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FIRST WEEK OF ENGLISH FLAT RACING RACINGConsidering Considering the exceptionally strenuous times through which we are passing a few reflections on the general aspect of affairs arising out of the opening week of the racing season may be pardoned Although not officially informed I may say without fear of contradiction that the re ¬ ceipts at Lincoln and Liverpool were down bj comparison with former years but imt nearly to the extent that might have been expected Large crowds assembled In tin Carholme to witness the race for the Lincolnshire handicap and again at Aintree In see the still more attractive contest with all its vicissitudes for the Grand National and as regards the sport itself a good average was maintained at both meetings Naturally many owners were absent although their horses were running but none the less the results showed that the policy of the stewards supported by the Jock ¬ ey Club at the recent special meeting t carry on the important national industry of racing was generally approved Practical support was forth ¬ coming from Lord Villiers and Lrd Wolverton two of the stewards and other members whose colors were seen during the week wcr Lord Derby Lord Durham Lord Roseberry Mr Leopold de Rothschild Mr J W Larnach Sir R Jardine Lord Penrhyn Sir Samuel Scott Sir Ernest Iagct Sir ITruest Cassel Lord otlalid Lord Suffolk and Lord Lonsdale a goodly array of names namesTo To this strongly representative list may be addei those of such representative owners many of whom are also private breeders as Col Hall Walker Lord Ellesmere Sir A Bailev Capt J G R llomfruy Mr W II Ewart Mr A L Christie Mr L McCreorv Capt Bewicke Col E Vaux Lord St Davids the Duchess of Newcastle Lady Torrington Mr F Straker Capt Wcvland Mr A Lowrv Mr W Raphael Mr J L Dngdale Mr 1 B Thorneycroft Mr J Musker Mr C B Ismay Mr C J Garland Mr A M Singer Ma lor KiiicaidSmith Sir William and Lady Nelson Mr Mark Firth Mr F Gretton Mr J Russcl Capt F Forester Mr P Nelke Mr S B Joel Mr Kinuedv Jones Mr J B Leigh Mr C S Cock burn Sir William Coike Col J Rutherford Mr MrE E Paterson Sir George Bullongh Sir Peter Walker Mr II Whitwortli Mr O Rayner Mr A F Bas ¬ set Sir Thomas Dewar Capl McCalimuit Mr MrF F Bibby Mr II Hartlgun who Immediately after riding his own horse Mcridaii second to Couvrcfeii II for the Champion Steeplechase on Saturdav returned to the front Mr L Booth and Mr R Dalgcisli Lord Suffolk is serving with Ids regl incut in India and others of the above named including Capl McCaliuont are on active service serviceI I have Seen it stated Ibat the running for the Grand National was not enlightening as regards next years race hut am not inclined to fall in with that view On the contrary it struck me as being exceptionally so and better still as pointing to the prospects of the younger horses which came through the ordeal with more than usual credit Particular reference is made to Ally Sloper whose bold fencing cleverness and Mont hearted finish were conspicuous in a meritorious perform ¬ ance which showed vast improvement on his poor display at Nowbiiry a few days before Then there was Balscadden which was making his first essay at Liverpool and but f r out mishap he fell while making the first circuit must surely have won so prominent was hi show after heluir nearly a quarter of a mile behind at the water while in further support of that argument we saw Jacobus which was beaten out of sight in the liome trial finish second in the race Father Con ¬ fessor is another that must be marked as a likelv winner and perhaps there was not one in the lot that will not be hotter served bv time for per ¬ fectly as lie was trained he does not yet fill the eye as quite possessed of Grand National sub stance although between the last two fences I would have taKen his chance against any oilier I do not imagine that Bachelors Flight is de stilled to take Bine Riband honors as apart from his impetuosity he behaved like i mad horse after falling and it will lie long lie fore he forgets his experience Lady Nelsons gift to the Sailors Mini Soldiers Fund out of the stake was one of the delightful features of n popular victory and will doubtless commend itself to other fortunate owners of important winners Sir Thomas Dewar may have made a good purchase in Ilacklers llev it 500 sovereigns the contingency of MOO sovereigns in addition if she won the Grand National hciiig now void voidAnother Another gratifying feature at Liverpool was the resuscitation of Roseland which after a prolonged retirement came out like a giant refreshed to dis ¬ posed of poor opposition for the RiclrerstatTe Stakes True he had not much to do but in spite of being backward be accomplished his task in lino style and we may hope that he has surmounted the splint trouble which prevented him from ful ¬ filling his engagements last year after he had run away with the Newmarket July Stakes Prior to that he had landed a goid coup for Mr Basset nt the Craven Meeting but it was at Asrot that he showed 4iis l est form when giving seven pounds he was beaten a neck by Let Flv and was a head too good for Redfern On that running he is as good as any of his contemporaries not even excepting Friar Marcus which in the Middle Park Plate was threequarters of a length better than the late Lord Ciidogans colt at evens It is good to see a horse of such prunise as the sou of William the Third restored to his best and among his valuable engagements this year are the Easter Plate at Kempton which appears to lie at his mercy and the Two Thousand Guineas Mr or I should more correctly write Major Pcrsse who has been busy during the greater part of the winter buying remounts for the Government also trained the winner of the Knowsley Plate in St Gluvias a threeyearold by Tredeimis bred and owned by Mr A Iowry lliiit had never previously run in public and curiously enough Ixat another debutant in Squire Bruce a son of St Frusquin leaded from his breeder Mr T E Iiildiard bv Mr Leopold de Rothschild lie should win some good races for he has nil the makings of a race horse and will be well served by time The colt is in the Derby but not so St Gluvias nor for that matter is Patrick which won the 1iiiou Jack Stakes but as the gray was receiving seven pounds from Costello and was perhaps a little lucky to score by a head the omission may not IK of much consequence Vigilant in London Sportsman
