THE ENGLISH ST. LEGER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 242, 3 October 1876, Page 4

THE ENGLISH ST. LEGER.

(New Zealand Herald.)

Our cablegrams inform us of the result of the second great event in the racing world in England, at Doucasler Moor, Yorkshire. It was understood that the race would be an open one, although ali the best horses of this year had accepted, such as Kiabet, winner of the English and French D.rbys; Camelia, winner of the One Thousand; and Petrarch, winner of the Two Thousand ; Julius Cmsar, Ailhearf, Skylark, &c. The winner this year is to be found in Lord Dupplin's horse Petrarch, who, on this occasion, has turned the cnrd_ upon Kisbof, the Derby winner. Pctiaicl. has always held a favorite place in the the betting, mure so than Julius Caspar, who run third to Kisbet, while i etrarch was only fourth on that occasiou. Petrarch lias proved himself a most lucky horse to his owner, having won several important events subsequent to the Two Thousand. Julius Czesar, although one of the grandest horses iu England, has beeu unlucky iu ids racing career ; imtered aud run in all the great races this season, he has never once landed biß own colors first, but generally managed lo secure a place. Notwithstanding thi?, he was sold by Robert Peek, the trainer, iu the month of July for £5,000, that gentleman bavin" purchased bun for £3,300 beloro the season. Petrarch, it wul be remembered, was a strong favorite with the public for the Two 'ihuus_nd, but a few days previous to the event coming off, at a trial he ran somewhat Jaulty, allowing an outsider to beat him easily. The touts were not Blow in noticing this, aod the consequence was he went back in the betting. The stable quietly took all they could get on him, and to carry out the deception, a stable boy, 4Jamed Luke, was put up to ride, which

sent him further back, and so the deception went on until his Lordship and stable had a mint of mouey upon him. The race was run, and Petrarch came in the winner by more than a length before GreßtTnm, much to the chagrin of outsiders. Luke, however, is reported to have ridden well, and we have no doubt he is the jockey who bas ridden Petrarch to victory in the St. Leger. The stable-boy, immediately after the Two Thousand, received an anonymous letter containing a Bank of England note for £500. The winner of the St. Leger last year was Mr Crawford's Craig Millar, by Blair Alhol, ridden by Cballoner; the distance, 1 mile 6 furlongs and 132 yards, being accomplished in Satin 20s6C. The quickest time on record was in 1874, when the Lincolnshire parson's mare Apology, ridden by J. Osborne, covered the distance in 3min 16sec. The next beet time was in 1861, when Mr I'Ao non'a Caller Ou did it in 3min 16|sec.