DANEBURY AND THE MARES 



latterly a squadron of cavalry might have been stalled 

 where but a few years ago there was scarcely spare 

 standing-room for a hack. 



" So, merged in the fortunes of Danebury, waned 

 the renown of the Stockbridge meeting, till, with the 

 exception of the two events above referred to — the 

 Hurstbourne Stakes and Stockbridge Cup — or when 

 now and again a two-year-old of good report came 

 forth for the Mottesfont, Troy, or Champagne, the 

 races sank to the merest plating level ; but, let the 

 racing be good or bad, what man is there who, having 

 once experienced the indefinable charm of Stockbridge, 

 does not long to go there again ? For there you can 

 see races as you can nowhere else. Stands there are, 

 one for the use of the general public and one (built 

 by private subscription from a fund started in 1866 by 

 Sir John, then Colonel, Astley), the property of the 

 Bibury Club ; but stroll on to the course, and take up 

 your place where you will, either within or without the 

 enclosures, there is so much space, and such is the 

 conformation of the ground, that, from the fall of the 

 flag you shall behold, not, as is usually the case, your 

 neighbour's hat, or the fringe of a lady's parasol, but 

 every change and incident of the contest, to the final 

 struggle out of the treacherous dip to the winning- 

 post. Here, too, by those whom it interests, may be 

 watched every stage of the amateur's progress ; for 

 our most famous gentlemen-riders have graduated 

 2 c 201 



