346 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



CHAPTER V. 



EARLY HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH RACE-COURSE, RACE-HORSE, ETC. 



We now come to speak of the English 

 Racer, and of the Course, which has been so 

 long the peculiar pursuit and amusement of 

 the English people. We shall proceed to give 

 an early account of the Course, which will 

 enable our readers to draw a comparisou be- 

 tween the present and the olden time : — 



RACING. 



It has been customary, says a Chester anti- 

 quary (the elder Randal Holme, one of the 

 city heralds), time out of mind, upon Shrove 

 Tuesday, for the Company of Saddlers of 

 Chester to present to the drapers a wooden 

 ball, embellished with flowers, and placed 

 upon the point of a lance. 



Mr. Lysons, in his " Magna Brittania," 

 mentions some old articles of a race for two 

 bells among the Corporation records, the 

 earliest date of which was 1512. 



This ceremony was performed in the pre- 

 sence of the Mayor, at the cross in the Roody, 

 an open place, near the city ; but this year, 

 1540, continues Holme, the ball was changed 

 into a silver bell, valued at three shilling-s and 

 sixpence, or more, to be given to him who 

 shall run the best and furthest on horseback 



before them on the same day, Shrove Tues- 

 day. 



In 1610, Mr. Robert Ambrye or Araory, 

 ironmonger, Sheriff" of the City of Chester, at 

 liis own cost, did cause three silver bells to be 

 made of good value, which bells he appointed 

 to bo run for with Horses, " upon St. George's 

 day, upon the Roode Dee, from the new tower 

 to the netes, there torning to run up to the 

 Watergate, that horse which come first there 

 to have the beste bell ; the second to have the 

 seconde bell for that year, putting in money 

 and shuerties to deliver in the bells that day 

 twelvemonth." The other bell was run for on 

 the same day upon the like conditions. These 

 trophies were taken to the Course with much 

 pomp and ceremony. Chester races are now 

 held the first week in May, which comes as 

 near the original time (old St. George's day) 

 as possible. 



These bells were denominated St. George's 

 Bells, and in the last year of Jas. I. (1634-5,) 

 John Brereton, inn-keeper. Mayor of Chester, 

 first caused the Horses entered for this race, 

 then called St. George's race, to start from the 

 point beyond the new tower, and appointed 

 them to run five times round the Roodv ; and 



