ARTHUR'S POINT RACES.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 99, 9 April 1864, Page 6

ARTHUR'S POINT RACES.

Every preparation is being made on the part of owners of horses to make the Arthurs Point races a success. The prizes, though not large, are good. It has evidently been the intention of the framers of the programme to confine the races* tj local district horses, as the long period of residence (six months) to qualify a horse for the district races, prevents all competition outside, except for two races—viz., the Arthur's Point Cup, £7O, and the Hurdle Race, £3O. Several good horses have arrived, which cannot under any circumstances come under the definition " district horses," and we hope that before it is too late, two more races may be declared by the stewards open to all horses—say the Publicans' Purse changed from a weight-for-age into a handicap. This would make a really good race, and as the respective merits of all the horses are well known, there would be no diffi_ culty in getting- a large number of nominations t The owners of the local horse Scrubber are too good sportsmen to object to so happy a change Besides, more general and warmer congratulations would attend the local horse on gaining the prize, if he bore it away from a good field. The second race desirable to throw open is the Ladies' Purse, £3O, as it is only for gentlemen riders, which makes a good deal of difference, as all know, in a race. The stewards have full powers granted to them, and if any one attempted to abuse the definition of the word gentleman rider they would not only do themselves an injury, but render themselves liable to a heavy titie. This race might, therefore, very wed be made an open one, and we are convinced none would better deaire it than the ladies themselves, who would like to see the race in their honor contested by the best horses, and a large field turn out. We believe that the a'ove views are those generally prevalent; and having these four races open, would still leave six and seven races essentially close ones, and we are moreover assured, that a large amount of uew subscriptions might be procured and handed over to the stewards for an extra race or two. The following horses are in active training for the various events:—Mr Bracken's Harkaway, Flaming Tinman, Nelly and Clear-the-Way ; Mr Basstian's Luger and Bob Apples; Mr Sear's Scrubber; Mr Gray's Shingler; Mr Travis's Black Prince ; Mr Scholes' Lady Franklyn ; Mr Ryan's Deerfoot; Mr Elliot's Rob Roy ; Mr Gordon's Milford; Mr Clements' Bob Acres; Mr Sam's Grey Doctor; and a ruck of of unknown or "dark" horses, out of which something may yet turn up. There will, therefore, be no lack of horses, and we trust the suggestions made will be carried out. The entries close at 8 p.m. on Monday next, Ilth instant, and the races take place on the following Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. ♦ In America. —When Mr. Pickwick was, at the suit of Mrs Bardell, widow, 'aken in execution by Messrs Dodson and Fogg, and cast into the Fleet Prison, the sagacious and senior Mr Weller, having abandoned his hopes of liberating him by means of an "allyi'i," hit upon the expedient oi huviug hiui conveyed out of durance in a pianoforte, the works being removed and the legs made hollow, to admit the necessary amount of air for respiration Once liberated, Mr Pickwick was to be shipped off to America, where, Mr Weilcr had no doubt, the'"Merrykins" would be very glad to see him, and where he was to wait until repentance overcame Mrs Bardell, or till Messrs l)od.»ou and Fogg Were hanged. The expenses of hisjouruey to and fro were paid by writing a book about the United States, which the astute Mr Welier opined would be sure to sell, if Mr Pickwick only took care to blow up the " 'Merry kins" enough.—There is an immensity of worldly wisdom in this little apologue. After all, the New World is the real Cave of Adullam, where all who are in debt or in difficulty, or are discontented, are sure to find a welcome. We are somewhat too apt to boast of our own hospitality, and of the refuge which on British soil is extended to exiles of every class; but our free heartedncss is, at the best, but churlish and lukewarm compared with the enthusiastic welcome which awaits every pilgrim to the free and mighty West. "Salve" ought to be written on the face of the Battery at New York. " Cead mille failthe" might be inscribed on any number of stor.s in Broadway, and " Bring all your brothers" painted up over the gate of the Centra' Park. Literary lions and Hungarian patriots, Poli>h refugees, and Irish bog-trotters, absconding bankrupts and secouurate tragedians, prime doune, ballet dancers, quacks, entertainment givers, artists, governesses, insolvent fanners, broken down journalists, exiled royalists, soldiers of fortune, and chev liters dUndu&trie— the great hospitality of the United States has stomach for them all. For them is the bounteous board spread with wooden nutmegs and timber doodles ; for their own accommodation will Barnum send his woohy horse, and for their delectation his mermaid. They are at liberty to settle in •' town lots" on the free and swampy banks of the Mississippi. They are allowed to "whittle" and to "loaf;" no charge is made fur gouging, lynching is gratuitous ! and tar and feathers are supplied for love. The seductive bowie-knife, the fraternal ride on a rail, the playful cowhide, are always kept in stock for the convenience of strangers. The great American Eagle is ready to flap its wings over all humanity, and, in the words of the " Pogram Oration," to «' succour and protect with a crow of defiance," the outraged and down-trodden thralls of European despots.