Northampton, beating Lord Stamford's Le Marechal, 3 yrs. (2); Mr. Astley's Atherstone, 5 yrs. (3); Mr. Swindell's Tolurno, 4 yrs.; Mr. Bryan's Welland, 4 yrs.; Mr. W. H. Cooper's Soapstone, 3 yrs.; Mr. Buckley's Ivanhoff, 5 yrs.; Mr. Whittaker's Change, 3 yrs.; Baron Rothschild's Queen of the Vale, 5 yrs. ; and Lord Uxbridge's General Hesse, 6 yrs.: 7 to 4 against Asteroid, who won by two lengths. At the same meeting, ridden by Wells, he won Her Majesty's Plate of 100 gs., two miles, beating Mr. Blenkinsopp's Ivanhoff, 5 yrs. (2), and Mr. R. Arnold's Ottoman, 5 yrs: 8 to 1 on Asteroid, who won by three lengths. At Newmarket Craven Meeting, ridden by Wells, he won Her Majesty's Plate of 100 gs., over the R.C., beating Mr. Ten Broeck's Amy by six lengths: 8 to 1 on Asteroid. At Epsom Spring Meeting, ridden by Wells, at the top weight of 9st 5lb., Asteroid was not placed for the City and Suburban Handicap, a mile and a quarter -won by Mr. T. Gilby's Adventurer, 4 yrs., 5st. 121b.: 20 to 1 against Asteroid. At Newmarket First Spring Meeting he received the whip and a forfeit from Lord W. Poulett's Tim Whiffler, B.C. At Salisbury, ridden by Wells, he won Her Majesty's Plate of 100 gs., three miles, beating Lord Portsmouth's Vinegar Hill, 5 yrs. (2); Mr. W. Walker's Consternation, 4 yrs. (3); Mr. Thellusson's Bally Edmond, 5 yrs. (4); and Mr. G. King's Portland: 6 to 1 on Asteroid, who won by forty lengths. At Chester, ridden by Wells, and carrying the top weight of 9st. 4lb., he won the Tradesmen's Plate, better known as the Chester Cup, two miles and a quarter, beating Mr. Jackson's Haddington, 4 yrs., 7st. 12lb. (2); Mr. Elliott's Gardener, 5 yrs., 7st. 6lb. (3); Mr. W. I'Anson's Caller Ou, 5 yrs., 8st. 6lb.; Sir J. Hawley's Cowley, 5 yrs., 8st.; Mrs. Osbaldeston's Camerino, 5 yrs., 7st. Sib.; Mr. H. J. Smith's Fitz-Avon, 6 yrs., 7st. 4lb.; Count de Lagrange's Stradella, 4 yrs., 7st. 4lb.; Mr. II. Melville's The Plover, 3 yrs., 6st. 31b.; Mr. T. Hughes' M. Philippe, aged, 6st.; Mr. Elphinstone's Dunkeld, 3 yrs, 5st. 12lb.; and Mr. Godding's Black Deer, 3 yrs., 5st. 10lb.: 11 to 2 against Asteroid, who won by a neck. At the same meeting, ridden by Wells, and carrying 9st. 91b., he ran second to Mr. Merry's Buckstone, 4 yrs., 8st. 91b., for the Steward's Cup, one mile and seven furlongs; three others also started: 7 to 4 against Asteroid, who was beaten a length. A challenge match with Tim Whiffler, in the Newmarket First October Meeting, for the Cup and 400 gs., was off by consent. In 1864, as a six years old, Asteroid only started once, when in the Craven Meeting, ridden by Wells at 9st. 6lb., he was not placed for the Newmarket Handicap, a mile and six furlongs-won by Mr. Saville's Guerilla, 3 yrs., 5st. 71b.: 5 to 1 against Asteroid. SUMMARY OF ASTEROID'S PERFORMANCES. In 1860 he started twice, and won once : GS. A Sweepstakes, Newmarket July, value clear 250 In 1861 he started eleven times, and won seven : A Sweepstakes, Newmarket Craven 400 250 105 The Queen's Plate, Newmarket Craven 105 The Whip and a Forfeit, Ditto First Spring 200 105 The Cup, at Chester...... 1,195 In 1864 he started once, but did not win. Has won with the Cup and the Whip.................................. 6,115 We have purposely given Asteroid's performances at some length, as we believe these to be altogether unequalled in the history of the turf. It will be found that Asteroid has not only beaten the best horses of his day, but has won great handicaps at the heaviest weights, and moreover, as above all, has rarely finished without a place! In the thirty-six races in which he has appeared he has won twenty-two, finished second five times, and third seven times, thus leaving but two occasions upon which he has not been up. In so long a career this fact is altogether unprecedented, as it is the more remarkable from Asteroid always seeking the best company. There was a rumour towards the end of last year that Asteroid would be sold by auction to the best bidder; but Sir Joseph has since determined to send him to the stud, and the horse will stand at Leybourne; where, however, he will only have a few mares in his first season, and he has consequently never been advertised. A DISGUISE IN THE HUNT. "Now, my brave youths, Stripp'd for the chase, give all your souls to joy! They strain to lead the field, top the barr'd gate, O'er their arched necks; with steady hands by turns " SOMERVILE. Not many years ago, when we used to hunt pretty regularly with a very celebrated pack in the West, there came to one of our favourite mee's two strangers; one a gentleman of about five or six-and-twenty years of age, the other a youth apparently about the age of fourteen. Both were exceedingly well mounted; the elder one rode a fine, cleverlooking, chestnut horse, and the younger one a rather small but splendid-looking black mare. Both horses and riders were objects of much attraction. As regards the riders, they were both of very prepossessing manners; the youth in particular was as gentle and unassuming a boy as we have ever seen: he was fair-haired and of fair complexion; his face altogether, in fact, was what most people would call that of an uncommonly good-looking boy," and but for his youthful appearance his style would have indicated that he was older than he looked. He was a very quiet youth, and his voice was seldom heard except in occasional conversation with the friend who accompanied him, and who, for aught that was known to the contrary, might have been his brother. At all events they were on very intimate terms, and the elder one appeared throughout the day very solicitous, kind, and attentive to his young friend. As neither of the two was dressed in a scarlet coat, it may be important to bear in mind the kind of attire they wore; and, first, as to the elder of the two. He was dressed in a dark-grey coat and waistcoat, with buckskin inexpressibles, top-boots, and a hunting hat. The youth wore a dark-blue frock-coal, buttoned tightly round the waist, white cord inexpressibles, very small and exquisite top-boots, with spurs, and a neat-looking youth's hat. As to the horses they rode, nobody in the field was better mounted; indeed, two more clever-looking animals we have seldom seen, and in the hands of their riders they were just as clever as they looked, as we shall eventually endeavour to show. With these few introductory remarks we now propose to take our readers across country with the hounds, and in company with the two distinguished strangers. After drawing two covers blank, reynard was found at the third, and the welkin rang with the merry signal "Gone away!" Then it was that horses and riders began to feel the thrill of excitement and eagerness to be off in the track of the hounds. With that curiosity which always more or less attaches to the performances of strangers in the hunting-field, we felt an inclination to notice the manner in which the two gentlemen referred to, took their first fence, and with that view we placed ourselves in a suitable position in the hunt; for we are fain to confess that from their mount and general appearance we expected good riding, and as to that we were certainly by no means disappointed. The first fence (not a very difficult one it is true) was cleared at a bound by the two strangers, who rode side by side, and their horses almost step by step. If coupled together the leap could not have been more perfect, and from the firm and easylooking seat they maintained in the saddle, it was evident they were no strangers to hunting. After some three or four other moderate-sized fences we came to a very ugly one-a wattle fence-at which, though some got safely over, others refused it, and rode round to a gate. The two strangers approached it side by side, evidently intending to clear it, and with their horses beautifully in hand they pressed them at the trying time; but pressure seemed but pleasure, for they cleared it in beautiful style, and rode on straight to the hounds, as they had done from the first. The wattle had, however, thrown out many of the field; and these were the first indications of a diminution of numbers. Having cleared the difficulties of the wattle, we came upon three or four miles of grass country, across which the pace was terrific; but posts, rails, and gates were one and all taken in flying leaps; and close in the very front ranks were the two strangers, riding as if they knew the country well, or at all events taking everything as it came, and following the dogs through thick and thin. It was truly bold riding across a difficult country, by those who had never crossed it before; but then their boldness was seasoned with such admirable discretion, that they rode as safely as any of those who had known the country all their lives. Having crossed the grass country, we came upon a range of stiff clayey fields on the slope of a hill, and down which our course lay. The ditches were deep, and many of the fences broad and ugly, and the heavy rains that had recently fallen, by no means improved the condition of the fields, but, on the contrary, rendered them anything but easy for the horses. Pace was quite out of the question here, but a very great deal of care was required to get over the difficulties which there presented themselves. Meanwhile the hounds had gone on ahead, and a few of the riders who had been left behind on the other side of the grass country came up with the field. The soft clay fields extended over a mile, and then we came upon grass again, which enabled us to make up some of the time lost in the clay fields; but just ahead of us lay a shining brook, the broad current of which seemed to present a difficulty of no mean proportions. To leap it without looking or knowing its width would be madness; and so the two strangers were observed to rein up, and allow those to take the lead who knew the country, and one of these who noticed their caution said, as he passed them, ""Tis a broad brook, but you'll both do it if you try." This was all the hint the strangers required; and so, dashing their spurs to the sides of their horses, and gathering up the reins, they were soon cheered onwards on seeing two or three of the leaders of the field safely over; and, following nearly in their track, the two strangers rode boldly on, pressing L their beautiful steeds at the critical moment when pressure is sure to lend its aid, they both cleared the brook at a bound. "Bravely done!" said the gentleman who had hinted to them that they might do it if they tried, and who rode before them over the brook, and then turned in his saddle to watch their performances. Of the whole field, however, only seven others besides the two strangers cleared the brook; the nine were therefore by this time a select few. The chase had now lasted upwards of an hour without a check, and the hounds were still in hot pursuit; the country now was light arable land, and some of the fences were very stiff and high, but still they presented no such obstacles as threw any of the nine out of the chase. "That youth is one of the cleverest riders I ever saw," said the master of the hounds (speaking of the young gentleman, one of the two strangers) to another well-known member of the hunt. "He is," said the other; "and indeed two prettier riders I never crossed country with. The young one, however, is a mystery to me: apparently he is but a lad of thirteen or fourteen." "One would think so," said the master; "but I believe he must be older, or else he was born in a saddle and reared in a manger; for in all my experience, extending now over five-and-twenty years, I never saw one so young ride with such courage and discretion as that young gentleman on the black mare." "Nor I," said the other; "but look ahead! there's a five-bar for you!" alluding to a five-barred gate which must be cleared; but this was no great difficulty to any of the nine, as one after another they cleared it, and again we came upon an extensive grass country, the hounds in full cry, and the horsemen well up, with no signs of those we left at the brook being anywhere in sight. Splendid as the run had thus far been, and great as some of the obstacles we had met with had proved, we had yet still greater difficulties to encounter ere the glorious chase we were engaged in was over. Another rapid run across a number of green fields and meadows, where posts, rails, and ditches were more numerous than ever, brought us to the brink of a broad and deep running river it was, in fact, the stream that divided the two counties. Reynard, panting for breath, and burning with perspiration, plunged nto the cooling stream, and boldly swam from side to side, hoping in his vulpine heart that he had cut off for ever all traces by which his savage pursuers could follow him; but in that respect reynard was mistaken, for the hounds were close upon his trail, and instinct told them he had swam the river; and so, after sniffing the bank around "Tumultuous soon they plunge into the stream, And off again they go, with vigour freshened by the cooling bath they had taken: the scent, too, was ten times strengthened by the drippings which from field to field kept falling from the hard-pressed fox. When those who knew the country, saw the direction taken by the fox, they reined up their horses in blank despair: to most of them it - a hopeless case, |