GREAT EQUESTRIAN FEATS OF THE RACE-HORSE. 457 



kept. Mrs. Thornton used every exertion ; but finding it 

 impossible to win the race, she drew up, in a sportsmanlike 

 style, when within about two distances. 



" At the commencement of the running, bets were five 

 and six to four on the lady : in running the three first 

 miles, seven to four, and two to one in her favour. Indeed, 

 the oldest sportsman on the stand thought she must have 

 won. In running the last mile the odds were in favour of 

 Mr. Flint. 



" Never, surely, did a woman ride in better style. It is 

 difiicult to say, whether her horsemanship, her dress, or her 

 beauty, were most admired — the tout ensemble were unique. 



" Mrs, Thornton's dress was a leopard-coloured body, 

 with blue sleeves, the vest buff, and blue cap. Mr. Flint 

 rode in white. The race was run in nine minutes and fifty- 

 nine seconds. 



"Thus ended the most interesting race ever ran upon 

 Knavesmire. No words can express the disappointment felt 

 at the defeat of Mrs. Thornton. The spirit she displayed, 

 and the good humour with which she bore her loss, greatly 

 diminished the joy of many of the winners. From the very 

 superior style in which she performed her exercising gallop 

 of four miles on Wednesday, betting was greatly in her fa- 

 vour ; for the accident which happened, in consequence of her 

 saddle-girths having slackened and the saddle turning round, 

 was not attended with the slightest accident to her person, 

 nor did it in the least damp her courage ; while her horseman- 

 ship, and her close-seated riding astonished the beholders, and 

 inspired a general confidence in her success. 



" Not less than two hundred thousand pounds were pend- 

 ing upon Mrs. Thornton's match ; perhaps more, if we in- 

 clude the bets in every part of the country ; and there was 

 no part, we believe, in which there was not some. 



3n 



