Gentlemen Riders 



his own over a country, in any company, whether amateur or 

 professional. 



In 1845, the Grand Military meeting, which had become an 

 accomplished fact four years previously, was held at Brixworth, 

 about nine miles from Northampton, the reason given for 

 running it to such a distance from the town being the manner in 

 which the riders were mobbed by the shoemakers at the brook 

 and the principal fences the previous year. The conditions 

 were, "A sweepstakes of 10 sovereigns each, half forfeit, for 

 horses the property of and to be ridden by officers in full pay 

 of the Army, 1 2 st. 7 lbs. each, the second to save his stake and 

 receive a bonus, and the winner to give six dozen of champagne 

 to the dinner held afterwards." The distance was three miles, 

 and there were fifty-three subscribers. There were twenty 

 runners and no end of disaster, and as nearly all of what 

 were left of the field came to grief in some shape or form at 

 the brook, the race from that point was reduced to a match 

 between Boxkeeper, ridden by Captain Colls, and Regalia, the 

 mount of Captain Powell. 



Both were pretty well beat, and Captain Powell making for 

 a gap in the fence into the winning field, thereby losing 

 ground, his adversary, who had kept a straight line, just 

 managed to win by a neck, it being hard to say which was 

 in the worse plight, horse or rider. 



The following year the Grand Military meeting was held 

 at Leamington, the stewards accepting the offer of the 

 Warwick race committee, who gave the use of the stand and 

 course in consideration of the benefit the town might derive 

 from it. 



The weather was shocking, rain falling all the time, but 

 there was a large company present, including the Duke — 

 then Prince George — of Cambridge, Prince Edward of Saxe 



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