CLEVELAND BAYS. 257 



for, whilst it is questionable if he ever rode to 

 hounds in his life. 



John Kirby and "Flora" are almost inseparable 

 terms. ''Flora" was bred in 1872 by Mr. James 

 Bilton, of Mowthorpe, near Castle Howard, and 

 is by The Earl, dam by The Aristocrat, grandam 

 by Hopeful ; the two former being Yorkshire 

 coach horses and the latter a Cleveland Bay. 

 She is a ver}^ stylish mare, and notwithstanding 

 her sixteen years is fresh on her legs. She is 

 also a very nice mover, and has plenty of bone 

 as well as quality. Her prize record is an ex- 

 ceptionally good one, for she has won twdce at 

 Royal and four times at the Yorkshire, and has 

 made a pretty clean sweep of the principal prizes 

 all over the country. She has also been second 

 once at the Royal and twice at the Yorkshire 

 Agricultural Society's Shows. With such a record 

 as this, her other victories seem insignificant, but 

 there are some notable wins amongst them ; to 

 wit, at Malton in 1876, and the Durham County 

 at Sunderland in the same year ; and at Man- 

 chester in 1879. 



Her win at Huddersfield in a big class in 1888 

 when sixteen years old w^as a remarkable perform- 

 ance. It was wonderful how new she looked and 

 with what force she went when she was run out, 

 and the admirers of the Yorkshire Coach horse 

 who were assembled round the ring expressed 

 their pleasure at seeing their old favourite in such 

 s 



