Mr. E. C. Burton 



Going to Chrlstchurch in 1845, Mr. Burton rowed No. 2 in 

 the Oxford boat in the race with Cambridge in 1846. In 1847 

 he was elected President of the Oxford University Boat Club, 

 and in 1857 he trained and steered the Oxford crew at Henley 

 when they won the Challenge Cup. 



In i860, the long-talked-of Grand National Hunt Steeple- 

 chase was run for the first time over the Market Harborough 

 course, there being an enormous attendance. The conditions 

 were as follows : " The Grand National Hunt Steeplechase of 

 10 sovs. each, with 500 added, for horses that have never won 

 before the day of starting. Twelve stone each. P'our miles." 



No fewer than thirty-one horses faced the starter. Bride- 

 groom, the property of B. J. Angell, popularly known as 

 " Cherry" Angell, and the mount of Mr. E. C. Burton, being 

 favourite at 5 to i. The issue was never for a moment in 

 doubt, as Bridegroom held a good position throughout, and 

 won in a canter at last by twenty lengths ; Freshman, 

 belonging to Charlie Symonds, the famous Oxford horse dealer, 

 and ridden by Mr. Langton, being second, and Mr. Garden's 

 Liberator, the mount of Alec Goodman, third. 



It is worthy of mention that in the course of the afternoon 

 the celebrated queen of the Demi-monde, familiarly known as 

 •' Skittles," an accomplished and fearless horsewoman, dis- 

 tinguished herself by jumping the brook in cold blood, to the 

 great admiration of those who witnessed the feat. 



The following year, owing to a split in the cabinet, there 

 were two Grand National Hunt Steeplechases, one at Chelten- 

 ham, and the other, which took place a week later, at Market 

 Harborough, as before. 



The former — of which the " Steeplechase Calendar " takes 

 no official notice, though a great success locally — was won by 

 ** Mr. Edwards " (George Ede), on the Freshman, the second at 



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