GOODWOOD RACES.

BY CRAVEN.

"Richmond! well hast thou acquitted thee!"

SHAKSPEARE.

The turf goes on and prospers greatly; and if there be the shadow of fear for its permanent success, it is because of the wise-saw which advises us of the danger the broth runs from too many cooks. The racing feast so lately spread in the princely domain of Goodwood was under the immediate ordinance of a great artist; and though it cannot be said that it was spoiled in the cooking, certes a good many of those who attended were kept in hot water. Still, the most particularly scalded cannot but admit that the noble host displayed a munificent spirit in all the arrangements of his festival, and every desire to further public convenience and enjoyment.

The course is the most picturesque in the world; and while some uphold it as the best for the animals that run over it to be found in Great Britain, and others assert it to be no better than so much woodpavement, my opinion is-as Father O'Leary observed of purgatory -that "You may go farther and fare worse.' The more remote portion of it is certainly "hardish," but the run home from the turn is very good; and as the pace is made there, the most dangerous part is provided for. As a rendezvous of our first of national sports, Goodwood has made steady and constant advances. The sun has now set

on its forty-first anniversary; and so long as lovers of racing and the race-horse shall exist in merry England, it shall be remembered that brave were the feats performed thereat, and right excellent the pastime.

The meeting for the present year commenced on the 26th of July, and a brighter Tuesday was not born of the season. Conveniences having been arranged by the directors of the South Western Railway for conveying passengers to Chichester, and the course by rail to Fareham, and thence by coaches and other contrivances, the accession from London was much greater on Tuesday and Thursday than it had ever before been. The "off-days," however, did not attract the Metropolitans; for on the Friday not above two or three went down by the special train, while as many hundreds returned by it. Still there is great room for improvement; passengers ought to be enabled to book themselves all through in London, receiving tickets numbered for the particular conveyance, in which they might rely on being carried from and to Fareham. As it was, you had a fight for places when you arrived at Fareham, and another at Goodwood on the termination of the day's racing-if you were fortunate enough to meet

with your jarvey at all. If others did not find it thus, I did; for they left me in the lurch when they got me to the course, and my money out of my pocket.

So much has been said and sung about the exclusion of defaulters from the privileges and advantages of the Goodwood Meeting, that I pass the experiment without note or comment, only enquiring why it was an experiment? The laws of the Jockey Club-alas! for the poor Jockey Club--have for years provided a remedy for the evil of nonpaying; why was it never enforced? Why has the "Racing Calendar" never contained-or why have the Messrs. Weatherby never advertised therein the names of parties in default for the space of three months in respect of forfeits, as required by the 29th rule of the Jockey Club? Is it because no such default ever existed? But to our poor theme. With fine weather, fine company, and an unequalled list, the meeting of 1843 commenced on the 26th of July, as aforesaid. The hour for starting the first race was at half past twelve; and it was kept to the instant-a most necessary precaution, as there were ten races on the day's card. Of these and the general racing of the four days I proceed to speak, in reference, mainly to such portions of it as possessed an interest beyond their mere results.

Business opened, as usual, with the Craven Stakes, won by Newcourt in an indifferent field. The Drawing-room Stakes-on which there had been some spirited betting at evens on Greatheart (the Progress colt)-ended in a dead heat between Maniac (first favourite for the Oaks as the Bessy Bedlam filly) and Parthian. They said it was a clipping race, but it was'nt. Had General Pollock made running instead of waiting we should most probably have had another account of it. Greatheart broke down. The Ham Stakes, a two-year-old meeting of considerable interest, Col. Peel won with his profitable Vulture colt-called Orlando after winning the July, and re-christened Sandwich for winning the Ham; the field, however, very poor indeed. A 300 sovs. Sweepstakes, for four-year-olds, 19 subscribers, the Duke of Richmond's Eaglesfield won, beating Misdeal and Envoy-a very resolute race. It was worth £3000, but I suppose went between the first and second The Goodwood Club Stakes, with five gentlemen riders "up." Portrait had the best of it, as had Rook's-nest of old Remnant (very stale) in a match for 99 sovs. This brought on the Gratwicke, for which they backed Cotherstone at anything they could get. Gaper, Mary, and Khorassan went-but they had better have staid. The Derby horse cantered as he pleased, and won as he liked in a canter. This makes his winnings of the present year very nearly £10,000 in stakes. The Levant Mr. Wreford won with his promising colt by Camel, out of Wadastra. I like this nag the best of John Day's Derby lot. His legs are straighter and better than the Ugly Buck's, and his speed quite as good, so far as his public performance. St. Lawrence walked over for the Welter Stakes, carrying 13st.; and then we had three heats for the Innkeeper's Plate, won by Mr. Osbaldeston's Devil-among-the-Tailors. For a £300 Match (half forfeit) with Anti-Dickens, Col. Anson's Napier was permitted to walk over, and the first day's business closed.

Wednesday. The first "off-day," though it was to decide the

principal betting race of the meeting, was very indifferently attended. The sport was good, but "untoward" in one or two instances as will be seen. It began with the Queen's Plate, won by Ben-y-Ghlo; to which succeeded the Steward's Cup, won by Yorkshire Lady, who was never mentioned in the odds. Seventeen started, and as fine a finish came of it as ever was seen. "Tiny," as they call him-the infant of seventeen-and 3st. 6lbs., rode the winner. This boy's name is Wright, and he was bred by Captain Becher. The Goodwood Stakes, for which a large field of horses had been in the market for some time, brought fifteen to the post. The favourite at starting was a horse called Bacchus, from the Curragh, belonging to Mr. Ferguson-a four year old, with 7st. and Tommy Lye on him. They took 4 to 1 and 7 to 2; he won, and they paid for their credulity. The distance being a long one there were many "dodgings" before they settled to their running, which had taken place when they appeared above the hill coming home. Down the fall the tailing commenced, and at the turn Lucy Banks, Scalteen, and Aristotle, had it among them-the mare winning a most resolute race by a neck. The Cowdray Stakes Isaac Sadler appropriated with a two-year-old filly, by Defence, in next year's Oaks; she was claimed by Lord G. Bentinck for £130. St. Lawrence won the Stand Plate in two heats; and Jamie Forest the Members' Plate in like manner, and thus the business ended.

The Cup day-by conventional understanding always the Thursday of every meeting-drew tens of thousands to Goodwood.

far from propitious in the affair of weather, for there were some awful showers and fogs; but the running was first rate. The Cup was the great gun of the ring, as soon as the Derby was disposed of, and some heavy books were made upon it. Also it was a "lottery" affair, and lots of people of all conditions were concerned in it. This, and it being a gala, and one not easy of access, caused it to be sought by every man having the means, and by many who had not. The list announced twelve races, and as there was no time allowed for accidents, all were on the qui vive by eleven o'clock. In the weighing-house batches of jockeys were in the scales unceasingly, and the way they wagered on the terrace and roof of the stand, was a thing to have astonished Babel. By breakfast hour the gambling booths and thimble-rig rogues were doing a handsome stroke of business. Shutting the gates of Goodwood Park against defaulters for bets and stakes, and opening them to the thimble-rig and rouge et noir robbers, is like declaring bad luck felony, and granting licences for highway robbery and murder. The course was very well kept, and all the business details excellently carried out: but it is time to come to the running. This began with an indifferent match and a middling twoyear-old sweepstakes, which Sandwich won from two others. then had the Racing Stakes, bringing out a field of half-a-dozen, and ending in a dead heat with Napier and Cornopean. When this was run off Napier won in a canter; and the fielders for the Derby, and percase for the Leger, sigh as they recur to it. But Napier is in one stable with Cotherstone, and the latter may win the Leger, and the former may win the great 200 sovs. stakes two days after

We

safe to be worth a couple of thousands; such things come of good management. A match followed, won by Here-I-go-with-my-eyeout; surely there is little fancy and less fitness in giving such names to race-horses. The event of the day-the Goodwood Cup-was now on the tapis. As a betting race I have said this had long been prominently before the public, and at prices generally justified by public performance. I always declared my opinion that Charles XII. ought not to have been backed as he was, because it was clear to me he had trained off his speed; the truth of which was proved by his place in the race, and his being removed for ever from the turf on its conclusion. The field amounted to thirteen, Gorhambury being a rattling favourite at starting, not more than 5 to 2 being to be had about him. Hyllus was next at 4 to 1; Charles a point worse; and then the outsiders came, with Pompey and Siricol at their head. The start was a beautiful one, and as soon as they felt their legs, Golden Rule set off at killing speed as pioneer for Hyllus, leading the lot the first two miles by a clear dozen lengths. At the top of the hill the body of horses was together, but at the distance Hyllus and Siricol ran well out from the others; the former, magnificently ridden by Butler, winning on the post by a head. In the last few strides these horses absolutely grappled with each other, muzzle to muzzle, with flaming eyes and foaming jaws! Why wert thou not here, O, pourtrayer of the "Passions of the Horse," to sketch once in thy life from nature? By the articles of the Goodwood Cup there are 50 sovs. for the third horse; however, either the judge forgot this, or could not-for he did not place more than the first and second. Gorhambury was nowhere: it was run more truly" than the Goodwood Stakes, in consequence of the strong play made by Golden Rule in the first two miles.

A match, ending in a dead heat, followed, and then came the Molecomb Stakes, the most important two-year-old race of the meeting. The field for it was but eight-but it was well thought of-while against it they laid 5 to 1 on the Ugly Buck. They were right, for he took the lead, was never caught, and won in a canter by a length, and then was backed for the Derby at 9 to 1, and in a few instances at a point less. This colt is like his sire, Venison, in his fore-legs, which "stand over," with very long pasterns. I am not going to write upon equestrian anatomy, but leave every one to make his own deductions from these simple premises. The Stockwell Stakes, for rubbish," Lothario won: "to what base uses we may come, Lothario." And then there was another two-year-old stakes-the Sussexwon by Barricade in a poor field of five, all placed. The Duke of Richmond's Plate, handicap, was won by the "feather," weighing, as well as I can remember, about 4 st. the Wright of whom I spoke on the Tuesday. The Anglesey Stakes, an amateur display, Una won, with Mr. Oliver on her, though 2 to 1 was betted on her opponent, Misdeal; this was an anticipation of her Wolverhampton running. Thus the day terminated: "a long day, my lord."

Friday was selon les regles a jour maigre-that is to say, in the item of company; in sport it was as fat as a feast. It gave us first a match for £500 each between Highlander and Farintosh; a furious

encounter, won by the former, the latter roaring after him like the "blowing off" of a high-pressure engine. Then the Chesterfield Cup, for which a party of twenty-two assembled. Scalteen, the Irish horse, won cleverly by a length. It was a handicap, not much to the credit of the manufacturer. The Nassau Stakes Mania carried off, with the odds on her. All the remainder of the racing was a gentle display. Lord March won the first class of the stakes of that ilk on African. Mr. Gardnor (alias something else on the telegraph board) the second class on Misdeal, and Lord Maidstone "the challenge," on African. In this last half-a-dozen cavaliers rode, who were all fined £5 a-piece for not waiting for orders to start. One of them, a gallant man-at-arms, swore rather than be the slave who paid he would fight like Widrington, on his stumps-will he not "stump?" I pause for an answer--and till it be given so does all I have to say of Goodwood races.

SMILES.

BY AN OXONIAN.

There is a smile-so blithe and sweet-
Youth's own, as yet unknown to care;
Which shows that joy supreme doth beat
Within his heart who doth it wear.

There is a smile-of deep disdain,
But half a smile and half a sneer;
Which shows that Pride, with all his train,
Commands the heart that doth it wear.

There is a smile-of blushing love,

When list'ning first to some fond prayer;
Which doubt and fear will half remove
From her fond heart who doth it wear.

There is a smile-so false and cold,
Of which the heart has little share;
Which worldly men, whose god is gold,
Their aims to gain, are wont to wear.

There is a smile-of soft consent,
That's often followed by a tear;

For long may she the hour repent,

Who once that smile has dared to wear.

There is a smile-so sad and forced,
Too true an emblem of despair;
Which shows that all on earth is lost
To her poor heart who doth it wear.