OTHER COUNTRY MEETINGS 151 



Brighton Races were popularised by George IV., and 

 considering that the course is absolutely the worst in the 

 kingdom, it is wonderful that any of the popularity is left. 

 At present two meetings, one in early summer — called the 

 Spring Meeting — and one in August, are held, and the 

 programme at the latter fixture includes several events that 

 are well worth winning, notably the Brighton Stakes, 

 Brighton Cup, and Brighton Handicap, each of the adver- 

 tised value of ;i^500. It is, however, not possible to speak 

 of Brighton Races at present with much satisfaction, and to 

 tell the truth the place has had a bad name for many years 

 past. It is to be hoped that the efforts of the town 

 authorities will meet with success, and that in future visitors 

 to the Race Hill will not be annoyed by the presence of 

 roughs and pickpockets, who have for long enough made the 

 place a happy hunting ground, and caused Brighton to be 

 a capital place to live out of during the race week. The 

 long course, used at present for the Town Plate, is one 

 mile seven furlongs and forty-four yards, and is rather in the 

 shape of an equilateral triangle. The first quarter of a mile 

 is flat, then comes a gradual rise of half a mile, followed by 

 a descent of about five furlongs, part of which is very steep 

 indeed. From the dip there is another rise to the winning- 

 post, and perhaps there is more up and down than in any 

 other course which can be named. Still, all the races of 

 five and six furlongs, and even those of a mile, are started 

 where the ground is falling, therefore a quick beginner with 

 a nice turn of speed often secures a great advantage. On 

 the whole the short courses are very like those at Epsom, 

 and this is confirmed by the fact that the same horses often 

 win at both places. Not so many years ago the Brighton 

 Cup used to be a race of considerable importance, and such 

 celebrities as Border Minstrel, Isonomy, Pageant, Marie 

 Stuart, and Favonius are on its roll of winners ; but lately 

 it has been a mile handicap for three-year-olds, and in its 

 new form it does pretty well, though of course its ancient 

 prestige has departed. 



Lewes, on the other hand, is just about as prosperous as 

 any South of England fixture. It has spring, summer, and 



