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OLD-TIME ENGLISH TURF NOTABLES. Reminiscences of the Scotts, Dawsons, Butler, Robson, Day and Others Famous in Their Times. In our rambles among our old trainers we scarcely went far enuogh back to trace the origin of one or two of those still with us. and before the days of Bobson and the Chifneys there lived men almost as famous in the North, where Hambleilon was considered the best summer training ground to be found, one Inane Cape ruled at Tupgill. Boyle at AshgiH. Jackson, the trainer of Matcbem; Scaife, who trained for the Rocking - hams and Fitzw illiams; Searle. who persided over Sledniere; Tessyman. who trained Cavendish and Windteston; Michael Manna, of Humbledon House: John Lowther. of p.ramham Moor: Charles Dawson, the famous old Jockey; John Lonsdal. . who trained for Lord Strathmore; and YV. Collison. who managed for Croft, who trained for Lord Glasgow to the time of his death in ISLs. Both the Scotts. John and Bill, were brought up in Crofts stable, but they really belonged to Newmarket, iis they were born at Chippenham, a little village near by. rendered famous by the great coursing meeting held there in the olden days. Their father used to ride for Sir. S. Sitwell. and among the best horv-s he steered were Clinker and Gooseander. the dam of Sailor and Shoveller, but he placed his two lads in different stables. John going to Bourton under the care of Stevens, and Bill to Sadlers at Allworth. Here we come across two names quite familiar to race-goers of tlu- present day. for the Steve nasa were prominent trainers until quite recently, and Sadler, of Allworth. is the father of A. B. Sadler and grandfather of Harry and Alf Sadler. Then in this elder Sadlers generation would he the above-mentioned C. Dawson and Samuel Darling, flic former, who ceased riding in LS44. had his best season in 1S32. when he rode in 174 races and won seventy-three of them, most of them being in heats, which entailed riding from one place to the other at night by coach or saddle. To Newmarket also belongs the credit of making old John Day. Robson died in 1S3X. the year that Tom Sherwood won the Derby with Amato, though he had retired from training ten years before. To him a host of Newmarket men owed their knowledge of race horses and their training, and they included the famous jockeys Robins,, ■ and Rogers, and the almost equally prominent Starling. In that decade Newmarket assumed a curious role, for a great desire for display led to what was known as the Easter Sunday Show day. of which a few prints arc in existence, and can be occasionally met with or COUld a little while back. Newmarket in those days was but a small place. The neighboring town of Haverhill was not built, and Thurlow was the market town and the center of Mr. Pantons and afterwards Mr. Osbaldestons Hunt. The grandfather of Robert Stephenson, who married Sam Rogers daughter, and still farms largely at Burwell hard by. trained for his Grace of Bedford, and Pratt had a huge string at Hare Park of Lord Grosvenors. In Newmarket itself Lord Clermonts spacious stables stood where Hammonds and Barclays bank now stands, and the Marquis of Queensberry, generally called Old Q.. bad a large establishment at Queensbury House. The huge palace, which stood in the center of the town, baa been cut up. mostly into shops, though Mr. L. de Rothschilds house and stable still retain the name. The stables known as the Nunnery, of which YV. Bambridge was tenant, is now a builders yard. It was here that Frank Butler lived and died and Nell Gwynne found a home near her royal master. Where the Rous Memorial Hospital now stands the thoroughbred roamed in spacious pastures and Chris Green trained his junipers. All those new houses and roads and the New station have removed well nigh every trace of the old high stone wall which enclosed Lord Stamfords paddocks. Kingston House, where Robson made bis home and gained his great name, has shared the fate of the palace and remains in name only. The gaming rooms have become offices of various sorts, and on the site of Jarvis hotel, with its famous wines and home-brewed beer, has risen the Victoria. In the face of all these changes it is good to find someone or something to connect today with the pait, and there are a few who talk of the old times still. A. B. Sadler and Alf Hay! can go hack a long way, and John Dawson and Darling are names that have descended from the earliest days of racing. A hnndnd years and more have passed since Charles Dawson gained his title of the famous old jockey, and as long ago as MM Thomas Dawson, the elder brother of Matt. Joe and John, commenced as trainer at Middleham. where he reigned to the day of his deatli in 18SL He was considered tlii best trainer of his time, superior even to John Scott and W. Day. and it was with his father and his brother Tom that he gained the sound grounding of a profession to which they were able to add a plentiful store of knowledge. Though he had not the chances of others with more wealthy patrons, be trained the St. Leger winners Blue Bonnet ami Van Trump, and of the Derby in Ellington. He was the first to strike out in the more modern style of training, which lijs younger brothers followed and improved upon with such success. Matthew Dawson struck out for himself in the year 1848 and in IMS was engaged to train for Lord John Scott. About the reign of Matt Dawson at Russley more space could be filled than we have at our comma ml. and it must he sufficient to mention his sue, esses with Dundee. Sunbeam. Buckstone. Scottish Chief and his first Derby victory with Thormanhy. In 1806 Mr. Merrys horses went to .las. Waughs and Matt came to Heath House to train for the Bakes of Hamilton and Newcastle, but shortly after he took over the late Lord Falmouths horses from Ym. Boyce and set out on that w I rful career which ajy has made his name a beacon in turf history. The W number of winners he trained during his life would tar exceed the score of any other trainer, and a lack of space quite precludes any attempt at enumerating them. Among his earliest Jockeys were Tom Aldcroft and Tom French, two men as polished in manner as Matt was himself, and subsequently came that wonderful master of his art. Fred Archer, with his brother Charlie, who subsequently became one of the hading trainers of his day. Joe Dawson came to Bedford Lodge and was noted for the splendid appearance of his horses and the forwardness of his two-year-olds. He followed the new Bystem commenced by his elder brother. Tom, of forcing the foals and yearlings by every means, and reaped reward in the early maturitj of his two year-olds John Dawson, the younger brother, came to Warren House, and in a long and honorable career he won most of the big races, and finally reached the height id ids ambition by winning the Derby with Galopin. Warren Hill" in London Sporting Life.
