SPORTING NOTES FROM WALES.

BY T. S. H.

"What music of Handel's so pleasures the ear

As that of the hounds in full cry?"

No. II.

Last June we presented our readers with a brief summary of sporting affairs in the western end of the Principality, and now, at a period of some twelve months, we propose resuming our subject, and taking a brief glance at what has happened in the Welsh sporting world during the past season; nor do we think it necessary to offer any apology for doing so. In no part of the United Kingdom is sport more warmly supported for its own sake than among the hills and dales of Cambria, where, in spite of natural difficulties, fox-hunting is carried on with very fair success, while the sister-sport of steeple-chasing has long ago established itself upon a firm footing. Its present flourishing condition is principally attributable to its being eminently popular among the gentry and yeomen; indeed, we think it may be fairly considered a national pastime, and hitherto it has escaped that taint of chicanery and squaring" which has robbed steeple-chasing of so many of its best patrons, and at our Welsh meetings one may feel some confidence that the best horse will really win. Happily, too, the pernicious system of light handicapping has been successfully opposed. Steeple-chasing is looked upon as an auxiliary to hunting, and as the means of improving the breed of hunters; so 12st. is the usual raising point in the handicaps. Fencing, too, is an essential quality for success; nor do we know of anything more likely to ruin the hopes of a weedy flat-racer, who will gallop through anything, than a genuine eight-foot Castle Martin bank.

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We must, however, no longer indulge in generalities, but at once enter a little more into the details of our present subject. Our remarks on steeple-chasing will be somewhat too lengthy to admit of our entering very minutely into the result of sport experienced in the hunting-field. Unhappily we have borne our share in the many accidents which will always sadden our recollections of the season now past. The sad fate of Mr. W. Peel has already been recorded in these pages; but other misfortunes have happened. Mr. Grismond Phillips, a deservedly popular member of the U.H.C., was placed hors de combat for some months, owing to a very severe fall; and Mr. Locke, a Pembrokeshire man, managed about Christmas to fracture his collar-bone. As regards sport itself, this year must be looked upon as an exceptional one, as, contrary to our general experience, the scent and sport were far better at the

* Sporting Review, January, 1858.

commencement than at the close of the season; in fact, after Christmas, with some few exceptions, the foxes had it all their own way. To account for these unusual occurrences would be quite impossible, but we are inclined to attribute the early sport to the mildness and moisture of the first part of the winter, but still are by no means sure that this supposition is correct, as some of the best runs we have seen or heard of have been on cold dry days with an easterly wind; in fact, this year's experience has convinced us more than ever of the impossibility of accounting for scent. We shall now peep into our diary, and jot down the leading features of each month in order.

October, with its "varied hues," brought more than usual sport; foxes exhibited an unwonted desire to leave the woodlands and take to the open, the cause of their laudable intentions doubtless being that the scent was so good as to render their strongholds very uncomfortable quarters. November came in due course, and we never remember this dreary month so propitious to hunting-throughout its whole length the scent was excellent. Mr. Lort Phillips had a good hunting run from the neighbourhood of Boulston during the Haverfordwest hunt week, and the Teifyside had a brilliant burst from Pantygumdy to the sea on the 16th. Dark December came at last, and the scent for the first half of the month was very satisfactory, all the Welsh packs getting a share of sport. The Teifyside had good days on the 3rd and 17th, and the U.H.C. a brilliant hour and ten minutes on the 18th, after which the scent fell off.

The new year, in spite of easterly winds, opened auspiciously, the U.H.C. and Mr. Lort Phillips' having good runs on New Year's Day, the former in the Iscoed country, the latter from a favourite gorse cover near Lamphey to Manorbeer Cliffs; and the Teifyside had their “run of the season" on the 4th, from Penylan Gorse to Pennar Cliffs. The frost which prevailed in England about this time did not reach so far west, but the scent became wretched, and the only run we heard of during February was one on the 8th, with Mr. Lort Phillips'. It furnishes a striking example of the variation of scent on the same day in different countries. We were hunting on that day with the Teifyside, and the scent was so bad that the hounds could scarcely own the line of a fox gone a few minutes. The same state of things prevailed with the U.H.C., while Mr. Lort Phillips met with a burning scent. The day was alike with all three packs-the sun hot, and the wind cold and parching. March was generally cold and dry, and the scent bad; but towards the end of the month, and at the beginning of April, there was a fall of rain, which improved matters, the U.H.C. having two or three good runs at this late period. Looking at the general result of sport the various packs have enjoyed, we fancy Mr. Lort Phillips' and the Teifyside have experienced an improvement upon last year; and that the U.H.C. have not been quite so successful. We regret not to be able to give any detailed information respecting the Gogerddan, but understand that their sport has been fully average. We are sorry to say that the Gwytheryn have again experienced such a dearth of foxes, that it is more than probable that the pack will be given up.

The steeple-chasing season commenced on the 26th of last November at Aberystwith; but alas! what a change has come over that once-busy scene. The meeting was but a shadow of its former self;

and the course, formerly the trysting-place of Oliver, Byrne, Powell, and other heroes of the heroic age of steeple-chasing, no longer trembles beneath the rush of advancing squadrons: but this decline is in no way attributable to any mismanagement or want of liberality on the part of the inhabitants. Time and place are the real causes of the change. In both, the meeting stands isolated: no other fixtures fit in with it, nor does it repay owners and trainers to prepare their horses for one solitary meeting. The "iron road," too-which, after all, has proved a good friend to sporting-has not yet stretched out its branches so far; and we fear the time is yet far distant, when the shrill scream of the locomotive shall awaken the echoes in the quiet vale of Ystwith. The Open did not fill; and the two days were eked out with a heterogeneous mixture of steeple-chasing, flat and hurdleracing.

On the first day, the County Members' Plate was won, in three heats, by Picco-an animal of unknown origin. The steeple-chase fell to Deception's lot; and Arthur cantered over for the forfeits of the Open, which were divided between his and Deception's owner. On the second day, Sweet Briar the elder (there being two mares of that name running) carried off the Borough Members' Plate, in two heats. Arthur won the steeple-chase; and Sweet Briar was again victorious, in the Consolation Hurdle Race.

We now pass on to a brighter scene. The Carmarthen Meeting commenced on the 8th of February, and surpassed all its predecessors. Nor is this to be wondered at. Two open races, with liberal amounts of public money added, two smaller stakes, an excellent course, stewards of high standing, and an indefatigable managing committee, together with the facility of access which the town now enjoys, are sufficient reasons to account for its success. Fourteen acceptances for the Open proved the judgment of the handicappers; and eleven came to the post. Many of them were old acquaintances:* must, however, say a word or two respecting our new friends. First in order comes The Minor, who has broken the magic spell, and wrested the first honours from the Taffies. He is a little dark-bay horse, not above fifteen two, handy and compact, but still mean-looking, without any great show of power. To us, his shoulders seemed his best point. They were beautifully oblique, and set well back; but his fore-legs showed work. He is by Coronation, and was bred by a Mr. Cooper, who lives near Banbury, who was also the breeder of Omar Pasha. The Minor's victory surprised every one, and completely upset all our previous notions of "bankjumping.' We believe his success is in a great measure attributable to the fine riding of George Stevens, who was also a novice to Wales, but confided to us that he thought it a most delightful country to ride over, the " on and off" reminding him of the days when he rode a rocking-horse. Forest Queen is a fine mare, but of too slashing a style for Welsh fences. Arthur is a very sporting-looking horse, and was in the most perfect condition; he is wonderfully game-in fact, a preliminary canter, in the shape of a four-mile race, seems merely to open his pipes; and had he but a rather better turn of speed,

* See Sporting Review, June, 1857.

would prove a very formidable rival. Harlequin was much admired, his condition very good, and his style of going particularly neat. We have, however, always thought him a bad-plucked one; and his performance in the race confirmed our opinion. Carew scarcely realized our last year's expectations. Lobster looked like a fine weightcarrying hunter. Planet seemed more suited for a flying than a "bank" country. Pilgrim showed much promise as a hunter; and our last year's friend, Maid of the Glen, looked so fascinating, that she was not allowed to quit the Principality, but changed hands at a price which we have heard stated at from £180 to £250. It is not our province to enter into the details of the race: it will suffice for us to say that The Minor won the Open with ease; Carew was second; while St. David and The Victim ran a dead heat for the empty honour of the third place. The stranger's victory was hailed with enthusiasm, and many a sincere wish expressed that, next year, a larger number of English and Irish horses would contend against native talent. Three horses-Comet, Deception, and Havelockstarted for the U.H.C. Stakes; and three more perfect fencers never went to the post. Comet, very steadily and nicely ridden by his owner (Capt. Bayley, 85th Regiment), won easily. The second day's sport was not quite so exciting as the first; still, it was very good. Seven horses started for the principal race; but, owing to casualties, two only were left in at the finish; and that little wonder, The Victim, with 11st. 12lb., found no difficulty in giving Arthur (10st. 6lb.) 20lb. and an easy beating. Only three started for the Selling Stakes, which without difficulty fell to Arthur, who seemed all the better for his previous exertions. He was put up at £80; but no advance was made upon the reserved price. The course was much lighter than on the first day; and The Victim did the distance in 13 minutes, being 1 minute and 40 seconds faster than The Minor's performance.

On the 25th, a warm sun and bright sky ushered in the Haverfordwest meeting, and dispelled all apprehensions which a rather sharp frost had given rise to. The competitors were much the same as at Carmarthen, with the exception of the English division, which was altogether absent. Lobster, however, represented "the Emerald Isle." The course was far stiffer than at Carmarthen, and some of the fences of truly appalling proportions. Lobster, with G. Stevens up, was much admired; but Deception verified his name, and falsified his Carmarthen running. A change in the style of riding him, without doubt, formed an important element in his success, and Mr. J. Crymes James showed consummate skill, not only in his riding throughout the race, but especially in a close finish with so artistic a performer as George Stevens. We have seen a good deal of Mr. James's riding of late, and certainly consider him the best Welsh rider "out," whether amateur or professional. The incidents of the race were not remarkable. Maid of the Glen's performance with only 10st. 9lbs. was not encouraging to her new owner. The Victim unfortunately broke down, and Harlequin gave W. Archer such a roll as might easily have put an end to his Liverpool success. As the second race did not fill, it was arranged to allow the same horses to start again. Lobster and The Victim, however, declined,

Pilgrim, the property of the same owner, taking the latter's place. Arthur gave a fresh proof of his stoutness, and easily beat "The Maid" with only 2lbs. advantage, and thus ended a very successful meeting. The Pembroke meeting came off on the 18th of March. The Open produced only four starters; but the added money, £35, was too small an amount to induce owners to enter first-class horses. There was also some dissatisfaction felt respecting the weights, and we must confess that we were somewhat surprised to find Deception penalized to nearly the extent of a stone for his Haverfordwest success. The Maid of the Glen, with Mr. J. C. James " up," won her first Welsh victory. The Garrison Stakes proved a good race, and was pulled off by Col. Ford's Lady Bird, a very smart-looking Pembrokeshire-bred galioway; and a Selling Stakes for Pembrokeshire Farmers' horses with £20 added by the officers of the garrison, was won by "The Hero," ridden by the renowned Tom Davies.

The season was brought to a close by the Llanboidy meeting, which was held later than usual (on the 20th of April), so as not to interfere with Abergavenny. Llanboidy, a little retired Welsh village, now boasts of supporting a meeting which has already out-stripped all the neighbouring ones, with the exception of the Carmarthen, to which, indeed, it is scarcely inferior; as a rule we are not fond of " Hybrid Meetings," but are bound to admit that on this occasion the experiment proved successful. Still, we should prefer to see a greater number of steeple-chases. We think that at a meeting so intimately connected with a hunt club, and principally supported by hunting-men, the first object should be to offer breeders inducements to rear hunters suitable for the country, and we cannot but think that this end would be better attained by giving steeple-chasing the priority over flat or hurdle racing. We should also like to see weight for age made one of the conditions of the hunter's races, and five or seven pounds allowed to riders who have never won a race value say £50, professionals being, as now, entirely excluded. Minerva with her Foiga-Ballagh blood, proved too good for her company, winning the £50 Sweepstakes with the greatest ease. The open steeplechase caused a good deal of excitement, much anxiety being evinced to witness the Maid of the Glen's performance with Tom Davies up; her admirers were, however, doomed to disappointment, as Deception, with Mr. J. C. James, won as they pleased. Both the Maid and Deception have left Wales; the former having passed into Mr. Newcomb Mason's hands; the latter being sold to run in France, where we wish him every success, and trust that either Tom Davies or Mr. James will go over and pilot him in his maiden effort upon a foreign soil.

The Hunt Hurdle Race brought out some half-a-dozen good-looking nags, and was won by The Deer, a very smart Pembrokeshire mare. The second day's sport was, if anything, better than the first. Boadicea won the open flat race. Six very useful hunters came to the post for the U. H. C. Steeple-chase, which fell to the lot of Isaac, beautifully ridden by Mr. James. The winner is a capital specimen of a weight-carrying hunter, and one that does credit to Wales.

The Tally-Ho Stakes (over hurdles) was a capital race. Carew