Mr. John Solloway 



black-and-white flag was placed in a tree, and thence to the 

 finish the flags were to be kept on the left. Quitting the road 

 was a fence on a high bank, and this was a regular poser. 

 The line continued through a few small enclosures, skirted 

 the first part of the common, entered it from the corner of 

 the field and forward into a half-mile over flat turf. There 

 must have been upwards of thirty fences, but the only severe 

 obstacles were the two at the beginning into the green lane 

 and that out of the Harpenden Road. 



The race, which was a most sporting affair throughout, 

 took place on the last day of February, 1837, the usually sleepy 

 town of St. Albans being crowded with visitors as full as it 

 could hold for the occasion. Prince Paul Esterhazy arrived 

 a little before twelve o'clock In his open carriage and four, 

 accompanied by Count Waldsteine, Lord Claude Hamilton, and 

 others. A little before two o'clock the riders were all in their 

 saddles, and on entering the starting fields Tommy Coleman, 

 who was accompanied by Mr. Delme Radcliffe, Mr. S. Smith, 

 Mayor of St. Albans (which, small though it was, had the 

 reputation of being the most corrupt borough in England), and 

 the Esterhazy party, pointed out the flags and gave the direction 

 of the ground, which was not shown to them. 



The following is the list of starters — sixteen in all : — 



Mr. Anderson's . . Splendour (Mr. Solloway). 



Capt. Spicer's . . Spicy (Capt. Becher). 



Mr. Drake's . . . Speculation, 

 n.s. (Mr. Anderson's) 



