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" BEST OF ENGLISH RACING. UNBEATEN LESBIA WINS MIDDLE, PARK PLATE AT NEWMARKET. Flairs Sister a Small but Remarkably Good Filly Beats Pretty Pollys Sister The White Knights Notable Race. London, October 19. The crack filly, Les-bia, won the Middle Park Plate at Newmarket October IS and has gone into winter quarters unbeaten, although Vamose ran a dead heat with her for the Imperial Produce Stakes at Kempton Park. Lesbia was not the favorite for the Middle Park Plate, that point of preference being given Miranda, the much-admired sister to Pretty Polly. But when it came to the running Lesbia led every foot of the way and won by two lengths, with the Dnke of Westminsters colt, Morena, second, and the good filly, Araminta, third. Miranda finished fourth. Bichard Crokers filly, Bhodora, ran but made no showing, and hardly was expected to, having been amiss. Manor rode the winner, which is expected to do great things . next year. Concerning the Middle Park Plate starters The London Sportsman says: "Good fillies have won the Middle Park Plate, but they have been few in number, the colts for years on end dominating the situation, as may be seen from the fact that during the last quarter of a century only Busybody,- Signorina, Pretty Polly and Flair had their names upon this scroll of feminine two-year-old fame. The field was small, and four of the seven .starters were fillies, which four ruled the market, Miranda, Lesbia, Araminta and Bhodora being respectively first, second, third and fourth favorites. Mirandas sister, Pretty Polly, won the race in 1903, Lcsbias sister. Flair, won it in 1005. It was a wretched day for two-year-olds, windy, raw, rainy and cold, so it was no wonder that they did not do themselves justice in the paddock. Lesbia looked half the size she did at Kempton. She is a pony, but a strong pony. Miranda, too, did not fill the eye as she did at the last meeting. It was the cold and the wind. Miranda towered over Lesbia, but her weak middle-piece was more pronounced than ever, and in conformation she cannot compare with Pretty Polly, but in many of her ways she is a replica. Pretty Polly had a peculiar way of carrying her bead, and while walking of stopping and pricking her ears to listen to something. Miranda does the same. The expression of her face is exactly the same as Pretty Pollys. She met a better animal, and Lesbia will always beat ber. Sir Daniel Coopers filly won in a canter, and Miranda also hndto acknowledge defeat from Morena, a Kingsclere colt, which was sent to do duty instead of Vamose, which ran a dead heat with Lesbia at Kempton. It would have been most interesting to see the two run that dead heat off. Lesbia has done all that can be asked from a racer, won all that she has been sent for. It is true that she only made a dead heat on -one occasion, but she was not beaten and after that race it was discovered that she was suffering from a serious, but temporary, disturbing influence, which made her effort then distinctly more creditable. All of the English critics describe Lesbia as being small, but very powerfully muscled and truly made. It is evident her lack of great size does not in the least prevent her i from running far and fast. Her pedigree will interest students of breeding and here it is: - Vedette 5 vrolti",,;,IT 3 Mrs. Bidgway. " f a C Fly. Duchess Dutchman, s I Merope. r -1 i King Tom., j Harkaway. . J 1 Pocahontas. I $ Adeline..... 5 , Little T, ? Fairy. I - 0 and 5 Joskin W.Australian M , a 3 Peasant Girl. "3 CO. Eizabcth.i Autocrat. I -2 J 1!aJ Bosalind. 3 I Z Parmesan... Sweetmeat. 9. J. Gruyere. Si C Archeress... Longliow. , - I Tingle. I i 5 I a X Lord Clifden Newminster. 3 1 . r T r , 1 The Slave. c s L. Langden. 5 Kettletlrum. f H j Haricot. Ualopin hcs, U i?reronia 5 l Parmesan... Sweetmeat, j 2 y Gruyere. i. I Bigolboche. . Rataplan. . 5 "i . I Gardhm mare. l I Blair Athol. S Stockwell. Blink Bonny, g Paradigm... I Paragone. t Ellen Home. "Rhodora looked rough In hpr coat, and perhaps Dr. McCabe was not well satisfied with lier condition. No doubt Iter trainer would have liked Continued on -second page. BEST OF ENGLISH RACING. Continued from first nagc. more time to get her round from the cough that she had a little time since." The Middle Park Plate was long the most valuable of Englands races for two-year-olds. It was first run in 1SG0 and it was for many years the custom to regard the winner of the Middle Park as the most probable winner of the Epsom Derby of the following year. It did not always work out that way by any means, but quite a number of Derby winners were also winners of the Middle Park. Melton, Donovan, Isinglass, Ladas and Gal-tee More being the most recent instances. Its value to I.esbia was 12,375 and with 120 pounds up, she ran its three-quarters in 1:17. In its earlier years it always netted the winner over 20,000, Its greatest value being in 1S0S, when it brought the winner 22,400. According to Sporting Life, it was her preliminary gallop before the race tiiat made Miranda tlit; favorite for the Middle Park Plate and of tills incident it says: "Miranda was left to furnish the sensation of the canter, and when she swept down to the post in that bewitching way which immediately recalled memories of her illustrious sisters effortless style, there was quite a buzz of admiration and such a rusli to get on that Pretty Pollys sister was quite unbackable just prior to the start, layers refusing in many instances to trade. That canter cost backers a lot of money, for, though Miranda carried a bold front to the bushes, she died out quickly from that point, whereas Lesbia continued on the even tenor of her way and won very easily." The winners of the Middle Park Plate since 1S90 have been as follows: Year. Owner and Horse. Time. AAt. 1S!K M. E. Blancs Gouvcrneur 1:21 132 lS.tl Duke of Westminsters Ormc 1:20 12! lS92tSMr. IL MeCalmonts Isinglass.. 1:21s 120 lS93Lord Koseberys Ladas 1:15J 121 1S04 Mr. Fairies Speedwell 1:1SS 122 lS95Mr. L. de Rothschilds St. Frusquin 1:10s 120 lKfiJSMr. J. nubbins Galtee More 1:21J 120 1S97 Duke of Devonshires Diemlonne. . . . 1:17 120 ISIS Lord AV. Reresfoid Caiman 1:1S 120 1890 Lord W. Beresfords Democrat 1:15 120 1900 .Mr. T. Simpson Jays Floriform 1:13J 122 1001 Lord llarewoods Minstcnd 1:10s 122 1002 Sir D. Coopers Flotsam 1:12J 12! lOOStt-Major Eustace Loders Pretty Polly 1:17 120 1001 M. E. Blancs .Tardy 1:102 120 1005 Sir 1. Coopers Flair 1:14 120 1000 Major E. Loders Galvani 1:13s 12! 1007 Sir D. Coopers Losbia 1:172 120 Won the Derby, fOaks, . Leger, Two Thousand. English racing folks will not for many a day slop talking of the Cesarewitch of 1007 and The While Knights gallant effort behind Demure. Vigilant, in the Sportsman, writes of the race: "It did not lake long for the excitement to cool down after Demnres victory in the Cesarewitch, which was only saved from condemnation as the most uninteresting race in the annals of its history by the magnificent struggle of The White Knight. His effort will go down l; posterity as one of the finest handicap performances of all time, and on paper, at any rate, was greater, than that of either Isonomy or Bcndigo. I shall not soon forget the thrill of excitement that ran through me when the big horse, having one by one" disposed of all the others, came thundering down Bushes hill in pursuit of Demure, and continued to lessen the gnji as they climbed the ascent for home. It was really splendid, and I doubt not there were thousands present who, like myself, regretted the impossibility of giving him the pusli behind which would have enabled him to smash up all records. Of course, the vexed question again presents itself as to which is the better horse, The White Knight or Velocity, which as stayers stand relatively in the same position to one another as did the famous mile handi-eapiKrs, Victor Wild and Clorane, twelve or thirteen years ago, and it Is a thousand pities that, having fallen a victim to the exigencies of training, Mrs. Jacksons horse cannot hare another opportunity of throwing down the gauntlet to his Doncaster Cup opponent. Great and brilliant as jvas "the Knights" achleromcnt on AVedncsday, however, I see no valid reason why one should suppose there was any fluke about Velocitys victory on the Town Moor, but it is no use arguing the point In existing circumstances, and the best way out of the difficulty is to admit once and for all that they are two sterling good horses, of which the last-named at least could boast the better speed. A great stud career should be in front of both, for apart from their racing capabilities they are well bred for the-purpose, The White Knight being by the St.- Simon horse Desmond out of Pella, by Buckshot, her dam Pamela, by King John out of Eblana, by Al, while Velocity, which is perhaps the better looking as regards beautiful quality, is by Speed son of Hampton out of Ballast, by Baliol out of Charter, by King John whose name, it will be observed, occurs In both pedigrees. Having regard to the fact that Mr. W. R AVyndham handed over 50,000 to Col. Kirkwood for a half share of the horse, The White Knights value may be appraised at double that figure, whereas it has been authoritatively announced that unless some enthusiast comes along with an offer of 125,000, Mrs. Jackson will not part with Velocity." There seems to be some little misunderstanding over the offer which M. Gaston Dreyfus made for Velocity. That gentleman was at Ostcnd when Mrs. Jacksons horse won the Grand Prix and after the victory he immediately expressed a desire to purchase the winner, with a view to Velocity becoming a stallion at his well-known stud farm. The sura he offered was declined, arid M. Dreyfus has lnjide no advance upon It; but last week, after the , borse missed his engagement in the Prix du Cpnscil Municipal, ho received a letter from England, offering to sell him Velocity for 125,000, but he has replied saying that he could not pay that price. Demure, under ninety-three pounds, is an animal of a different stamp from the White Knight, a free-going kind little mare, and Wootton, who rode a sensible, well-judged race, was never at any stage placed in a dilliculty. The White Knight was giving forty-five pounds to the winner, an animal of ids own age, and it made men hold their breath, it made their hearts beat faster to see the challenge and to watch the finish. Few men have ever seen a finer handicap performance. Sheen, it is true, won with 12S pounds in 1S90, but Sheen was not giying forty-fire pounds to a horse, which a month previously had run second In the St. Leger. It has been acknowledged without demur that up to yesterday the best performance ever done in the Cesarewitch was that of Isonomy In 1S70, when he finished fourth to Chippendale, carrying 134 pounds. Torn Cannon, the rider of Isonomy on that occasion, was present, and on being asked to recall the race, lie said: "They declared to win with AVestbourne, and I had to lie within a reasonable distance. I thought that Westbourne was going to lie beaten, so I asked Isonomy to go out and win iiis race, but Isonomy was cannoned into and turned half round. I think, but for that, Isonomy would have won." "Which is the best long-distance horse you ever saw?" "I shall always stick to Isonomy." "You think Isonomy did more than The White Knight did today?" "I think so." The rider of Isonomy went on to explain why he held this opinion, but so far as poundage goes, Cannons argument does not hold good, liecause Isonomy was only giving Chippendale thirty-two pounds, whereas The White Knight was giring Demure forty-live pounds. The time of the Cesarcwitclis two and a quarter miles was 3:59J, and the field the smallest since 1S39. Young Wootton, who rode Demure so well, is one of the coming English lightweights, without an engagement and is not yet fourteen years old. The history of the Cesarewitch since 1SS0, is as follows: Year. Horse. Age.Wt. Year. Horse. Age.Wt. 1SS7 Humcwood ..3 101 1S07 Merman ....5 10.! 1SSS Tenebreusc ..4 121 1S0S Clialeurcux ..4 10:S 1SS0 Primrose Day! S5 1SO0 Scintillant ..3 08 1S90 Sheen 5 12S 1000 Clarehaven ..4 111 1501 Ragimunde ..3 04 1001 Balsarroch ..3 SO 1502 Burnaby 5 95 1002 Black Sand .5 114 lS03Red Eyes ...4 10S 1903 Grey Tick ..a 93 lS93Cypria 3 S! 1004 Wargrave ...0 102 1S04 Childwick ...4 107 1005 Hammerkop .5 121 1S95 Rockdovc ...4 04 19CG Mintagou ...5 OS 1S00 St. Brls 3 00 1907 Demure 4 93 Dead heat. Vendale, the winner of the Chester Cup four years ago, and successful, since as a Kings premium horse at the Islington show, lias been sold to go abroad as a hunter sire at a goodly figure. Lord Willoughby de Eresbys thoroughbed stallion, White Feather, a winner some years ago of the Ascot Plate and Goodwood Stakes, has been "sold fOr exportation to Africa. The Jockey Club Prize, run at Budapest last Saturday, was won by Baron A. de Rothschilds Bother Stadl, which was ridden by Carslake. Prince G. Morouzzis Caramel Taral was second and Baron S. Uechtritzs Pomali Southey third. There were six runners. Ilerr Felix Simons three-year-old gelding, Solo, by Damocles, out of Sunblind dam of Father Blind, wox the Gold Cup at Frankfort O. M., on Sunday last, from Cape Common and Sagamore, witli Messrs. Weinbergs pair, Alro and Ignis, the last two In a field of live. Sunblind and her son, Solo, then a foal, were bought at the late Mr. W. R. Marshalls sale in 1004 for only 2S0, and the mare had been again bred to Damocles. The conditions have just been published of the Grand Prix, which will he the principal event in the program of the fiat race meeting at Nice next March. The race is open to English horses. The added money is 10,000, the entrance fee is 100, with :i first forfeit of 20, whilst sixty per cent, of the entrance fees will go to the second horse, thirty per cent, to the third and ten per cent, to the fourth. The distance of the race is one mile and throe furlongs. Mr. John Porter has just sold to M. Btlmond Blanc two broodmares, which are going over to the .Tardy Stud Farm. One is Laputa, by Ladas, out of Lady Mun caster, covered by William the Third, and the other is Trilionix, by Galiinule, out of Fervour, and covered by Littleton. Yesterday the remains of William McFarlanc, the proprietor of the "Sporting Life," were interred in tile Rickmansworlh cemetery.
