RACES AT AYLESBURY. 95 



the middle of the race was a very stiff fence, and in it 

 was an old gateway, railed up with very strong rails, 

 which it was supposed no horse would attempt to jump. 

 The night before the race the two upper rails were sawn 

 nearly in two, so as just to hang together. This had 

 been done privately, and Jem was told to r'de full 

 swing at it, and once safely over, he would have a great 

 advantage over the rest of the field ; but the " little 

 game " was discovered, and early in the morning an extra 

 rail, doubly strong, was inserted, and the unsuspicious 

 Jem rode confidently at this obstacle. The horse struck 

 the rail, came over a tremendous cropper, and lost all 

 chance of the race. 



The fame of the Aylesbury Vale country, both as a 

 hunting and steeplechasing centre, became now firmly 

 established. The races usually took place about eleven 

 o'clock, and the turn-out of the stag about half-past 

 twelve, and after a jovial club dinner in the evening, the 

 company were generally well tired out ; but still it left 

 time for many a joke and a freak. On one occasion the 

 Marquis of Waterford brought his horse up-stairs into 

 the dining-room. Lord Jocelyn and Mr. Ricardo led 

 the horse up the garden steps, which were very steep 

 indeed, took him into the dining-room and round the 

 table, gave him some apples and biscuits, which he ate, 

 and then commenced to get him down-stairs. It was 

 useless to attempt his descent by the same stairs, so 

 steep were they, so he was led round the corridor to 

 the front staircase, which was easy of descent. The 

 floor of the passage was polished oak, and, although 

 carpeted in the middle, the horse slipped badh', and at 



