BeIvVoir Hunt. 15 



In April, 1874, owing to some questionable 

 proceedings the year before, heats for the 

 Farmers' Race at Croxton Park were abolished, 

 and a Hurdle Race of two miles and a half 

 substituted. This was won by Mr. Allen's 

 ^' Mayflower," a handsome brown mare, notice- 

 able in the hunting field for her agreeable 

 manners and good temper. 



It was somewhat before this that Steeple- 

 chases were held on the Lincolnshire side 

 near Grantham. The first meeting I re- 

 collect comprised only one race, run parallel 

 with the old North-road at the foot of Gonerby 

 Hill. The competitors, about seven in 

 number, ran four miles, starting below 

 Foston, and were told to make the best of 

 their way up to Gonerby. The course was 

 flagged, a real stiff one, with rough wild 

 fences and two natural brooks, and demanded 

 bold and big jumpers. On this occasion 

 " Peter Simple," a grey gelding by " Arbutus," 

 ridden by his owner, Tom Walker, made an 

 example of the field, winning by a quarter 

 of a mile. The horse was bred in Lincoln- 

 shire, but did little good till he came into 



