HISTORIC JOCKEYS AND A ROYAL OWNER. 381 



Volunteer, owner up. Nearly a hundred thousand persons are said to have assembled, 

 and the Sixth Light Dragoons, who were in York at the time, had to be kept on the 

 course to preserve order. Attired in a leopard-coloured bodice with blue sleeves, she 

 took the lead and kept it for three miles, after which her horse went lame, and the 

 gentleman won. There was some acrimonious correspondence, and she finally 

 challenged Brown Thornville on the same conditions next year, " against any one he 

 may choose to select out of three horses I shall hunt this season." In 1805, 

 however, we find her riding Colonel Thornton's Louise, by Pegasus, against Mr. 

 Bloomfield's Allegro, with no less a jockey than Francis Buckle himself, who was 

 made to carry 1331. 6lb. to her gst. 6lb., over two miles, for a gold cup value 700 

 guineas. On this occasion she wore a pink cap and waistcoat, nankeen skirts, 

 purple shoes, and embroidered stockings. She again took the lead, and after having 

 been passed by the famous jockey, won by half a neck. But Buckle is said to have 

 remarked afterwards that he " never had such difficulty to lose a race as that one, 

 compared with the ease of winning certain others." 



It will be a fitting continuation to this record of jockeys if I now turn to one who 

 bore the highest character of any before or since his time Francis Buckle; and in 

 doing so I gladly acknowledge the very courteous and efficient assistance rendered 

 me by the grand-daughters of this illustrious rider, by whose kindness I have been 

 enabled to give my readers the first picture ever published of his saddle and other 

 personal relics, and also to look through for their benefit many family records which 

 have not hitherto been permitted to see the light. 



Frank Buckle's Saddle. 



VOL. II. 



