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pony by overriding it, not being accustomed to this sort of 

 thing, and had a narrow escape from being prosecuted by the 

 " Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals." 



There are a number of sporting events which have occurred 

 in connection with the L. and R Hunt and its members 

 I think, in 1859, Mr. J. Houldsworth made a bet that he 

 would jump four of his horses over a five foot stone wall. 

 The place chosen was a wall on the Knapps muir, and 

 Harrison had the hounds out on purpose to encourage the 

 horses. Harrison rode the "Return," and cleared it splendidly. 

 Mr. Ryan (now Mr. H., trainer at Newmarket) next went at 

 it on the " Niger," but hit it with his hind feet, and had 

 another try, but refused twice. Each horse had three trials. 

 Ryan then mounted " Frenzie." He hit it the first time 

 slightly, the next time he dropped his hind legs, and went 

 bang through the wall, cutting himself badly. "Perfection" 

 now had to try; he hit the wall with his knees; the second 

 trial he refused; but the last time, Mr. Thyne giving him a 

 lead, he cleared it in splendid style (Ryan up). As the match 

 was 4 to win, and 2 to half, it was a draw. 



A good many private steeple-chases used to take place in 

 former days. A match came off at Houston between Mr. 

 Morrison's " Ballinasloe," and Dr. Grey's " Lucy Long," 

 owners up, when Mr. Morrison won. Another cross country 

 event was run at Kilmarnock, between Mr. Lumsden's 

 "Trotty Veck" and "Ballinasloe." In this instance "Trotty" 

 won, " Luc}^ Long" third, A steeple-chase also took place 

 over a stiff bit of country at the Mearns muir, between Mr. Wm. 

 Campbell's chestnut and a horse belonging to Mr. Tliorburn. 

 Mr. A. Clapperton laid off the ground. We had a bit of fun 

 one New-Year' s-D ay at Carmunnock, when a number of the 

 right sort assembled to witness a race between Mr. Allan 

 Scott's long-legged bay, with Mr. William Alston up, and Mr. 

 James Morrison's short-legged bay, owner up. The betting 

 was in favour of Mr. Alston, biit going the wrong side of a 

 post he had to go back, and Mr. Morrison won easily. The 

 first steeple I recollect seeing was an " impromptu" affair got 



