A FARMERS' RACE-MEETING 279 



Pat was descried, a View Halloa raised, and away 

 went my old terrier at racing speed followed by the 

 pack and the body of the field ! By that time I had 

 trudged about three parts of my way home. The 

 first thing I saw was Pat, tearing along and making 

 a bee-line for Park House, and quite oblivious of my 

 presence. When the master rode up he said, " Have 

 you seen the fox?" " No," I replied, "but I have 

 seen my Irish terrier making for home with his 

 brush up, and for once in his life not stopping to 

 salute his master." Pat got safely home, winning 

 the race with a goodish bit to spare, and the Craven 

 trotted off in search of just such another fox. 



' I had been repeatedly requested by the farmers 

 in the district to allow them to hold a race-meeting 

 on the Downs, and at last I consented. Not, how- 

 ever, without some apprehension as to the result. 

 However, that came off all right. But I must not 

 anticipate. It was when I had charge of Lord 

 Stamford's horses, and he was good enough to give 

 a farmers' cup to be run for. The course was laid 

 out on Cannon Heath, for I would not allow them 

 the use of my gallops. There was an extraordinary 

 entry, sixteen, and my object, since I was in it, was 

 to get them all to the post. I therefore lent them, 

 in turns, an old grey horse of mine to try theirs 

 with, and I rather think about three-fourths of the 

 competitors availed themselves of the privilege. 

 Strange to say, every one of them beat my grey, in 

 the trial, by a neck ! One of the conditions, and the 

 most important, was that they carried 12 st. 7 lb. 



