BANBURY STEEPLECHASE. 169 



to hold their first meeting there. This course started 

 near the County Infirmary grounds, and after passing 

 over three or four grass fields the line crossed the Bicester 

 turnpike road ; after two more grass enclosures came 

 ''The Brook," a rattling good one, about sixteen feet 

 wide, no fence on the take-offside, but fair naked water ; 

 the line then ran over a very strong country, with stiffest 

 of " buUfinchers," as far as Dr. Lee's park at Hartwell. 



The race — over seventeen riders came to the post — 

 was won by the well-known gentleman jock, familiarly 

 called Jemmy Allgood, of Brasenose College, and much 

 liked in University circles, on a mare belonging to Charlie 

 Symonds, named Freshwater; the second was Kathleen, 

 ridden by Mr. Bunney ; and then came one of my old 

 friend Joe Tollitt's string, his well-seasoned horse Valiant. 

 Joe Tollitt still lives, an octogenarian, or very near it, 

 and is young-looking and as hearty as ever, thanks to 

 the glorious old vintage port which he has always 

 patronized, and which he still thoroughly enjoys, but, I 

 must do him the justice to add, always in moderation. 



At this meeting an amusing incident occurred which 

 may be worth chronicling. A match was ridden between 

 A. W. Myers, on a mare called Clementina, and a horse 

 called Sailor. Myers, on coming near the dreaded 

 brook, fairly funked, and in the middle of the grass field 

 threw himself off his mount and left his mare to herself 

 An undergraduate named Mr. Burlton in a most plucky 

 manner rushed forward, caught the mare's bridle, vaulted 

 into the vacant saddle, sent her at a rattling pace at 

 the brook, and clearing the water-jump in splendid style, 

 rode the whole course, challenged the Sailor when 



