Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 - 1857), Friday 26 September 1845, page 4


THE DERBY AND OAKS.

Odds before the start.

% DERBY'S to 1 agst. John Day's not (take 9 to 2 ; 5 to 1 agst. Lord Stradbroke's Idas (take 6 to X) 8 to 1 agst Mr. Greville's Alarm ; 12 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Weatherbit; 15 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Pam (taken) ; 16 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Kedger (taken freely) j 20 to 1 agst Lord Chester field's Newsmonger ; 20 to 1 agst Mr. Ferguson's Clear the Way (taken) ; 25 to 1 agst Mr. Wreford's Winchilsea (taken) ; 25 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Old England : 25 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Pastes a (take 27 to 1) ; 40 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Doleful ; 50 to 1 agst Mr. Wreford" Worth-less (token and aft. offered.)

OAKES to 1 agst Lord G. Bentinck's Longitude (taken) ; 16 to 1 agst Mr. Worthing-ton's Lancashire Witch (taken) ; 16 to 1 agst Mr. Newton's Sister to Ma Mie (token) ; 25 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Sister to Devil-among

the-Tailors.

The meeting was numerous. Although it rained, not very heavily, it is true, from dawn until a little before noon, the weather-wise proposed a fine day. They were right in their prediction ; between eleven and twelve o'clock the rain ceased, and the sun shone pleasantly during the whole of the races and almost up to the very moment of the starting, arrivals on the course continued to take place. When at half-past two the bell for saddling rang, the course presented an animated and thronged appearance, and the coup d'oAl from the Grand Stand might have challenged comparison with the best days of Epsom. The Grand Stand was well filled with the rougher sex, but exhibited a lamentable minority of the fairer members of creation. The chief race was fixed to take place at half-past two o'clock, but punctuality in such an event is so difficult, that it has never yet been attained. The difficulty was increased by the unprecedented number of horses brought to the post, no fewer, in fact, than thirty-one Besides three false starts an accident happened to Alarm and his jockey, which delayed the final start at least a quarter of an hour. The Libel reared up, and striking at Alarm, hit Nat upon the wrist, this caused Alarm to plunge, and his rider being dislodged, he ran against the chains and fell over ; but immediately jumping up, he broke away towards Tattenham corner ; being headed about midway he made for the road leading into the bottom below the weighing stand, and after narrowly escaping another fall, was caught, taken back, and remounted. His leg was cut, and the jockey's arm much bruised, but not to the extent to prevent their taking a part in the race. At about half-past three agoodstart was effected, and in a few brief moments the hopes and fears of the thousands who had breathlessly awaited the commencement of the struggle were at an end. The " crack" was beaten disgracefully, and a horse that was not even mentioned in the

betting proved, to the satisfaction of the un-learned in racing matters, that " the knowing ones were done again." But here is the affairThe Derby Stakes, of 50 sovs. each, b. ft. for 3yr.

olds i colts, 8st. 7lb. ; fillies, 8st. 2lb. ; the owner of the second to receive £100 out of the

stakes, and the winner to pay 100 sovs. towards the police regulations of the course. Last mile

and a half. 138 subs.

Mr. Gratwiok's Merry Monarch, by Slane (Bell) 1 Mr. A. Johnstone's Annandale. (Marson) 2 Mr. Gully's Old England. (S. Day) 3 Mr. Mostyn's Pontaia . (Marlow) 4

A good start was accomplished at the fourth attempt, Idas leading off, followed by Salopian, Fuzbos, Cobweb colt, Wood Pigeon, Kedger, and Doleful, Fantasia and Merry Monarch next, Side by side, and behind them Mentor and Pam, Annandale and Old England lying in the centre. In this formation they ran at a good bar to the top of the hill, where Kedger and Doleful went to the front, and jointly carried on the running at an improved pace, Fantasia and "Merry Monarch next, with Wood Pigeon, Idas, Mentor, Pam, Old England, and Annandale in their wake. They came thus to the turn, in round-ing which, Pam, owing, as it is alleged, to another horse hanging upon him, struck into Wood Pigeon's heels and fell ; Weatherbit, who was following, jumped over him, and being put out of his stride, of course lost some ground. Doleful and Kedger kept their places to the distance, when Merry Monarch went in front, followed by Annandale, Pantasa lying third, and Old England, in company with Doleful, Kedger, and Wood Pigeon. The run in was all in favour of Merry Monarch, Annan-dale never getting nearer than his quarters, and being finally defeated in clever style by a length. Old England came at the last, and beat Fantasia for third place by a neck, Annan-dale beating him by a length. Next to this lot were Wood Pigeon, Doleful, and Kedger, and behind the " crack" (who was in trouble before he got to the road and Adonis. How the next truck came in we could not make out ; but those who pinned their faith on the Stanton flag, The Libel, must have been not a little mortified to perceive that he was the first horse beaten, and the last at the winning chair. The Laird of Cockpen, the Coramba colt, Worth-less, Young Eclipse, The Black Prince, Cabin Boy, and several others, were beaten early. The pace was good all the way. Value of the

stakes, £3,975.

THE OAKS DAY. FRIDAY.

The Epsom races terminated to-day, and apart from the two principal events, the sport they afforded was of indifferent character, and the attendance, whether patrician or plebeian, less numerous than usual. Prince George of Cambridge and the Prince of Saxe Weimar were present, and so were nearly all the noble and distinguished individuals who were there on the Derby day. The following is a return of the sport:

The Oak Stakes, of 50 sovs. each, h. ft. for 3 yr.

old fillies, eat. 7lb. each; the owner of the

second filly to receive 100 sovs. out of the stakes, and the winner to pay 100 sovs. towards the Police regulations of the course.

Last mile and a half. 25 subs.

Duke of Richmond's Refraction (Bell) 1 Mr. R. Bennett's Hope (Marlow) 2 Major Yarburgh's Miss Sarah (Holmes) 3 Mr. Worthington^Lan. Witch...(Tompleman) 4

Won by two lengths. Twenty-one can.

In these races the uncertainty of the judgment of the knowing ones is evidenced. Horse racing is a system of perfect robbery. The favourites were " no-where." The " outsiders" won both races, and were seconded by outsiders ; 100 to 1 against, any one of the four first horses in either race might have been had. How the " book makers" must have found themselves at fault.

THE SETTLING OF THE DERBY AND OAKS.The paying and receiving on Tuesday last was, without exception, the most satisfactory we e, ever attended and although two or three small

accounts are yet to be adjusted, the ultimate deficit will be very small. If we are to credit 1 all we hear, the balances on the Derby cannot have been less than £100,000; on these occa-tions, however, exaggeration is so common, both with winners and losers, that when we take into consideration that Mr. Gratwick and his trainer, were chiefly on Doleful, and are but

small winners on the race, we may safely take ,' off some £20,000 or £30,000 ; still, as a heavy addition must be made on account of the Oaks, we may venture to affirm that the gross total on both events must have very nearly approached the sum stated, but which we do not believe to have been won on the Derby. To this great balance the gentlemen and the general Backers

of the favourites (that is, the public are the

contributors. Conspicuous in the first class stands a young Turfite, to the time, it is said, of at least £17,0001 The principal winners are Mr. Irwin and Mr. O'Brien, who, having by some accident got on the Merry Monarch, never had an opportunity afforded them of getting off, and, therefore, by sheer luck, tumbled into'Wibout £20,000 1 Three or four other gentlemen, who stuck to the lot, won from £2,000 to £5,000 each, and the fieldsmen, with a few exceptions, realized handsome balances. We have not heard of any large winners on the Oaks : Lord March and a few personal friends, we hear, won small stakes ; per contra, Lord George Bentinck was heavy on Miss Elis and against the lot, and loses a good stake.

THE OLD ENGLAND AFFAIR. The stewards of the Jockey Club have been holding a court of inquiry in reference to the conspiracy to bet against, and " make safe," Mr. Gully's horse, Old England, for the Derby. All the parties implicated were present, and made their respective

statements.