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I cl lr i, j w , i tl v w 1 I n , b t j, - in , a a h -r a t to y e a v f f . 0 I f . , " ; I . . . . t J I 1 j , , 1 , ; ; ! , 1 ! " 1 . t v " ! ,j . J s ,1 ; YEAR OF PERPLEXITY IN ENGLAND. Reviewing some phases of a flat racing season close to its ending, "Vigilant" said editorially in London Sportsman of November 12: "Rearing In mind what has gone before, one wonders what can happen in the way of surprises in connection with the important handicaps remaining to complete the seasons series. The results of the year have been such as to challenge the longest memory to recall reasonable comparison, not only as regards handicaps, but as concerning some of the most important weight-for-age races, commencing with the Two Thousand Guineas, which went to the credit of Mr. Raphael bv the aid ot Louvois. which starteu at to 1, and ridden by R?iff, squeezed home by a head in front of Craganour. which was nevertheless backed against the tield with Maher up. and won the Newmarket Stakes in a canter, thereby knocking the previous form into a cocked hat. At Epsom Mr Rower Ismays horse had yet another jockey Reiff and, starting at 0 to 4, reached the judge head in front of Aboyeur, which in turn had a neck the best of Louvois. but, acting on their own initiative, the stewards disqualified him for humping and boring, and, as was the case when Jeddah and Signorinetta respectively won, the Derby went an extreme outsider, his quoted price having been ICO to 1. Afterwards Cragnour was sold at a big figure to go to the Argentine, and Aboyeur was expatriated to Russia, but there was no mourning at the loss of either. The last of the classic races witnessed another extraordinary upheaval of public form, and Night Hawk landed a 50 to 1 chance for Colonel Hall-Walker in the St. Leger, but has since failed signally to uphold the fame so unexpectedly thrust upon him. On the opening day of the season there were six better favorites m a Held of twelve than Rivoli. which at Kempton Park easily won the Queens Prize for Lord Carnarvon and in the following week Cnthbert 100 to 0 nased the post first for the Lincolnshire Handicap, int was disqualified for bumping and boring in favor of Bcrrilldon 100 to 0. Two of the most important races of the year the Lincolnshire Handicap and the Derby were won through the reversal of the judges decision by the stewards. "Drinmore. though starting at 10 to 1. was a well-hacked public horse for the City and Suburban, but not so Aldegond, which figured on the 20 to 1 mark when Plant forced him through the Newbury Cup to win from Lord Durhams Rrancepeth, which lias since descended to selling plate rank. Aldegond did the fielders another good turn when he won the Victoria Cup at Hurst Park, hut was altogether out of his element when competing for the Derby. Lorenzo, the favorite, had, to all appearance, lifted the Chester Cup for Mr. Leopold de Rothschild when The Guller, dropping as it were from the clouds intervened and brought off a 20 to 1 chance for Mr. Crallan aud his octogenarian trainer, John Osborne, and, bv way of conclusion to the same week, Absolute, which was practically friendless at 33 to 1. nlaced the Kempton Park Jubilee to the credit of Colonel Hall-Walker. There was no marked indication of confidence when at 100 to S Oliver Goldsmith tlukily defeated Aprille by a head and won the Newmarket Handicap, and the hatconibc ring of a good thing in store was silent when Rivoli scored a second victory for Lord Carnarvon by wiV- ning the Ascot Stakes, though the absence of fluke on that occasion was demonstrated later by his runaway success in the Alexandra Plate. In the meantime Long Set had put un a fine performance for Mr S. 15 Joel in the Hunt Cup at 100 to 7, and at a similar price IJraxted took the Wokingham Stakes. Following the Two Thousand Guineas sur-f prise witli Louvois, Mr. Raphaels Lord Annandale upset at 25 to 1 all calculations on the Stewards Cup at Goodwood, and Catmint sprang another sur-- prise on us when at 100 to S Maher drove him home neck in front of Aleppo 20 to 1 for the Goodwood Cup. which witnessed the remarkable downfall of Prince Palatine, which finished like a drunken man and. incidentally it may be added, terminated his racing career. Florist would not have been per- mitted to start at 100 to 7 had he been fancied in the least degree for the Dnko of York Stakes at Kempton Park, immediately prior to which he had been beaten in a mixed trial, a style of test which I should imagine will not in future commend itself favorably to Mr. Dresden, having regard the Cambridgeshire result following a similar dress rehearsal. As for the Newmarket experience with Fiz Yama in the Cesarewitch and Cantilever in the sister race a fortnight later a double knock-out was administered to the talent, aud the agony was piled up when China Cock won one of the most unsatisfactory races ever seen in the history the Liverpool Autumn Cup. I think this will be admitted "the rumniiest record for one season within human memory, and that it cannot tend to encour-age those whose business it is to endeavor to fore-r stall the fiat of the judge." : , , . : i . , 5 j 1 I a s - n t il t d to o s U e ; v e of f e II
