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fifth Mr. Osbaldeston took a little refreshment-amouthful of bread, and some brandy-and-water a trifle stiffer than the last; but he was again upon Tranby and off in three minutes; and, whether owing to the spur in the head or the heel, did his work at the quickest pace during the dayeight minutes. This is great galloping; Mr. Osbaldeston rode 11st. 2lbs., and at racing weights, as is well known, Hambletonian and Diamond ran the B. C. in 8min. 25sec.; but we cannot judge from this, as of course this race was not run from end to end. He completed the 30th round (120 miles) in five hours eight minutes.

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He now came up into the stand, and lunched upon a cold partridge and brandy-and-water; and, although wet to the skin, he refused a change of clothes which was awaiting him before the fire, including his own favorite jacket, the old Lincoln green, which had arrived from the North too late to be sported on this occasion-the first time he ever rode out of his own colours. He stayed only six minutes and a half: for Harry England (bottle-holder pro tempore) was very anxious that he should not get stiff and cold, and brushed him off again as soon as he could.

In the thirty-second round, as he was going a slashing pace on Mr. Rush's Ikey Solomons, the horse made a flounder, and Mr. Osbaldeston, standing in his stirrups at the time, shot over his head*. The Papers stated he did not lose his horse; but this was not the case; the horse ran a hundred yards before he

was stopped, and when he came in (twelve minutes) his rider seemed a little distressed, and the opposite party once more had hopes, although the betting never recovered itself; and throughout the day it was a diamond to a dumpling, or the Lord Mayor's thumb to a tooth-pick, that the match was done, at least as far as related to the ten hours.

In the thirty-second round the horse El Dorado (a suspicious looking one in winkers) came in very lame, but nevertheless performed his distance in average

time.

The thirty-sixth round (144 miles) was completed in six hours seventeen minutes, and the fortieth in seven hours.

In the forty-fifth the gallant Tranby went his last round with undiminished game and speed. The forty-sixth completed the eighth hour.

In the forty-eighth a violent squall of rain and wind (the weather having before moderated) so disgusted Streamlet that he fairly turned round, afraid to meet it, just at the corner of the fir trees-but two powerful auxiliaries, Latchford and Crowther, soon convinced him of his absur

dity; and the fiftieth round was performed by Skirmisher as the finale, at nine minutes before four, or in eight hours and 39 minutes : thus finishing the match with an hour and twenty-one minutes to spare.

Most uproarious salutations from all grades of sportsmen greeted Mr. Osbaldeston, who came in as gay as a lark, waving his whip over his head. Some shook hands with him, some patted him on the back, all

* Not the first throw over that has been perpetrated by the aforesaid Israelite,

shouted, and one old green-coated the help of two hacks, he dined in Newmarket-sixty-one miles! I thought he was rather weak towards the thirty-sixth round, and one horse nearly ran him amongst the crowd before he could stop him: but if this were the case, he very shortly recovered his second wind; and never throughout the match did "his eye lose its accustomed lustre," his voice sink from its natural pitch, or his hand tremble, Game as a flint he must be, for fortyfour years of age are (or seem to be) twenty years too many to undertake such a frolic.

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farmer, an importation I guess from Northamptonshire, gave him a view halloo which still rings in my ear. It was only by the shouldering of Gully, Tom Oliver, and Harry England that he could dismount at the Stand, on ascending which he honored by the congratulations of the beautiful Lady Chesterfield and her fair sister Mrs. G. Anson, who had driven from the race-course to witness the close of this extraordinary performance. There was no wrapping up in blankets, no carrying to a postchaise, no salts, smelling bottles, or lancets. The Squire jumped on his favorite hack Cannon Ball, and, followed by every horseman on the ground, led them at a slapping pace to his lodgings at Perrin's in Newmarket; where he got into a warm bath, took a nap, and in a couple of hours was wide awake, and enjoying himself at a good dinner, to which I doubt not he did ample justice; particularly if he kept in mind his reply to Harry England, who wanted to prescribe a less palateable, though more salutary regimen......" D-n your salts and senna! I am so hungry I could eat an old woman."

Thus ended this wondrous undertaking*. Mr. Osbaldeston had been in close training at Newmarket, and riding most of his horses, for a week previously; but his constant severe exercise rendered more unnecessary, if not impossible. The manner of his arrival at Newmarket bears me out in this assertion. He hunted his hounds in Northamptonshire, and afterwards, with

I cannot bear to see a man placed upon another's knee for rest: it is the most uneasy seat possible, and with hot breath blowing upon him by no means a refreshing one: a chair would be worth fifty knees. Gully generally met him at coming in during the last few rounds, and assisted in stopping his horse; but in the instance above-mentioned he missed the bridle: "why the devil do not you lay hold of his tail?" sung out a spectator; "you're strong enough!"

The stable was not managed with that regularity which one might expect to see; and at one period of the match there was great uncertainty as to horses arriving in time: neither until after some rounds were any persons sent to look out for squalls, with spare hacks, to different parts of the course.

Many people (myself among the rest) wondered why Mr. Osbaldeston rode his own good quiet light-mouthed horses in the morning, and delayed mounting the raw, raking, half-broken

* I have no hesitation in saying, had it been a fine day, the ground less deep, and had no fall occurred, the match would have been done in a quarter of an hour less.

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4. Coroner by Magistrate

5. Oberon

6. Don Juan....

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28. *Skirmisher by Smolensko

29. Guildford by Hampden

30. Dolly (2d time)

31. Ikey Solomons

32. Tam o'Shanter

33. El Dorado

34. Coventry by Tramp........

35. Ringleader by Merlin

36. Tranby (3d time)

37. Ipsala by Sultan.
38. Skirmisher (2d time)
39. Guildford (2d time)
40. *Streamlet by Tiresias
41. Donegani by Tramp
42. Hassan by Whisker

*

43. Filly by Emilius-Surprise 44. Ringleader (2d time)..

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P.S. I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without recommending my sporting University friends to take a look at the splendid new range of stabling which Humfrey, the builder, has run up at the corner of Christ's Pieces. On a cursory view they appear all that they ought to be; with plenty of room behind the horses, loose boxes or gig houses, cast-iron racks, a covered ride for exercise, separate dung pits, convenience for saddlery, hot water, &c. I can assure both my readers and Mr. Humfrey that my praise of them is quite disinterested, although I think for so good a puff I richly deserve a three-stall gratis when next I ap99 pear at Cambridge.-T.

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VOL. IV.SECOND SERIES.-No. 20

on the several performances-all shewing the extraordinary nerve of the individuals engaged in them, and at the same time exhibiting the stoutness, the speed, and continuance of our Native breed of horses, of which we are so justly proud, and which has of late years excited the admiration of Foreigners. Most of these events have already been recorded in our pages; but a recapitulation will doubtless prove highly interesting to our readers at the present moment.

twixt two and three of the clock, he took his journey forth of York, and came to London the same day betwixt seven and eight of the clock, where he rested that night: the next morning, being Friday, betwixt two and three of the clock he took his journey towards York, and came thither the same day betwixt the hours of seven and eight in the afternoon :-so as he finished his appointed journey to the admiration of all men, in five days, according to his promise.-And upon Monday, the seven and twentieth of the same month, he went from York, and came to the Court at Greenwich upon Tuesday the 28th to His Majestie, in as fresh and cheerful manner as when he first began.

July 17th, 1720, Mr. Bernard Calvert, of Andover, started at three o'clock in the morning from St. George's Church, Southwark, and rode to Dover; thence crossed the Channel to Calais; returned to Dover; and thence back to St. George's Church, where he arrived about eight the same evening, fresh and hearty.

April 1745. Mr. Cooper Thornhill rode three times between Stilton and London (distance 213 miles) in 11h. 33m. 52sec.— The Count de Buffon informs us, on the authority of a letter from the Earl of Morton, that Mr. Thornhill used eight different horses in the first heat; in the second, six only; and that in the third he made use of the same horses which had already served him, riding only seven of the fourteen.

1604. In the reign of King James, John Lepton, of Kepwick in the county of York, Esq., a Gentleman of an ancient family and of good reputation, His Majestie's servant and one of the Grooms of His Most Honorable Privy Chamber, performed so memorable a journey as deserves to be recorded to future ages; because many Gentlemen who were good horsemen, and divers Physicians, did affirm it was impossible for him to do without apparent danger of his life. He undertook to ride five several times between London and York in six days, to be taken in one week, betwixt Monday morning and Saturday night. He began his journey upon Monday the 20th of May in the year aforesaid, betwixt two and three of the clock in the morning forth of St. Martin's, near Aldersgate, within the City of London, and came to York the same day betwixt the hours of five and six in the afternoon, where he rested that night :—the next morning, being Tuesday, about three of the clock, he took his journey forth of York, and came to his lodgings in Saint Martin's aforesaid betwixt the hours of six and seven in the after-siderable noon, where he rested that night:the next morning, being Wednesday, betwixt two and three of the clock he took his journey forth of London, and came into York about seven of the clock the same day, where he rested that night: the next morning, being Thursday, be

From Stilton to London (71
miles)...............................

From London to Stilton....

From Stilton to London.

h. m. sec.

3 52 59 3 50 57 3 49 56

The match was made for a consun. He was allowed as many horses as he pleased, and to perform the task in fifteen hours. "I question," adds Buffon, "whether any race at the Olympic Games ever equalled the rapidity of Mr. Thornhill's performance.'

A brown mare, thirteen hands three inches high only, the property

of Mr. Daniel Corker, was backed to
do three hundred miles, on New-
market Heath, in seventy-two suc-
cessive hours, which she completed
April 24th, 1754, and had seven
hours and forty minutes to spare. The
match was for 100gs. P. p. The
mare was rode by one boy all the
way, weight 4st. llb., exclusively of
saddle and bridle. She went back-
ward and forward from the Six Mile
House to the Ending Post of the
B.C., and did not gallop more than
six miles during the match.
Monday, April 22. Twenty-four

miles, and baited; 24, and baited ;
48 without baiting

Tuesday. Twenty-four miles, and baited; 24, and baited; 24, and baited; 36 without baiting Wednesday. Twenty-four miles, and baited; 24, and baited; and 48 without baiting..

(Total...300 miles.)

96

108

96

In April and May 1758, at Newmarket, Miss Pond rode one horse 1000 miles in 1000 successive hours for a wager of 200gs. - In a few weeks afterwards, Mr. P. rode the same horse 1000 miles in two thirds of the time.

June 27, 1759. Jenison Shafto, Esq. performed a match against time on Newmarket Heath; the conditions of which were, he was to ride fifty miles (having as many horses as he pleased) in two successive hours, which he accomplished in 1h. 49m. 17sec., with ten horses only, viz.— 1. Merry Bachelor, by Tartar....miles 4 2. Wildair, by Cade, dam by Steady, 4 3. Juggler, by Rib, dam, Sister to Regulus.....

4. Forester, by Croft's Forester, dam by Lasby

3

5. Rover, by Bolton's Brother........
6. Jack o'Newbury, by Babraham,
dam by Lord Halifax's Justice... 4
7. Adolphus, by Regulus out of Miss
Layton, Lodge's roan mare...........
8. Jessamy, by Hutton's Spot out of
Bay Brocklesby

3

3

3

9. Prince T'Quassaw, by Snip out of
Dairy Maid.....
Merry Bachelor, second time......... 3
Wildair
...ditto............... 3

............

Juggler ...............ditto...

Rover......

.ditto..............

10. Hambleton, by Snip
Adolphus, second time..
(Total...50 miles.)

In 1761 a match was made between Jenison Shafto and Hugo Meynell, Esqrs. for 2000gs., Mr. Shafto to find a person to ride one hundred miles a-day (on any one horse each day) for twenty-nine successive days; to have any number of horses not exceeding twenty-nine. The person chosen by Mr. Shafto was Mr. John Woodcock, who started on Newmarket Heath, May 4th, 1761, at one o'clock in the morning, and finished his arduous task on the 1st of June about six in the evening, having used fourteen horses only: viz.

Mr. Shafto's b. h. once.

Lord Chedworth's ch. m. thrice.
Capt. Windyard's ch. h. twice.
Mr. Thistlethwayte's gr. h. thrice.
Mr. Wildman's bl. m. thrice.
Mr. Woodcock's b. m. twice.
Mr. Scott's b. m. twice.
Lord Montfort's b. h. twice.
Mr. Surrecolt's ch. h. once.
Mr. Shafto's roan h. twice.
Mr. Calcraft's ch. h. once.
Mr. Rudd's ch. m. once.
Mr. Welch's b. h. thrice.
Mr. Major's b. m. thrice.

Mr. Major's mare did not begin one day till ten o'clock, Mr. Woodcock having failed to bring in a horse called Quidnunc, after it had done sixty miles by nine o'clock, and then tired; so that he rode one hundred and sixty miles that day, finishing at about eleven o'clock at night, which was the latest hour during the whole performance. Indeed the undertaking was a much more difficult one for the rider than for the horses. The course was from the Hare-park to the Ditch, making three miles; thence he went a three-mile course round the Flat, on that side the Ditch next Newmarket. There were posts and lamps fixed, Mr. W. choosing to start very early in the mornings, to avoid the heat of the day.

September 4, 1780.-Giles Hoyle rode from Ipswich to Tiptree and back again, for the purpose of obtaining leave of absence for Major Clayton 3 to attend the election at Clitheroe

3

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31

from General Parker, being sixty-six miles in six hours. On the following day he rode with his master from

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