THE TURF 133 



that there are nine good sweepstakes, a 

 king's plate, two very valuable cups, and 

 five plates at Chester, its superiority as a 

 country meeting will speak for itself. 1 



Epsom, however, ranks first after New- 

 market. It is sufficient, perhaps, to state, 

 that there were no less than one hundred 

 and fourteen colts entered for the last Derby 

 stakes, and ninety-seven fillies for the Oaks 

 their owners paying fifty sovereigns each 

 for those that started, and twenty-five for 



Escape, the property of the late Mr. Lockley, bolted 

 over the ropes, and coming in contact with an officer 

 of dragoons, Sir John Miller, who was on horseback, 

 was killed by the peak of the helmet entering his skull, 

 when on the head of the baronet^ who escaped with 

 trifling injury ! 



1 The Eaton stud now cuts but a poor figure on the 

 far-famed Roodee, as indeed, Touchstone excepted, on 

 most other courses. Mr. Clifton is no more, but his 

 memory will live at Chester for many years to come. 

 Lord Stamford and his Sir Olivers have deserted it. 

 Sir Watkin William Wynn has not a race-horse ; Mr. 

 Mytton, one of the greatest supporters of this meeting, 

 is dead. Sir Thomas Stanley is no longer ' cock of the 

 walk ' ; nor can Sir George Pigot run second. The 

 Lord Derby is no more ; and although (scripsisse pudet] 

 parson Nanny stands his ground, Sir James Boswell, 

 Messrs. Houldsworth, Giffard, Walker, Mostyn, and a 

 few more fresh competitors of the new school, have lately 

 carried most of the north-west-country honours. 



