274 REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 



brown, The Abbot, winning in capital style. Mrs. Ryves 

 was on a very big jumper, but he ran down most of his 

 fences, whereas The Abbot never put toe on twig. Seven 

 entered for the men's jumping conpetition and again a horse 

 of Harry Abbott's called Jehoshaphat, cleverly steered by Mr. 

 Milton, won ; Hamish Walker second and poor Sammy Ayres 

 third. Hamish Walker appropriated the prize for jumping 

 ponies, and this enthusiastic young sportsman heartily de- 

 served credit for the excellent and steady schooling he gave his 

 fine string of hunters. All jumped temperately and cleverly and 

 none of their mouths were spoilt ; Mr. Godbold gained second 

 honors. Then came the Arithmetic Stakes which the favor- 

 ite won in a walk. Few sweet girl graduates could beat Miss 

 Green in quick calculation, and this clever young lady has won 

 some four prizes in events of this sort. Mr. Ayres rode in 

 great form, Miss Bell was second. The Ladies' Trotting race 

 was a bit spoilt by most of the horses breaking. Mrs. Barrow 

 rode very quietly and won by a street, but it was nearly dark 

 as she passed the winning post so the rest of the events were 

 postponed to the next day. Mr. Ayres nominated by his sister 

 Mrs. Llewhellin was the winner of the Cheeroot and Umbrella 

 Race, and then came the event of the meeting, a side saddle 

 race for callow young gallants to be dressed in female 

 costume on the course by ladies, ride round a stick at the dis- 

 tance post and home again ; the Tartlets were most carefully 

 arrayed by their fair nominators in those garments so jealously 

 kept to themselves by the daughters of Eve. Miss Springfield 

 when dressed by Mrs. Ruxton did not give the idea of being 

 quite the class of Lady Clara Vere de Vere, while her com- 

 plexion certainly warranted the assumption that she laced 

 tightly and suffered from indigestion, moreover she leered in 

 a most unladylike way at the gentlemen onlookers, and the 

 way she leapt into the saddle without any assistance, seemed 

 to point to her having been brought up to the circus business, 



