188 BanJcru])tGy in Arcadia. 



made, ^w the Wye races are placarded aU about London, 

 and special trains are run, and it is a real meeting. Should 

 anyone be fortunate enough to go to Wye races on a fine 

 day, he will see racing in a natural amphitheatre and some 

 of the most beautiful scenery in England, though our Wye 

 primitive races are gone ; and to betting men it is a business 

 meeting, far more attractive than the Canterbury races ever 

 were to the London world; although it is only about a 

 century ago since the Canterbury races on Harbledown were 

 preceded by a public breakfast, and were commemorated 

 also by a public dinner, with a wind-up of a '' grand main 

 of cocks " in the evening, under the patronage of the mayor 

 and corporation of the city. 



Then there were our old local hunt steeplechases, open to 

 the members of the hunt only, for horses which were ridden 

 during the year over a hondfide hunting country which had 

 been the scene of a run during the season, artificial fences 

 being barred. Those are dead and gone too. The last of 

 these which I saw was in Kent, in 1845 or thereabouts, 

 when the prizes were ten pounds for the first horse, a new 

 bridle and saddle for the second, and a silver-mounted whip 

 for the third. I know nothing about steeplechasing, but I 

 remember it was rare fun. It was purely a local meet of 

 the neighbouring farmers, and one big suttling booth 

 sufficed for all comers. 



It was a place for cordial meeting. Everybody knew 

 everbody, and a great many who entered merely did so for 

 the fun and the gallop, without any idea of winning ; and 

 it was a genuine hearty day's amusement without gambling, 

 and possibly 500 people only were present. A real local 

 sport of this kind being discontinued is a great loss, for it 

 made young fellows ambitious to acquire the noble art of 

 horsemanship, which was within their power. The sport 

 was good enough to incite a youngster to try and ride across 



