HISTORY OF HORSE-RACING. 27 



Immediately after proposals were made on both sides to an 

 enormous amount, and accepted ; and it has been asserted thai 

 there was more money betted upon this event than was ever 

 before known, some gentlemen staking not only all the casli 

 they were able to advance, but their property also. 



At length the important hour arrived for the determination 

 of this great event, and each party was flushed with success ; 

 the south county gentlemen observing to those of the north 

 that ' they would bet them gold whilst gold they had, and 

 then they would sell their land.' The horses started, and the 

 race was won by Merlin, about the same distance as in the 

 secret trial. In a short time after the truth became known. 

 Merlin was ridden by Jerome Hare, of Cold Kirby, near 

 Hambleton. 



In consequence of several gentlemen having been entirely 

 ruined by the above event, a law was soon afterwards passed 

 by the legislature against the recovery of any sum of money 

 exceeding ten pounds, betted or laid between any parties for 

 the future. A gentleman who visited Newmarket in the reign 

 of Queen Anne, and afterwards published his remarks, gives the 

 following account of the doings there in his day : 



Being there in October I had the opportunity to see the horse- 

 races and a great concourse of the nobility and gentry, as well 

 from London as from all parts of England ; but they were all so 

 intent, so eager, so busy upon the sharping part of the sport, their 

 wagers, their bets, that to me they seemed just so many horse- 

 coursers in Smithfield ; descending the greatest of them, from 

 their high dignity and quality, to the picking of one another's 

 pockets, and biting one another with as much eagerness, as it may 

 be said they acted without respect to faith, honour, or good 

 manners. 



There was Mr. Frampton, the oldest, and, as they say, cunningest 

 jockey in England. One day he lost 1,000 gs., the next he won 

 2,000, and so alternately. He made as light of throwing away 500/. 

 or 1,000/. at a time as other men do of their pocket-money, and 

 was perfectly calm, cheerful, and unconcerned when he had lost a 

 thousand pounds as when he won it. On the other side there was 

 Sir F. Ragg, of Sussex, of whom fame says he has the most in him 



