I70 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



nearing home, when both horses raced at a cHpping 

 pace at the brook again on the return journey, and 

 both cleared it, but the amateur was first to pass the 

 winning-post. Although Burlton pulled the scales down, 

 the decision was given however against his winning the 

 race, and the Sailor was declared the winner. 



It was after this meeting, in the next year, that 

 arrangements were made to run over the Broughton 

 country. This had been made famous as the line over 

 which the celebrated race was run in which the four 

 leading steeplechasers of the day put to the test their 

 skill as fencers, and their mettle as racers. This 

 wonderful, perhaps matchless quartet, consisted of Mr. 

 Vevers' Vainhope, four years old, Qst. lolbs., ridden by 

 William Archer, the father of the noted and still 

 lamented ''Freddy Archer"; jMr. Elmore's British 

 Yeoman, aged, list., ridden by Jem Mason ; Mr. Clark's 

 ]\Iaria Day, ridden by Frisbey, lost. 5lbs., aged ; and Mr. 

 Hassell's The Young 'Un, five years old, lost. 2lbs., 

 ridden by Tom Ablett. Five others started, all of 

 public or local celebrity, and an immense concourse of 

 spectators assembled on Broughton Farm to see these 

 animals try their best over a course such as had never 

 been crossed before. Starting in a meadow adjoining 

 the arm of the Grand Junction Canal to Aylesbury, they 

 crossed three large grass fields to a mill-stream, the take- 

 off being on a rising ground and an ugly descent for the 

 landing ; across the turnpike road out of which an 

 awkward double had to be negotiated, over steep ridge 

 and furrow grass meadows into four fields of heavy 

 plough ; then, turning to the left near to the village of 



