It was strange that Flair’s running last year had not created a greater impression, for on last year’s form it was difficult to see what could possibly beat her. Only slight odds had to be laid on, and after the Bushes there was only one in it, Flair coming away at will. Melayr did another good thing in winning the Bretby Handicap under 9 st. 7 lb. The Ely Plate, the evening before, resulted in a catastrophe, it being too readily taken for granted that Xeny had lost his form and so could be no match at even weights for Imperial II.: 6 to 1 was laid on Imperial II., who, however, was always second best, Xeny beating him by a length.
Chester has been so phenomenally successful since it became an enclosed meeting that a little adversity could be put up with, and it came this year in the shape of a wet first day. The second, or Cup day, made amends, however, and with a crowd about midway between 40,000 and 50,000 a few thousands decrease of the previous record could be endured. No fault could be found with the result of the race which was quite in accordance with anticipations, Feather Bed having shown double winning form at Newbury, which made his chance second to none. Favoured by nothing, he won in handsome style. The jockey of Torpoint, the second, had got off a matter of 4 lb. overnight, and one has yet to be convinced that this policy is a good one. There is no meeting in the Calendar more redolent of life than Chester or one which gives visitors greater pleasure. An innovation was the appearance on the inner portion of the Roodee of motor omnibuses bringing visitors from distant places, vice the horse vehicle.
Not since the Cambridgeshire has His Majesty been on an English racecourse until he made a welcome reappearance on the first day of the Kempton Park Jubilee meeting, this being the popular sub-title of the more formal Spring Meeting. We did not see much, for there was little interest in knowing that the moderate, though good-looking Ramrod was from 5 lb. to 7 lb. better than Gingal who, not beaten before the start, as he was in the Two Thousand, now had a fair chance of showing what he is not. The Jubilee itself was a triumph for the “horses for courses theory,” for Donnetta followed the footsteps of Avington and Sirenia in adding this race to the Duke of York Stakes. It had already been acknowledged that Donnetta is one of the truest-running animals ever trained. Her limitations were shown in the City and Suburban, but at Kempton she and Ambition ran that race over again to a pound, so far as they were concerned, Ambition being beaten a couple of lengths at the same weights. There were fewer shilling people than usual, but the attendance in the members’ enclosure was very large.
POLO.
The polo season commenced in anything but cheerful weather, but in spite of climatic conditions a number of good games were witnessed during the first week. Better weather and more summerlike surroundings were enjoyed during the second week, when several important events were decided. At Hurlingham, on May 5th, the Royal Horse Guards beat Hurlingham by 4 goals to 3. The Guards’ team consisted of Lord Ingestre, Lord Herbert, Captain Fitzgerald, and Captain H. Brassey; their opponents being Captain Lockett, Mr. F. C. G. Menzies, Major Egerton Green, and Mr. E. B. Sheppard. The same evening a Roehampton team consisting of Mr. Nigel Baring, the Hon. Ivor Guest, M.P., Mr. A. R. Leys, and Mr. A. de Las Casas drew with Hurlingham, represented by Captain Rose, Mr. F. Belville, Captain S. Gosling, and Mr. H. Scott Robson, the score being 5 goals all. Other notable games played at Hurlingham during the first fortnight of the month were Aldershot v. Hurlingham and Eaton Hall v. Hurlingham, both of which were won by Hurlingham; the Cavalry Club v. Hurlingham won by the Cavalry; and the match between the Beavers and Hurlingham, which resulted after an exciting game in a draw of 7 all.
At Ranelagh, the handicap tournament concluded with the game between C team, made up of the Earl of Harrington, Mr. R. Fleming, Mr. A. R. Dugdale and Mr. N. Furlong, and B, comprising Mr. E. Barbour, Lord Longford, Mr. J. C. Las Casas, and Mr. T. B. Drybrough. A good game resulted in B team finally winning by 5 goals to 2. Matches were played by the Club against the Wanderers (Mr. F. Barbour, Lieut.-Colonel W. S. Sparkes, Mr. G. A. Lockett, and Major A. M. Pirie), ending in a draw; the Parthians (Mr. R. J. L. Ogilvy, Mr. E. B. Horlick, Mr. B. P. Schreiber, and Captain M. Lannowe), won by the Parthians by 4 goals to 1; the Magpies, won by Ranelagh by 7 goals to 5; Aldershot, won by Ranelagh by 8 goals to 2; and the 2nd Life Guards (subalterns), won by Ranelagh by 6 goals to 3. In the match between Moreton Morrell and a Ranelagh side, the teams consisted of Mr. C. P. Nickalls, Mr. E. B. Sheppard, Mr. W. S. Buckmaster, and Lord Wodehouse for the former, and Mr. A. Las Casas, Mr. F. A. Gill, the Hon. F. Guest, and Mr. H. Scott Robson for the latter. A fast game ended in the Moreton Morrell team being victors by 10 goals to 4.
The chief event at Roehampton during the first fortnight of the season was the match played by teams representing England and Rugby, which took place on May 12th. The England four consisted of Mr. C. R. Nickalls, Mr. M. Nickalls, Mr. W. S. Buckmaster, and Mr. P. W. Nickalls, and Rugby of Mr. Walter Jones, Mr. G. A. Miller, Captain E. D. Miller, and Mr. C. D. Miller. A magnificent exhibition of polo was seen, and although England won by 6 goals to 1, it looked at one time as if it would have been a close finish. Roehampton drew with the 21st Lancers, the teams being represented by Mr. D. W. Godfrey, Mr. C. N. Reynolds, Mr. C. H. Delmege, and Major A. M. Pirie for the soldiers, and Mr. E. C. Robson, the Duke of Westminster, Mr. E. B. Horlick, and Mr. H. Scott Robson for the Club. Other teams that were beaten early in May by a Roehampton combination included Eaton Hall and the Wanderers. The Royal Horse Guards met and defeated Roehampton by 6 goals to 5, after the England and Rugby match was finished.
The London and Stoke D’Abernon Clubs have begun the season well, and many of the provincial clubs show plenty of life and vigour.