boy of blushing sixteen or eighteen, whose greatest achievements in Bedfordshire have been going right through one run with the Oakley, pulling down a mallard on the banks of the Ouse, or supplying the servants by the agency of nets, terriers, and ferrets, with that most unsavoury of dishes, a long succession of rabbit pie. Only fancy that same youth, grow old," hardening his heart to exchange courtesies with a tiger, collecting his troop of brown or black guards for the circumvention of an elephant, or with a lively faith and a ruddy cheek pitting himself against some well-seasoned old sinner, in a "Gilbert Mile' "ere these shoes gallop |