40 HUNTING AND SFOBTING NOTES. 



days, I fear, and it will be cruel indeed if the Hunt Ball, 

 as well as its rival at Berwick, should be disappointed of 

 hunting attractions at Berwick and Atcham as a sort of 

 second course in the festive week. 



Of hunting accidents still the crop seonis to thicken. 

 Mr. Drake, in Cheshire, had a severe shaking a few days 

 ago ; and the Duchess of Westminster has been added to 

 the list of fashionable ladies who have been hung up by 

 their saddles, stirrups and riding habits having an unhappy 

 knack of refusing to part company, when their rider's lives 

 depended upon it. I am happy to hear that, in the 

 Duchess's case, her horse behaved like a Trojan, and she 

 was not dragged or kicked. Borderer is almost tempted to 

 re-produce, with slight variation, the remarks of a certain 

 '' Gentleman in Black " on ladies' habits, written twenty- 

 four years ago. If the frost continues he will certainly 

 do so. 



TWELFTH WEEK, January 11th to the 16th. 



The entries for the Spring Handicaps remind us that 

 we are past the meridian of our hunting season, and soon 

 shall be face to face wdth the March winds. As soon as 

 the weights are out we may have a prophetic peep at races 

 such as the Grand National Steeplechase. Our 

 Shrewsbury Spring Meeting is not yet published, but 

 Borderer has permission to say that, in addition to races 

 under Newmarket rules, there will be an open hunters' 

 steeplechase of at least £100 value. The Shropshire 

 Hunt Cup of 50 sovs., for farmers and tradesmen in 

 the Shropshire county, given by Mr. Lonsdale. A United 

 Hunt Cup of 70 sovs., open to residents m Shropshire, 

 Staffordshire, Cheshire, Worcestershire, or Wales. Two 

 hunters' flat races, an open hunters' steeplechase, of 70 

 sovs., and another selling hunters' steeplechase ; so that 

 there ought to be no lack of sport in the way of hunters' 

 races on the 8th and 9th of April, and we hope to see 



