BRITISH TURF. 231 



DORSETSHIRE. 



Blandforcl. — A market and borough town in the 

 hundred of Pimperne, 103 miles from London. It 

 is a clean and well-built town, on the river Stour, 

 overlooking which, at the end of the town, is the 

 fine mansion and richly ornamented grounds of 

 Lord Portman. This town, although frequently 

 destroyed by fire, has always risen like a Phoenix 

 from its ashes. The principal employment is that 

 of making shirt-buttons, which is a source of 

 much prosperity to the place. In 1821, the in- 

 habitants amounted to 2,643. The races take 

 place about a week after those at Salisbury, to- 

 wards the latter part of August, for the following 

 stakes, etc. 



The Provincial Criterion Stakes of 30 sovs. 

 20 ft. ; for two yrs. old colts, 8st. 71b., and fillies, 

 8st. 41b., with 20 sovs. added if three horses start ; 

 a winner once in the same year, previous to starting, 

 to carry 51b., twice or more, 71b. extra; three 

 quarters of a mile over the New Course. ^ 



The Dorsetshire gold Cup, value 100 sovs. in 

 specie (the surplus to the second horse) by sub- 

 scription of 10 sovs. each; three yrs. old, 6st. 

 101b.; four, 8st. ilb. ; five, 8st. 101b.; six, 9st. ; 

 and aged, 9st. 21b. ; the winner of a Queen's 

 plate, or the value of 100 sovs., including his own 

 stake, in the same year, previous to starting, to carry 

 51b. extra ; m. and g. allowed 31b. The win- 



