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r 3 50

411 11

4 45 5 10

s 8 17

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s 8 15 9

8 30 9 5 5

2 W Ludlow Races. [Oxford v. Cam. s 8 18
3 T Dog Day's begin. Cr. at Lord's-
4 F Maidenhead Regatta.

5 S Oxford Term Ends. Leicester F.r 3 51
6 Third Sunday after Trinity,s 8 16
7 M Cr. at Lord's-Kent v. England. r 3 53
8T

9 W Royal Thames Y. C. Regatta. 10 T Liverpool Cup Day.

11 F Mansfield Races.

12 S Royal Mersey Regatta.

0 46 9 3510 r3 5510 1 1210 4011 15 s 8 1411 1 4311 45 No tide

r 3 5712 2 20 0 15 0 45 s 8 1213 3 5 1 10 1 35

13 Fourth Sunday after Trinity.r 3 59 F

14 M Cr. at Lord's-North v. South.

15 T St. within.

16 W Royal Yorkshire Regatta.

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s 8 10 15

9 6

2 40 3 5

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17 T Abingdon Races.

18 F Haverfordwest Fair.

61910 44 5 5 5 25 62011 3 5 40 6 0 421 11 22 6 20 6 40 92211 42 7 0 7 20 223 7 45 8 15 Morning. 1224 0 4 8 50 9 20

19 S Cr. at Harrow--M. C. C. v. Har.r 4 20 S Fifth Sunday after Trinity, s 8 21 M Cr. at Lord's-Gent. v. Players. r 4 22 T Marlborough R. Chelmsford R. s 8 23 W Falmouth Reg. Colchester Fair. r 4 24 T Cr. at Lord's--M. C. C. v. Leic. s 7 5925 0 31, 9 55 10 25 25 F Odiham Races. Reading Fair. r 4 1526 1 511 26 S Leighton Buzzard F. Portsdown F.s 7 5727 1 49 No tide 05 27 Sirth Sunday after Trinity. r 4 1728 2 43 0 34 1 0 28 M Cr. at Lord's-Old v. Young.

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THE RACING IN JUNE,

BY CRAVEN.

66

"By debitor and creditor."

SHAKSPEARE.

The review of Epsom Races, in the last number of this periodical, concluded with an intimation, that on a future occasion they would claim some retrospective notes and queries. I now purpose to fulfil that promise. The two great meetings in May were those at Chester, and upon the Surrey Downs; for though the former commenced in April, it terminated in the merry month." Chester is essentially a provincial meeting-among the first of its class, no doubt; still it is without the conditional characteristics which distinguish Newmarket, Ascot, Epsom, Goodwood, and Doncaster, from races dependent upon mere local interests. Newmarket is the rendezvous of the greatest racing club in the world. Ascot is a royal course with a Palatial Stand, and royal and imperial endowments. Epsom is the scene of the two greatest races run for on the face of the earth. Goodwood is the most princely pageant-take it for all in all-that perhaps the turf ever offered to men's eyes: and Doncaster

"Like the vase in which roses have once been distilled"

lives, past, present, and to come, upon the prestige of the greatest saint's day in the (Book) Calendar-the St. Leger.

The pleasant provincial tryst on the banks of the Dee is now comprised in four days-a principle, indeed, of general adoption. In the present year it appealed to the patronage of the practical turfite-to the owner of race-horses-through the eloquence of a bonus of £1638-while in return its demand for "expenses" was limited to the modest figure of £85-leaving to the public credit a net sum of £1553-sterling. The items may thus be epitomized. On the first day £390 were added, and £35 subtracted. On the second day the addition was £418 and the abstraction-nil. On the third day £470 were given, and £35 were taken and on the fourth day £360 were added, and £15 subtracted. Thus the ways and means of horse-racing profited by Chester Races to the amount of fifteen hundred and fifty-three pounds.

In reference to Epsom Races, in the season of 1851, there appeared the following paragraph in the "Times" newspaper, of Wednesday, May 21st: The list for the meeting shewed a vast improvement," I presume upon preceding meetings-with £975 added money The expression certainly was vague. The source from which it emanated, however, was security for bona fides, and the conclusion to be drawn was that a sum of nine hundred and seventy-five pounds was contributed towards the funds or capital of the races, over and above the amount subscribed by the owners or nominators of horses engaged in the various stakes and sweepstakes. This I take to be the spirit of its meaning, albeit the letter is obscure. The turf, in short, would

have to credit the meeting to the amount specified: the bonus offered by the promoter or promoters of the races being £975 "added money," as aforesaid, which, it is fair to assume, had no connexion with subtracted money. I proceed to balance the Dr. and Cr. accounts of each of the four days.

Tuesday, May 20, 1851.-Epsom Races in Account with the Racing Interest

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To Manor Plate, 64 entrances at two sovereigns each
To Woodcote subtracted money ...

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To Heathcote Plate, 26 entrances at two sovs. each

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To The Derby, subtracted money

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To Epsom Town Plate, 9 entrances at two sovs. each
To Great Exhibition ditto, 31 entrances at two sovs.

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To Grand Stand Plate, subtracted money
To Cobham Plate, 20 entrances at two sovs. each
To Aristocratic Plate, subtracted money

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To Railway Plate, 12 entrances at two sovs. each
To Oaks Stakes, subtracted money

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To Derby and Oaks Stakes, per profit on sale of winner
To Members' Plate, 5 entrances at two sovs. each
To Foreign Visitors' Plate, 31 entrances at two sovs.
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130

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Balance to credit of Racing Interest, errors excepted... £188

It is not easy to catch "The Thunderer" napping; but this its instance of "added money" amounts, I most respectfully submit, to a case of "aliquando BONUS dormitat”—et cetera.

In the year 1851 the money contributed at Chester absolutely was fifteen hundred and fifty-three pounds; at Epsom the "added money," after striking the balance for deductions, was one hundred and fiftyeight pounds-net.

Is not the contrast a startling one? and is it not something more than singular that notice of it has been neglected by the sporting papers? If the income of a Meeting have-or ought to have-any influence upon its expenditure, what manner of ratio should regulate the "added money" at the places under consideration? Is it not a ridiculously low average to assume, that for every crown which the four days at Chester brought to the exchequer, the four days in Surrey contributed sovereigns towards "the funds" at Epsom? From how much more of the Downs were the public excluded this year than last? Is there any limit to the lines of enclosure as against carriage company and equestrians? At Newmarket your chariot draws up alongside the ropes, free of all charge or hindrance: at Epsom, such a berth costs as much as your stall at the Opera. Not that I desire to contend against the abstract principle of paying for race-course accommodation or entertainment; but what I insist on is the reciprocity system. Thus apropos of the Opera-your manager of the Haymarket pays his dramatis personce, for appearing, out of his receipts; while in such dainty Olympic conceits as our Epsom Manor Plate aforesaid, the field pays £128 for permission to run for £100 of its own. Imagine Mr. Lumley demanding two sovereigns a-piece from his corps-de-ballet, for liberty to come on in "L'Isle des Amours!" And in both cases, to all financial intents and purposes,

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