HETMAN PLATOFF.

ENGRAVED BY J. SCOTT, FROM A PAINTING BY J. F. HERRING, SENR.

"Ah! and what's this?"

"This, sir, was about the best horse of his year, though perhaps not the best used; as fine a horse, sir, as ever was stripped, but whose fortunes were not on a par with either his merits or appearance; a horse, sir, who ran racing pace and distances at welter weights, giving years, stones, and pounds away to all sorts and all sizes; a horse, sir, who, if it hadn't been for those d-d handicaps, would at this moment have been running Alice Hawthorne weight for age, and head for head. This, sir-come over, old fellow!this, sir, is Hetman Platoff."

"Oh! this is the Hetman, is it?"

"This is the Hetman, sir; and a better nag, in my opinion, never was foaled. Look! there's shape and symmetry--a horse, sir, that for blood, bone, speed, stoutness, size, and action, no breeder in England ought to lose sight of, and who will cover next season hereTickhill Castle Farm, Rotherham-at fifteen sovs. a mare, with corn, hay, and the best accommodation on the usual terms. Perhaps you could mention that in your little account, sir?"

"Of course we can.' And, lo! the promise is performed.

Heaven have mercy (the ladies say) on the girl who marries a thorough sportsman !-a man who is horse-mad, who is backing his race-horses all the summer, on the backs of his hunters all the winter, and who in spring and autumn hasn't a moment to spare while getting one lot in and the other out of condition! Mare and foal last month- stud-horse this. However it may put us out of conceit with the lassies or ourselves, for the time we plead guilty to being "horse-mad." But then, what could we do, with the last number of the sheet-calendar lying before us, filled almost from end to end with such flaming, catching announcements of "stallions for the season,” enough to force a man with a few hundreds to spare into buying a brood mare, a stud groom, and half-a-dozen subscriptions a-piece to half-a-dozen of the most promising? Talk of "Rowland's Macassar," "Warren's Blacking," "Moses and Co.," or suchlike essayists at the patent public panegyric-why, Lord bless your simplicity! look here. "His legs are as fine as the day he was foaled:" exactly so, a broken bellows having anticipated a break down. "Only five of his stock have appeared, four of which are winners:" fifty-five having been taken out of work, and forty-five, with more discretion, having never been put into it. "This horse never ran in public, having un

I

fortunately met with a serious accident at two years old; he, however, ran some extraordinary trials, beating Harkaway, Memnon, Bee'swing, Filho-da-Puta, and Foig-a-Ballagh at even weights." "All mares, foals, and attendants will meet with the utmost kindness and attention, and those not taken away by the 1st of August will be sold by auction to defray their expenses." Still it does seem somewhat strange that the best horses, either of the "have been" or "is to be," should be content with the most modest advertisements: of this our present hero is an instance, and, as we plunge into his interesting biography without further ceremony, we think we shall show that his present sayings and past doings are worked out upon an inverse ratio.

PEDIGREE.

Hetman Platoff, a bay horse, was bred by John Bowes, Esq., in 1836, and is by Brutandorf, dam by Comus, her dam Marciana by Stamford, out of Marcia by Coriander-Faith, by Pocolet-Atalanta, by Match'em.

This Comus mare, bred by Mr. Garforth, in 1820 or '21, is also the dam of Lord Chesterfield's Don John, winner of the St. Leger in 1838; the remainder of her family (a numerous one having been in the stud since 1825) have not particularly distinguished themselves.

Brutandorf, bred by Mr. Watt in 1821, was by Blacklock, out of Mondane (the dam of Lottery and Manuella) by Pot-8-o's, her dam Young Camilla by Woodpecker. As well as claiming the paternal honours of the Hetman, he is known as the sire of that good racehorse Physician, that game old cocktail Arctic, and that steeplechase star Gaylad, with many other winners.

PERFORMANCES.

In 1839, Hetman Platoff, then three years old, first appeared in public, when, ridden by Harry Edwards, he won the Liverpool St. Leger of 50 sovs. each, 20 ft., with 50 sovs. added-fourteen subscribers-beating Duke of Cleveland's Kremlim (2), Mr. Fowler's Profligate (3), Lord Milltown's Medea (4), and Lord Eglinton's Zoroaster (5). Even on Hetman Platoff.

At York August Meeting, ridden by William Scott, he won a Sweepstakes of 30 sovs. each, 10 ft.-twelve subscribers-beating Col. Cookson' Doctor Oliver. 8 to 1 on Hetman Platoff.

At Newmarket Houghton Meeting, carrying 7st. 12lb., he ran second to Mr. Ramsay's Lanercost, four years old, 8st. 91b., for the Cambridgeshire Stakes of 25 sovs. each, Mr. Bowes's Mickleton Maid, three years old, 5st. 12lb., running third, and the following not placed:-Mr. Howes's Scamander, five years old, 7st. 121b.; Mr. Watts's Cara, three years old, 7st. 9lb.; Mr. Wilson's Quicksilver, five years old, 7st. 6lb.; Lord Eglinton's Opera, four years old, 7st. 3lb.; Lord Exeter's Bosphorus, three years old, 6st. 9lb. ; Mr. Graydon's Roscius, three years old, 6st. 81b.; Mr. Forth's filly by Merchant, out of Turquois, three years old, 6st. 4lb.; Duke of Rutland's Revoke, three years old, 5st. 10lb.; and Mr. I. Day's Science, three years old, 5st. 91b. 5 to 2 agst. Hetman Platoff,

who gave weight to everything in the race, and to nearly all on a very liberal scale.

In 1840, Hetman Platoff, at Ascot Heath, walked over for the Swinley Stakes of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft., with 50 added.

At Newcastle, carrying 8st. 4lb., and ridden by Nat, he won the Northumberland Plate of 200 sovs., added to a Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each, beating Col. Cradock's Provost, four years old, 8st. 5lb. (2); Capt. Wrather's Hackfall, five years old, 7st. 10lb. (3); Mr. Bowes's Black Beck, three years old, 6st. 3lb. (4); and the following not placed :-Mr. Fairlie's Zorabh, aged, 8st. 71b.; Mr. Vansittart's Smollett, five years old, 8st. 6lb.; Mr. Jaques's Burletta, aged, 8st. 4lb.; Mr. Milner's Humphrey, five years old, 7st. 121b.; Sir C. Monck's Garland, five years old, 7st. 10lb.; Mr. Blacklock's filly by Curtius, out of Fancy by Osmond, three years old, 6st.; and Mr. Butler's sister to Lanercost, three years old, 5st. 10lb. 2 to 1 agst. Hetman Platoff.

At Goodwood, carrying 9st. 7lb., he ran second to Orelia, four years old, 6st. 9lb., for the Goodwood Stakes, Duke of Richmond's Glenlivat, four years old, 7st. 1lb., being placed third; and Mr. Shelley's The Drama, four years old, 6st. 10lb., fourth. The following also started :-Lord Albemarle's Domino, four years old, 9st.; Lord Eglinton's The Potentate, aged, 8st. 13lb.; Mr. Thornhill's Mendizabal, aged, 8st. 10lb.; Lord Jersey's Joannina, five years. old, 8st. 3lb.; Mr. Arnold's Adrian, six years old, 8st. 1lb.; Mr. Bowes's Mickleton Maid, four years old, 7st. 13lb.; Mr. W. Ley's Pocket Hercules, six years old, 7st. 9lb.; Mr. Goodman's Pluto, four years old, 6st. 8lb.; Mr. Theobald's Forlorn Hope, four years old, 6st. 4lb.; Col. Wyndham's Nongifted, three years old, 5st. Glb.; and Lord George Bentinck's Half-caste, three years old, 5st. 4lb. 3 to 1 agst. Hetman Platoff.

At the same meeting, carrying 8st. 10lb., he ran third to H. R. H. the Duke of Orlean's Beggarman, five years old, 8st. 5lb., for the Goodwood Cup; Mr. Ramsay's Lanercost, five years old, 9st. 2lb.; second; and the following not placed:-Col. Peel's Dey of Algiers, four years old, Sst. 12lb.; Mr. Johnstone's Charles XII., four years old, 8st. 12lb.; Mr. Forth's colt by Muley, out of Solace, three years old, 6st. 10lb.; Lord George Bentinck's Naworth, three years old, Gst. 8lb.; Mr. Greatrex's Pocahontas, three years old, 6st. 6lb.; and Lord George Bentinck's Grey Milton, three years old, 6st. 5lb. 6 to 4 agst. Hetman Platoff.

At Wolverhampton, carrying 8st. 12lb., and ridden by Nat, he won the Wolverhampton Stakes of 25 sovs. each, beating Mr. Bell's La Sage Femme, four years old, 7st. 2lb. (2); Lord Lichfield's The Corsair, four years old, 7st. 12lb. (3); Lord George Bentinck's Grey Milton, three years old, 6st. 71b. (4); and the following not placed: -Lord Eglinton's St. Bennett, six years old, 8st. 10lb.; Mr. Copeland's King Cole, aged, 8st. 2lb.; Mr. Wormald's Bolus, four years old, 7st. 71b.; Mr. Hobson's Fitzwilliam, four years old, 6st. 7lb. ; Sir T. Stanley's Marmaduke, four years old, 6st.; and Mr. Pratt's sister to Sir Ralph, three years old, 5st. 5 to 4 agst. Hetman

Platoff.

At the same meeting, carrying Est. 7lb., and ridden by Nat, he won the Cleveland Cup of 10 sovs. each, with 50 sovs. added-fourteen subscribers-beating Lord Lichfield's The Corsair, four years old, 8st. 7lb. (2); and Mr. Critchley's St. Dunstan, three years old, 7st. 2lb. (3).

At Warwick he closed his racing career by running a dead heat, with 9st. 8lb. on his back, against the Duke of Richmond's Glenlivat, four years old, 7st., for the Leamington Stakes. The following also started:-Mr. Collins's Isaac, aged, 8st. 13lb.; Mr. Herbert's Clarion, four years old, 8st. 6lb.; Lord Milltown's Cruiskeen, six years old, 8st. 3lb.; Mr. Rawlinson's Chilson, four years old, 7st. 10lb.; Mr. Saunders's Miss Kitty Cockle, six years old, 7st. 2lb.; Lord Warwick's Petty Larceny, four years old, 7st.: Mr. Buckley's Charley, four years old, 6st. 10lb.; and Lord George Bentinck's Half-caste, three years old, 5st. 8lb. 11 to 8 agst. Hetman Platoff, who broke down while winning.

SUMMARY OF HETMAN PLATOFF'S PERFORMANCES.

In 1839 he started three times and won two:-
The Liverpool St. Leger, value clear
Stakes at York, August...

In 1840 he started seven times and won four:

£

380

130

95

595

640

170

£2,010

In the above almost unparalleled performances at the weight and age, we would call the reader's attention to the facts that Hetman Platoff, notwithstanding the terrible load he was invariably saddled with, stood as first favourite for every race in which he appeared, and so far justified this position by running either first or second on every occasion but one, when he was placed third in that very severe race for the Goodwood Cup, having the day before claimed second for the stake. So much for handicapping, a modus operandi that may occasionally make a bad horse look like a good one, but which, in this instance, though with all the force of its levelling power applied, failed signally in making a really good nag cut up like a bad one.

In 1841 Hetman Platoff stood at Mr. Kirby's stud-farm, Murton, at 15 guineas a mare; in 1842, at Lord Exeter's, Burghley, at 20 sovs.; in 1843, at Tickhill Castle Farm, Rotherham, at 15 sovs., and where, as we have already hinted, he will be the ensuing season; while of him we may say outright, without one particle of the puff about it, that we know no untried horse in England more worthy of the public patronage.

DUCK-SHOOTING.

BY CHARLES WILLOWDALE.

By duck-shooting I intend to commemorate a few odd sayings and doings of a different character from the exploits at the pond in the farm-yard, and similar achievements at the back of a village, towards the fag end of the day.

There is no bird more wary or more difficult of approach than a wildduck; and from its shy and foreign nature, its watchful and sleepless habit, it requires the utmost wariness and caution to come within gunshot even of a single bird, to say nothing of a whole flock. The hawk and buzzard, the vulture and the carrion-crow, with other birds of prey, are notoriously gifted with a wonderful sense of smell. Mudie, in his British birds, makes the following apposite remarks upon the subject:

"Science has yet found out no contrivance by which the sense of smelling can be improved; indeed, as the sense of smell is, in a great measure, a feeding sense,' the probability is that our acuteness in the use of it diminishes as the comforts of society improve. At all events, we are far less acute than man in the savage state, and we say proverbially, 'A hungry man smells meat afar.' No doubt the saying is allegorical, but when we find an allegory made a proverb, we may in general depend upon the literal foundation being a well-known fact. The subject is an exceedingly curious one, because it involves not only the flights of birds from place to place within the same country, but also the means by which they are guided upon their longer migrations. So far as the bird is driven from the place which it leaves, we can and do understand; but how it is directed to the place to which it comes is beyond our philosophy, because the data, by means of which alone we could work it out, are beyond the cognizance of our senses.

The wild-duck is in no way behind hand with these in discovering the approach of danger. The decoy-men are well aware of the acute perception of the fowl; and when the wind lies across the decoy, which it will sometimes do for several days together, not an atom of fire or cookery is allowed among their habitations; the smell of the smoke or the hot victuals would, in their phrase, "raise the decoy," and, in that case, probably the fowl might not return for a week at least. Now, it is a standard rule never to beat for wild-fowl or snipes up rind, because as they invariably rise against the wind, the sportsman by coming down wind upon them, gets, perhaps, from 15 to 20 yards nearer, when they are on the wing, than he otherwise could have done had the birds been able to make off at once. By this position he is so placed that the birds have to turn as soon as they are on their