172 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



party, the well-known stamina of his horse, and the fact 

 of his being steered by the " Prince of Steeplechase 

 Riders," giving them every confidence. Mr. Yevers, 

 the owner of Vainhope, was also pretty sure of victory, 

 as in addition to his horse's brilliant fencing he had an 

 extraordinary turn of speed, and his trainer, Bradshaw, 

 was equally confident, if only the horse could be kept 

 on his legs. About a mile from the finish, I was 

 standing with Bradshaw, and as Vainhope passed he 

 was lying second and going strong and well, but 

 throwincr his head about and sprinklins: his sides and 

 neck with white foam. I said, " The horse seems 

 beaten." Bradshaw answered, "That's just what I want 

 him to look ; so long as he can do that he's all right. 

 He is a very free sweater, and in tip-top condition, 

 and so long as he can perspire freely he can never be 

 beaten." The result proved how true this opinion was. 



The race took over twenty-two minutes to run ; and 

 as some doubt was expressed as to the distance, the 

 riders saying they were sure it was over four miles, 

 Messrs. Hall and Baker, who in conjunction with myself 

 had laid out the course, measured it then and there, 

 when we found it to have been over five miles and a 

 half. It was therefore in length almost unprecedented ; 

 the fences were in a perfectly natural state, uncut, and 

 only marked here and there with a single flag : never 

 before or since has such a race been run, for after this 

 time more care has been taken to measure the course 

 correctly. 



It should be mentioned, as a remarkable circumstance, 

 and as an instance of what a really good steeplechaser 



