FLYING CHILDERS. 463 



It is said that Childers was first used as a hunter, where 

 he evinced high qualities, and was noted for being veiy 

 headstrong, as well as vicious ; he had not, however, any 

 restifness. It is supposed his racing career commenced at 

 ^Ye or six, and lie beat all competitors at whatever dis- 

 tance. He was never tried at running a single mile, but 

 his speed must have been a mile in a minute. Carry- 

 ing nine stone two pounds, he ran over the round course 

 at Newmarket, which is three miles six furlongs and 

 ninety-three yards, in six minutes and forty seconds. 

 He also ran over the Beacon Course, consisting of four miles 

 one furlong and one hundred and thirty-eight yards, in 

 seven minutes and thirty seconds, covering at every bound 

 a space of twenty-five feet. Childers died in the Duke oi 

 Devonshire's stud in 1741, aged 26 years. 



