404 APPENDIX. 



MATCHEM. 



(WINNER OF THE JOCKEY CLUB PLATE AT 

 NEWMARKET, 1756, & .) 



MATCHEM, a bay horse by Cade, was bred in 1748, by Mr. John Holme, of 

 Carlisle, and was the third produce of Sister to Miss Partner (likewise dam of 

 Miss Roundhead by Roundhead, Changeling by Cade, c.), who was bred in 

 1731 by Mr. Crofts, of Barforth, Yorkshire. Matchem, who was purchased by 

 Mr. William Fenwick, of Bywell, Northumberland, ran his first race at York in 

 1753, for the Great Subscription purse of 160 guineas for five-year-olds, which 

 he won, beating Mr. Shafto's Barforth Billy by Forester and Mr. Watson's Bold 

 by Cade ; and the same year he won a Plate of 5o/. at Morpeth, beating Mr. 

 Shafto's Blameless. In 1754 Matchem won the Ladies' Plate of 126 guineas, 

 four mile heats at York, beating Sedbury in two smartly contested heats ; and 

 he also won the Ladies' Plate of 80 guineas at Lincoln, in two heats, from the 

 Duke of Ancaster's Martin and Mr. Smith's Skim ; while at Morpeth he walked 

 over for a 5o/. Plate. In 1755 Matchem won the 5o/. Plate, for syrs. 8st. 7lb., 

 6 yrs. and aged 9 St., at Newmarket, over the Beacon Course, beating Mr. 

 Bowies' Trajan by Regulus. The race was run in 7 min. 20 sec. , carrying 8 st. 

 7lb. each, and two others were distanced. Trajan showed the better speed, but 

 was unable to maintain it owing, it was thought, to his indifferent condition ; 

 consequently, on Mr. Fenwick offering to run Matchem for the Whip in the 

 following April, against any horse in the world, Mr. Bowles accepted the 

 challenge with Trajan. The pair met accordingly on April n, 1756, for a 

 sweepstakes of 200 guineas each and the whip 10 st. each, over the Beacon 

 Course. Matchem, who was ridden by John Singleton, permitted Trajan, who 

 was a fretful pulling horse, to make the running, and he held such a long lead 

 over the Flat, that 5 to i was betted on him ; but at the Turn of the Lands 100 

 to i was betted on Matchem, who there had managed to close with his antago- 

 nist, and finally won easily. But notwithstanding his defeat, Sir Richard 

 Grosvenor gave 250 guineas for Trajan immediately after the race. Matchem 

 was subsequently beaten that year by Spectator for the Jockey Club Plate, but 

 won the Plate of 60 guineas at Newcastle, beating Drawcansir and Full Moon. 

 In 1758 Matchem again ran for the Jockey Club Plate, which was decided in 

 one heat, the Stewards having so ordered it, owing to the difficulty of placing 

 the horses in the previous year an arrangement, however, that failed to prevent 

 the usual heavy wagering on their placing. The race was won with great 

 difficulty by Mirza by the Godolphin, Matchem second, Jason third, Feather 

 fourth, and Forester last. Feather was the favourite at evens, 6 to 4 against 

 Jason, 6 to i against Mirza, and 10 to i against Matchem. Immense sums 

 were won on Mirza, and also on Matchem being placed second, respecting 

 which it was observed ' that the friends of Matchem not only combed the 

 Golden Fleece, but dressed the Feathers very handsomely.' Matchem only 

 started once subsequently viz., at Scarborough, where he won the 5o/. Plate, 

 9 st. each, beating Foxhunter and Sweetlips. In 1763 Matchem was put to the 

 stud, and became the leading sire in the north of England. He at first covered 

 at the low fee of 5 guineas, which was raised in 1765 to 10 guineas, and in 1770 

 to 20 guineas. In 1775 his fee was further increased to 50 guineas for twenty 

 five mares, besides a few belonging to his owner, Mr. Fenwick, who is believed 

 to have realised i7,ooo/. by Matchem's services as a sire. The progeny of 

 Matchem won on the turf, during the twenty-three years they were running, 

 151,0977. Space does not permit the enumeration of his numerous distinguished 

 progeny. 



