60 ASHGILL. 



the last century, and early in the present one, 

 meetings were held pretty regularly there, and 

 some important stakes were run for. Naturally 

 the competitors were principally trained in the 

 neighbourhood, but the Marquis of Queensbury 

 occasionally sent one from Newmarket, and the 

 meeting was well patronised by the Duke of 

 Hamilton, Loi-d Strathmore, Lord Darlington, 

 Sir H. Williamson, Sir J. Lawson, and other 

 north country sportsmen.* 



In 1801 rather a curious event occurred in a 

 £50 plate which was run in three mile heats. 

 After running three heats Mr. Fletcher's Alle- 

 granti won, but the horses Jiad run another heat 

 which the Stewards declared void. Three of the 

 competitors had gone on the wrong side of a post, 

 and the evidence was not very satisfactory as to 

 whether the other two had not done so as well ; 

 and, consequently, Allegranti had twelve miles 

 to gallop for his £50 plate. 



A similar circumstance happened twenty-one 

 years later. Seven horses ran for a two-mile 

 race, and five out of the seven went the wrong- 

 side of a post. Mr. Baker's Jenny Horner came 

 in first, and Mr. Ferguson's Jem Horner was 

 second. Then a dispute arose as to whether 

 Jenny Horner had gone on the wrong side of a 



=:= Amongst other good liorsos that ran at Mitldlcham was 

 Doctor Syntax, who won the Gold Cup, value 100 guineas, in 

 1815. 



