Captain '' Jack " Skipworth 



famous Will Smith, who was killed at Barnetby. Fidget was 

 a very hot-tempered mare, and took a deal of handling, and, 

 in addition, had a knack of going off occasionally at her own 

 will and pleasure. 



When Mr. Skipworth met her on the road to the course, 

 he was horrified to see an arrangement of several bits in her 

 mouth, "as much iron as would stock a blacksmith's shop," as 

 he remarked afterwards. 



" Take that bridle off and put a plain snaffle on the mare," 

 were the first words he spoke. 



'• You can't hold her in a snaffle, sir," was the reply of the 

 groom in charge. 



" I won't ride her in anything else," rejoined Mr. Skip- 

 worth. 



And that gentleman being allowed to have his own way in 

 the matter led to the happiest results, as we have seen. 



The Leicestershire folk were not very well pleased at the 

 race being taken out of their county, but on this occasion 

 the executive resolved to fix upon a new site. In addition, the 

 course being fixed on, about three miles from Rugby, was more 

 accessible than Market Harborough ; moreover, the Rugby 

 people, in anticipation of a harvest, came forward handsomely 

 with ^400 towards expenses. The fences were not very 

 formidable, which was just as well, seeing that the course, 

 owing to some heavy rain, was like a quagmire, and it 

 was with difficulty the winner reached home ; though, curiously 

 enough, all the horses negotiated the brook — which had to be 

 crossed twice — in safety. There were ten or twelve thousand 

 people present, and from the stand a very good view of the 

 racing could have been obtained, but for the number of 

 horsemen who were allowed to gallop promiscuously all over 

 the place. 



69 



