BEGINNINGS OF REAL RACING AND GENEALOGIES OF RLOOD STOCK. 115 



there are due, so that the meeting of 1681 was far from being the first of its kind 

 upon that course. 







Another town which began racing at this time, and not only preserved its popu- 

 larity longer than Bibury, but became the scene of the most famous struggle in the 

 world, was Epsom. Mr. Secretary Pepys knew and loved the town well, especially 

 Lord Berkeley's place, the Durdans, " where I have been very merry when I was a 

 little boy." In May, 1663, he regrets his inability to attend a "great thronging at 

 Banstead Downs, upon a great horserace and footrace." In July he could only just 



Captain ApplcynrtVs " Raid Charlotte" foaled in Rlack Ilatnbleton about 1720. 



get a small room for himself and his companion to sleep in, as " Rpsum" was crowded 

 with people. But the twenty coaches which filled the Ring were not come for the 

 races that day. His next sentence reveals the medicinal secrets of their presence. 

 " Up & to the Wells, where great store of citizens, which was the greatest part of 

 the company, tho' there were some others of better quality. I met many that I knew, 

 and we drank each of us two pots . . . and so rode through Epsum the whole town 

 ouer seeing the various companys that were there walking ; which was very pleasant 

 to see how thev are there without knowing almost what to do, but only in the 



