1773 THE MISTERS 101 



(of whom Patrick was created a Baronet in 1772) were 

 signatories of documents issued by the Jockey Club in 

 1770 and 1771, and Patrick was a subscriber to the 

 Jockey Club Cup in 1768. It is pretty certain that 

 Patrick and Christopher Blake were brothers, and 

 they were among the most memorable breeders, 

 owners, and runners of racehorses. To Mr. Christopher 

 belonged the legendary Firetail (bred, however, by 

 the ' mad ' Lord Orford, by Squirrel), when that 

 descendant of the flying Pegasus won the match with 

 the equally legendary Pumpkin (belonging to the Hon. 

 Mr. Foley, but bred by the celebrated Mr. John Pratt, 

 of Askrigg, a member of the Jockey Club), when the 

 pair are said to have covered the E.M. (which should 

 have been a distance of one mile and one yard at that 

 time) in ' one minute four seconds and a half (per- 

 haps arising out of the misprinting of the figures, 

 1 41^) ; a fact which, if it were really accomplished, 

 would go far to render probable the ' mile in a minute ' 

 once attributed to Flying Childers (but never authenti- 

 cated, and, in modern times, relegated to the domain 

 of fiction and 'seven-league boots'), and would put 

 the performances of Prince Charlie, the roaring ' King 

 of the T.Y.C.,' and of all our modern ' flyers ' (though 

 bred, it is a common complaint, for mere speed at 

 the risk of inferior stamina) into impenetrable shade. 

 This match, after which Firetail was purchased by 

 Mr. Foley, led to the promulgation of the Order of 

 the Jockey Club (1773), ' that all Betts between 



