The Life of a Great Sportsman 



thought they might as well have a nice tea Urn, as two 

 unnecessary cups, however ornamental. 



Through the courtesy of the manager of the "Chester 

 Courant," Mr. J. A. Birchall, whose publication is one of the 

 oldest English newspapers still in circulation, having been 

 established in 1730, I am able to give the account of what 

 appeared in that paper as to the Chester Race week, which 

 lasted from May 5th to May 9th, 1788. I have also to 

 thank Mr. F. J. Warmsley, Secretary of the Chester Race 

 Company, Ltd., who took the trouble to get particulars for me, 

 and Messrs. Weatherby & Sons for their kind contributions 

 from the " Racing Calendar" of that date. 



Racing must have been a much slower kind of sport in 

 those days, as far at least as the number of events were con- 

 cerned. One race a day was the limit, but seeing that it was 

 run in four-mile heats, and the best out of three, there was 

 plenty of excitement. The old account runs thus : — 



"Entered May the 5th to run at Chester Meeting 1788 

 the annual City Plate value ^30, with a purse of ^20 given 

 by the Corporation for 4, 5, 6, and aged horses, the best two 

 of three four-mile heats. Four years old, seven stone : five 

 year old, 8 stone; and aged horse 9 stone." 



Regarding this race I find that Mr. William Richardson's 

 aged bay gelding, Conqueror, by Espersykes and ridden by 

 G. Sell, carried 9 stone, ran and won the two first heats of four 

 miles each, beating two other horses, Attraction and Oberon. 



We must presume that horses, however good, would have 

 to rest a considerable time between such long heats, and no 

 doubt the ladies and gentlemen amused themselves between 

 whiles in quite as pleasant a fashion as they do in these 

 days. 



After his performance on the Monday, it appears Conqueror 



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