Colonel TTbomas Ubornton 79 



course against Captain Flint. There was such an enor- 

 mous crowd to witness the match that a squadron of the 

 6th Light Dragoons was requisitioned to keep the ground. 

 It was the first time in the annals of the Turf that a 

 woman had ever been matched to ride a race in public, 

 and there was a general belief that " the sporting Mrs. 

 Thornton " would ride, man-fashion, in buckskin breeches 

 with jockey's cap and jacket. When, therefore, Alicia 

 appeared on her horse Zingrello, led by Colonel Thornton, 

 it was with considerable disappointment that the excited 

 spectators discovered that she was wearing a lady's habit 

 (leopard-coloured body with blue sleeves and buff skirt), 

 whilst her luxuriant curls were confined beneath a close- 

 fitting cap of blue velvet. She was a very handsome 

 blonde, with a remarkably fine figure which her riding- 

 dress set off to perfection. Captain Flint was attired 

 entirely in white. Alicia took the lead and kept it for 

 three miles, but then her horse unfortunately fell lame. 

 The Captain, who was many lengths behind, came up 

 hand over hand, and, passing his fair rival, cantered in an 

 easy winner. Alicia was furious. She declared that 

 Captain Flint had behaved in the most ungallant and 

 discourteous manner. Apparently she thought that he, as 

 a gentleman, was bound to pull up when he found that 

 her horse had fallen lame. But this was a little too much 

 to expect in a match for 1,500 guineas, with thousands 

 of pounds in bets depending on the result. Alicia 

 challenged her conqueror to a second encounter, but 

 he was so annoyed by the remarks in her published 

 letter that he declined to have anything more to say 

 to her. 



