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, ► i ! I i I ENGLANDS EIGHT BIG HANDICAPS. Entries to the Spring Events Are in Some Instances Numerically Disappointing. The latest London exchanges bring the entries received January 1 to the eight big handicaps to be run in England the coming spring, and likewise the information that the showing, numerically, in some instances is most disappointing. The Lincolnshire Handicap of 1,000 sovereigns, one mile straight, to be run at Lincoln. March 19, has forty-five entries, which is five less than the number received in 1S98, the lowest in nine years. The Queens Prize Handicap, 1.000 sovereigns, one mile and a half, to be run on the Round Course at Kempton Park, April 1, received only twenty-eight entries. . The Newbury Spring Cup Handicap of 1.250 sovereigns and a cup valued at fifty sovereigns, one mile straight, to be run at Newbury, April l.", received thirty-five entries. The Great Metropolitan Handicap of 1,000 sovereigns, about two miles and a quarter, to be run at Epsom Downs, April 2.X. received forty-one entries, seven more than last year. The City and Suburban Handicap of 2,000 sovereigns, about one mile and a quarter, to be run at Epsom Downs. April 24. received forty-three entries, twenty-one less than last year and the lowest In i nine years. The Great Jubilee Handicap of 3,000 sovereigns, one mile and a quarter over the Jubilee Course, to he ,run at Kempton Park, May 11, received forty entries, thirty-four less than it had in 1001, its Ix-st year, and equal with the number it had in 1808, the worst year in the last nine. The Chester Cup Handicap of 2,500 sovereigns and a cup valued at fifty sovereigns, nearly two miles , and a quarter, to lie run over the Old Cup Course at Chester, May 8, received forty-nine entries— decidedly better than last year when it did not • fill at the original date of closing. The Manchester Cup Handicap of 2.750 sovereigns and a gold cup valued at 250 sovereigns, one mile and a half, to be run over the Cup Course at Manchester, May 24, received fifty -four entries. Commenting upon these numbers, the Sporting Life says: "Race course managers have little cause i to be jubilant. Regarded from the numerical standpoint, the entries for the Spring Handicaps are ■ disappointing. There is a falling off nearly all 1 round, and in one or two cases the deficiency is » quite unaccountably pronounced. If only we could i be sure that the numerical strength of the entries for the Great Metropolitan aud the Chester Cup P could be regarded as conclusive evidence of a growing disposition to foster racing over two miles s or more we might, in spite of all that tends to the e contrary, be well satisfied with the state of things s with which we are today confronted."
