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SOME INSTANCES OF PLUNGING IN ENGLAND. "A few years back, at the time of the American invasion, the average backer was thunderstruck at the methods of gambling indulged in by the Yankees," says the London Sporting Life. "A favorite form of speculation was to enter a presumed certainty in a selling race, and plunge heavily, afterward running the horse up at auction to such a figure that the owner of the second was a man to be envied. This form of gambling did not last long, and the participators were eventually beaten all ends up. "The majority of racing men can call to mind tiie deeds of the youthful plunger, Ernest Benzon. whose erratic conduct had a very short life and enriched the ring considerably. Wales, at one time a confectioner, was wonderfully lucky In his turf investments during the early stages of his turf career, but lie went out of the business a wiser but sadder man. Walton, an American, was another that at one time peppered tje ring, but luck, turned till one day his settling acount was missing. In all the above instances betting was carried on from day to day while the game Listed, but earlier on. most sensational plunging was indulged in by wealthy patrons of the turf. Charles James Fox on one occasion netted 16,000 about ,000 by laying against a favorite at Newmarket, and at a subsequent meeting at headquarters won 30,000 in three days. His raciug partner, Lord Foley, commenced his turf career with 100,000 In ready money and an estate worth 18,000 a year, but when he died in 1793 he was absolutely bankrupt. Richard, Earl of Barrymore, started to bet heavily when only nineteen years old, and after four seasons at the business lost 100,000. "During the closing stages of the eighteenth, century an inveterate gambler was Lord Darlington. Two matches were arranged between his lordships Pavilion and Mr. Melllshs Sancho, each of which was for 3,000 guineas a side. There was probably more betting on these affairs than was the case in the great match between Flying Dutchman and Voltigeur. The first match was won easily by Sancho, but in the second, after appearing to be winning easily, the last-named broke down, and Lord Darlington netted nearly 20,000 as the result of the accident. In 1834 the same owner, together with the rest of the stable connections, believed that they had a good thing for the Derby in Shillelagh. Their belief hi the ability of the horse to annex the event was so strong that they would not hedge a penny. Shillelagh was, however, beaten, and easily, too, by Plenipotentiary. By this defeat the owner lost 1S,000, Messrs Bland and Halliday dropped 60,000, Stevens the sporting fish .salesman suffered to the extent of 20,000. and the brothers Chifney Sam and Will were fairly broke by the result of the race."
