Racing in the West.
--A correspondent of the Spirit of the Times, writing from Louisiana, and referring to the Metairie Spring meeting, says:‘ Some new drafts from Kentucky have already joined Col. Richards, to be trained for the spring campaign, which opens brilliantly on the 28th of March, with a hand to hand contest between Waccamaw and Costa Diva, the odds being $1,500 on the latter against $1,000 on the former, with a forfeit of $225 on the side that fails to take the field on the day of battle. Should the South Carolina champion come all the way to New Orleans to meet his opponent, it will, as it ought to do, make him a great favorite. We hear the Ascension nag has been reserved especially for this contest, and is moving and looking like a bird.
On the same day comes off the Lessee's Stake, a poststake for all ages, three mile heats, $250 subscription, p. p., with $1,000 to be added by the Lessee. This will be a very interesting affair; and may be the means of determining the question of superiority between the beautiful Bettie Ward and the pride of Ascension, Sid Story. Poor Sid, lamed after he defeated the game Lightning in the mud on the first day of the last tournament over the Metairie and never showed again.
The Doswell Stake, which will come off on Monday, the 1st April, will bring into the field the crack two-year-olds of their year, in a Sweepstakes of $500 subscription, $250 ft., $50 dec., with $500 added by the Club, heats, one mile. Of the twenty-four nominations in this stake sixteen have been declared not to start and one has died, leaving seven capable of starting. Among these is Ninette, own sister to Planet, and twice a winner this fall; Regret, winner of the Gold Cup Stake, at Natchez, Col. Richards' imp. ch. c. by West Australian; Gen. Wells' b. c. by Lexington; Col. Bingaman's b. c. Tom Reddy, by Imp. Scythian; Mr. Poindexter's b. f. by Imp. Albion; and Col. John Campbell's ch. f. by the ‘"old horse"’ (Wagner,) out of Mary Taylor.
’
