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ILL FORTUNES OF AN ENGLISH TRACK. That the Lincoln Handicap should be run at Lingfield is the first really worthy recognition which this always admirable race course has received, and it is now likely to go on from strength to strength. How curious are the vicissitudes of race courses! There are not many people alive who know as much about Lingfield us I do. and I know that it would have been on the top line twenty-five years ago. or earlier, had all gone well with the admirable scheme of the Bellaggio estate, on which were built many excellent houses, with a central clubhouse -now the Bellaggio Hotel — a trout stream well stocked, other sports handy, and a race course as a special attraction. It was, and is, a delightful place for the building of well-secluded houses, and. that central clubhouse was a sort of deus ex machina for the relief of the servants of the householders, for these latter could dine or lunch there whenever they liked. All would have gone with a blaze of triumph bad a popular member of society been iustalled as the general manager — such a man. for example, as the late Sir John Astley — but this was not done, and it so happened that Mr. Arthur Burr, who has since become notable in connection with Kent coal, had promoted the whole Bellaggio scheme, and thought that he could carry it through without adventitious aid. I have not a word to say against Mr. Burr. whom, indeed. I liked: but Ingot out of his depth when it came to the running of the Bellaggio scheme, and the first trouble was with the race course, for the late Mr. James Jxwther. who was then all-powerful in the Jockey Club, did not like Mr. Burr-much as the poet disliked Doctor Fell -and it soon transpired that the Lingfield race course, then half-made, would never lie licensed so long as Mr. Burr participated in its ownership. Mr. Lowther was a just man and of plain common sense if ever man was, but in this instance he must have been prejudiced by some spiteful rumor or another, for there seems to have been no reason whatever why Mr. Burr should have been objected to: indeed, he had never had anything to do with racing. But the fiat had gone forth, and it liecanie well known thai Lingfield race course must be wholly severed from the Itellaggio property liefore it could lime any chance whatever of obtaining a Jockey Club license. Thus it happened that Mr. Cecil Ijeigh bought the pnqierty under the advice of the late Mr. Stogdon, solicitor, and the late Major Dalbiuc was secured for the purpose of completing the course and stands and establishing the whole show. Even so, it was long before Mr. Lowther could lie satisfied that the race course was clear of the Bellaggio element, and the late Mr. Houlds-worth was also hostile to the scheme, so that, although National Hunt meetings were brought off, it was only after considerable patient waiting that the Jockey Club stewards at length relaxed and sanctioned flat racing at Lingfield. If, as I say. a I ersona grata, such as Sir John Astley, had been induced at the outset to act as general manager of the whole Bellaggio scheme, including the race course, the estate would have touched the zenith of fashion in double quick time, but poor Mr. Burr was a persona ingrata, because at that period in particular the Jockey Club stewards were deadly suspicious of all financial arrangements in connection with race courses, and Mr. Burr, who was at the back of the whole Bellaggio finance, was brought into undue or, one might rather say. unnecessary prominence. However, Mr. Cecil Leigh had no reason to regret these strange happenings, for since he bought the Lingfield property it has gone steadily along, increasing year by year in popularity, until now we come to this great day, and the Lincolnfield Handicap is run there. — "The Special Commissioner" in London Sportsman.
