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ENGLANDS MOST POPULAR HANDICAPS. Striking Occurences Studding the History of the World-Famous Cesarewitch. Second Installment. Six-year-olds have carried off the handicap on two occasions The Cur in ISIS, and Mrs. Taft in 1S51 but several other horses of that age have been placed for it. Five-year-olds have plaved a stronger part, and the example set by Cruiskeen, which won the race under 90 pounds on its inauguration in 1839, was followed by others of better class in that particular time of their career. Among them was Audrey, which carried 117 pounds in 1SG1. She was the property of Mr. W. Bevill who though now not connected with racing affairs, was at that time of day a prominent figure on the turf and had shown fair form that year. Her weight was by no means prohibitive, but she was nevertheless allowed to start at 100 to 1, the longest price at which the Cesarewitch has been won. Jester, as a five-year-old, won for Mr. It. C. Naylor in 1S7S. He had not earned a bracket the previous season, and was claimed out of a selling race at the close of it. Though he showed some form as a three-year-old, he had declined in the estimation of the handicappers, and was let off with 91 pounds in the Cesarewitch, which, starting at 20 to 1, he carried past the post five lengths in front of a couple of four-year-olds. He afterwards tried his luck in the Cambridgeshire, where a fourteen pound penalty gave him 109 pounds, but was up against a high-class band there and finished unplaced, as well he might with such a horse as Isonomy in the field, and that son of Sterling won easily. In striking contrast to the performance of Jester was that in 1S90 of Sheen. Racegoers will remember what a good horse he was. Though he failed to score as a juvenile, he did many great things afterwards, and as a three-year-old had a brilliant career, while at four years he won the Jockey Club Cup over the Cesarewitch Course. At five, prior to his victory in the Cesarewitch, he accounted for a valuable stake in an event with no more distinctive title than a Handicap over the Suffolk Stakes Course at Newmarket, in which he carried 120 pounds with a band of useful horses behind him. In the big race of the Second October Meeting he had to shoulder 128 pounds, and, as became a son of the staving Hampton, won by a couple of lengths, beating the highly fancied French candidate, Alicante, a three-year-old to which he was presenting no less than twenty-five pounds, and as the foreign colt subsequently readily won the Cambridgeshire, he reflected further credit upon Sheens performance. Many good judges thought the task set him in the Cesarewitch a prohibitive one, but not a few backers pinned their fortunes to a good horse, and backed him at the profitable price of 100 to 3. A couple of years, after Sheens success another five-year-old won, but carried a vastly different weight from that of Prince Solykoffs representative. This was Burnaby, which did a rare good turn for Hobbs stable at Lambouru, and so general was the "tip" and the knowledge of what he had done at home, that it was said that "all Berkshire" was on him. lie was backed down to. favoritism at 7 to 1, but, though that was his nominal starting price, all the layers were practically "full about him, and nothing could begot on at that figure. He won easily though with only ninety-five pounds in the saddle, and it was rather a case of a "good thing" than a good horse. His career had been anything but distinguished, but as he won in a canter over a mile as a two-year-old he gave indications of the gift of staying, and Mr. E. Hobson very shrewdly gave 430 guineas for him. The race was the Thursday Selling Plate at Manchester, but subsequent running as a juvenile brought no success, and a victory as a three-year-old and one at four years represented the other brackets he gained prior to the Cesarewitch. A memorable race was that won by Merman in 1897. The Australian-bred son of Grand Flaneur and Seaweed was privately purchased by the Special Commissioner, on behalf of Lady de Bathe who ..then raced as "Mr. Jersey" after lie had won the "Williamstown Cup "down under," the breeding of the colt and his particular soundness and stamina appealing powerfully to the buyer, arid as marking him likely to do. well in handicaps in this country. , That anticipation was quite .fulfilled, and though his performances prior to the Cesarewitch did not speak specially highly for him, he gradually became acclimatised, and did some big things for Jiis new owner. In the August before the great race of the Second October week lie "won the Lewes Handicap over a mile and a half, but as he only had 97 pounds up there was nothing much in it. though it demonstrated he possessed the gift of staying with which he was credited. On his arrival here he was placed under the charge of F. Webb at Newmarket, and no trainer could have turned out a horse fitter for his task than was Merman on the Cesarewitch day. He proved worthy of his preparation, and at the finish of the race gave an exhibition of bulldog courage that has never been surpassed. It is curious to note that the battle was fought out by three five-year-olds, of which The Rush 115 pounds was beaten a neck, with Carlton Grange 114 pounds fourlengths away third. The pair were giving Merman twelve pounds and eleven pounds respectively, so, that on the face of it. the victory of Mr. Jerseys representative did not shine particularly bright. But the merit lay in his indomitable pluck. Probably no horse was ever sounder on his legs than Merman bars of steel they were well termed and they carried him through a long career of training and to several subsequent triumphs. After the Cesarewitch he won a Long-distance Plate at Hurst Park, and the following season accounted for the Jockey Club Cup over the Cesarewitch course, this time disposing of his old opponent, The Rush, bj four lengths at even weights. In 1S99, still maintaining his reputation as a stayer, he accounted for the Goodwood Plate two miles, carrying 120 pounds, and came out the next day and won the Goodwocd Cup over two miles and a half. He was not stopped by 131 pounds in the Birmingham Handicap over a mile and a half, but failed to earn brackets in his three remaining essays that season. Mermans only- other appearance in public was in the Ascot Gold Cup about two miles and a half in 1900, when easily bowled over the odds of 4 to 1 on the French colt, Perth II., which was relegated into fourth place. The Waler was then retired to the stud, but in his new sphere he sired no winners of much distinction, and it came as something of an anti-climax to a brilliant career when he was sent to Germany to cover half-breds. Black Sand 1902, Hamnierkop 1905, and Mintagon 1905 are the other five-year-old winners of the Cesarewitch. The first-named, which had some fair form and showed he could stay on more than one occasion, won under 114 pounds, but before the nice had caused some concern to his backers by being beaten out of a place for the Prix due Conseil Municipal at Paris. That form was proved to be wrong at Newmarket, however, and a three-length victory was gained readily. He afterwards was beaten in hollow style for the Coombe Autumn Plate at Sundown, but redeemed his character again when he upset the odds laid on William the Third for the Jockey Club Cup over the Cesarewitch course. Ilaninierkop was a mare of good class, and in addition to having :i good juvenile record, ran second to Our Lassie for the Oaks in which her defeat came as a disappointment to her party and won the Yorkshire Oaks at York. As a four-year-old she accounted for the Great Yorkshire Handicap at Doncaster and the Kings Plate at Derby. Both these races were over a distance of ground, and when at five years she won the Alexandra Plate at Ascot, there was plenty of warrant for expecting her to do well in the Cesarewitch. For that she was handicapped at 121 pounds, and once more proved herself a true stayer by giving twenty-six pounds and a length and a half beating to the six-year-old Merry Andrew, which was well backed. Mintagon will always be remembered as doing a rare good turn to IAnson and the Malton stables generallv. He had only Avon one race previously the Great West Riding Handicap at Pontefract the previous July but IAnson discovered he had something useful in the son of Martagon and Mimi, and he was backed accordingly, not a few of the general public following the stable lead. He won in a canter by a half dozen lengths in a field that included Hammerkop, which was endeavoring to repeat her previous seasons success with 12S pounds in the saddle and was unplaced. Without going too far back in the records, reference may be made to some of the four-year-olds that have been successful in the big handicaps. Lioness, in 1S03, was one, and she won with the light impost of 92 pounds, supplying at the same time one of the few instances of a horse winning the Cesarewitch that had not earned brackets previously. Belonging to Mr. J. Merry, whose "yellow, black cap" was at one time among the best known of racing colors, she did not run as a two-year-old. and her only appearance at three years was in the Yorkshire Oaks, for which she was unplaced. As a four-year-old her only essay before the Cesarewitch was in a little race at Heading in August, for which she was last of three runners. Nevertheless, the filly was one of the best-backed horses that ever won the race, and started favorite at 5 to 2. She won by three-quarters of a length, and not a few uncomplimentary comments were made upon her Reading outing. Had Lioness won the Cesarewitch in these days those connected with her would probably have had to face an inquiry by the turf authorities. As showing what a "good thing" the filly was for the Newmarket event, she a week afterwards won the Roxburghe Handicap at Kelso, carrying 119 pounds. The following year a still more lightly weighted four-year-old won in Thalostris. which only carried S! pounds. She was claimed after winning a little selling race as a two-yoar-old her only appearance at that ago and under Lord Coventrys colors ran without success three times the following season, and then as a four-year-old ran third, though carrying but SS pounds for the Goodwood Stakes. She bettered this with a win in the Triennial Produce Stakes at the Newmarket First October meeting, which she took by three lengths. Considering she had shown that she knew how to stay at Goodwood, it seemed light treatment to get into the Cesarewitch with SO pounds, and it was largely owing to the riding of James Grimshaw, then a prominent lightweight, that she got home by a head from Gratitude, another four-year-old, with the "feather" of S4 pounds. It was a heavy betting race, and Gratitude started favorite at 3 to 1, with Thalostris at "sevens," the pair being separated in the quotations at 4 to 1 by Mail Train, a Woodyates candidate then a three-year-old that was destined to be a "bogey" for ninny subsequent handicaps. Though there was nothing to boast about in winning with SG pounds, the victory was popular, but Thalostris might well have been thought capable of better things, seeing that she was by Kingston from the great mare Virago, whose deeds stand out so prominently in turf annals. Cardinal York, which took the race in 1S70, was a son of Newminster and License that had won as a two and a three-year-old, and whose only appearance at four years prior to the Cesarewitch was in the Cheshire Stakes in May; for which he was unplaced with 124 pounds. He was in at Newmarket with 100 pounds, but though he was regarded generally as possessing a fair chance, many were prejudiced against it on the ground that AVadlow, who trained -him at Stanton, had not a course long enough on which to properly prepare a horse for the Cesarewitch. That he was not handicapped in that respect was shown by his representative winning by a half-dozen lengths, with 20 to 1 against him at the start, and his connections netted a good stake. King Lud, which scored with three pounds less in 1873, easily brought off a 1,000 to 45 chance in a field of thirty-four, and though the judges verdict was only two lengths, so confident was Bruckshaw, his jockey, that, taking the lead soon after the start, he turned in the saddle and wished his rivals "good-bye." On the strength of his success he was well-backed to win the Cambridgeshire under 107 pounds, but though he looked at one time like winning, had to put up with fourth place, the race going to the "Frenchman," Montargis, by a short head from Walnut, which was supported to win a lot of money. King Lud, which was by King Tom Que Vive, afterwards won the Shrewsbury Cup two miles, and as a five-year-old beat Boiard and others over the longdistance Alexandra Plate at Ascot. Next came the victory of Rosebery in 1870, and it was left for him to break the spell that had hitherto prevented a winner of the Cesarewitch following up by taking the Cambridgeshire. By Speculum out of Ladylike, he was unsuccessful in his few essays us a juvenile and a three-year-old, and made his first appearance in 1S70 in the Cesarewitch, for which he was allotted 103 pounds, and in the hands of F. Archer he won by four lengths, beating a supposed "certainty" in Woodlands, a horse of the same age, carrying three pounds less. Despite incurring a fourteen-pound penalty for his success making his weight 117 pounds he was supported strongly to win the Cambridgeshire, which he did .by a neck from the outsider, Hopbloom, Constable riding Rosebery on the second occasion. The following year he ran twice, being beaten into second place for the Gold Vase at Ascot and unplaced for the Cambridgeshire with 120 pounds. In the latter race he made his last public appearance, and was sent to the stud. As a sire he got a number of good winners, including Lady Rosebery which made her mark in three Liverpool Cups, Dalmeny winner of the Stewards Cup at Goodwood in 1885. Primrose II. winner of the Manchester Cup in 1SS3, Am-phion which had a distinguished career as a racer,-winning, among other events, the Kempton "Jubi-" lee," and several good races at Ascot, Manchester and other places, Crowberry, Yarm, Lady Primrose, etc. He was destroyed in May, 1894, having met with an injury from which there was no hopsi of recovery. There have been few gainer or better staying mares than Corrie Roy, which won in 1882, and she indicated her partiality for a long journey by as; a three-year-old winning the Jockey Club Cup at "Newmarket. She had 119 pounds iip when she won the Cesarewitch by Hired lengths, and did even better things in 1S83, when she won the Goodwood Stakes under 12G pounds, the Great Ebor Handicap, "carrying 138 pounds, and the Manchester November Handicap under 13G pounds. These are, it is almost needless to say, among the best performances in the history of handicaps, and she rounded off her career with a victory in the Alexandra Plate at Ascot. Stone Clink upset many calculations when successful in 1880 at 33 to 1, and in 188S the French filly, Tenebreuse, effected a triumph for Gallic sportsmen, and probably took more money out of the ring than any other winner hailing from the other side of the channel. In her own country she had been brilliant as a three -year-old, the races she won including the Poule dEssai the equivalent of our One Thousand Guineas and the Grand Prize of Paris, and, though on coming to England, she failed to earn brackets till the Cesarewitch, she ran sufficiently well to show her three-year-old form had not left her. The 124 pounds at which she was handicapped was comfortably carried first past the post, and on returning to France she, the following Sunday, was successful in the Prix Gladia-teur at Paris over about three miles and seven furlongs. In the Cesarewitch the following year Primrose Day won with the light impost of S5 pounds, and brought off a good thing for the Findon Stable, presided over by W. Goater, and though an objection was afterwards lodged against her on the ground of wrongful ownership, it was ultimately overruled. Four years elapsed ere another four-year-old was enrolled as a winner, but Red Eyes in 1893 shared the stakes with the three-year-old Cypria, as the result of a dead heat the third in the history of the race, though the other two were run off. Red Eyes was much expected to win, and started at G to 1, whereas about Cypria G6 to 1 was obtainable. Molly Morgan, which started favorite, was beaten out of a place, but she found a shorter course more to her liking, and made amends by winning the Cambridgeshire at the next meeting. Childwick and Rockdove won respectively in 1S94 and 1S95 with light imposts, and the last-named compensated for a miss in the Duke of York Stakes at Kempton by her success, though to win with 94 pounds was by no means an illustrious performance. Chaleurcux, the winner in 1S9S, was one of the many jiorses that have been redeemed from the selling ranks, and though his weight, 103 pounds, was easy, ho proved his victory was no fluke by afterwards winning the Manchester November Handicap under 122 iounds. At the stud lie sired several winners, among them Signorinetta, the sensational winner of the Derby in 190S.. The remaining four-year-old winners of the Cesarewitch are associated with later dates, as to which most of the incidents are in general recollection, and a brief reference may suffice. They are Clarehaven 1900, Demure 1907, Yen-toi 190S, Verney 1910, Willonyx 1911, Fiz Yama 1913 and Son in Law 1915. Clarehaven gave an opportunity for Gilpin to send out another winner, as did Verney and Yentoi for Lady de Bathe followed in the footsteps of Merman, though Yentoi was trained by Sam Darling and not by Webb. Willonyx is remembered as a horse of the best class that won under the highest weight 131 pounds in the history of the race, and Fiz Yama, which reqired a scope of ground to show himself to the best advantage, gave the fielders a turn when he scored at 50 to 1. London Sportsman.
