52 HISTORY OF THE 



cap. Mr. Flint rode in white. The race was run 

 in nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds. 



" Thus ended the most interesting race ever ran 

 upon Knavesmire. No words can express the dis- 

 appointment felt at the defeat of Mrs. Thornton. 

 The spirit she displayed and the good humour with 

 which she bore her loss greatly diminished the joy 

 of many of the winners. From the very superior 

 style in which she performed her exercising gallop 

 of four miles on Wednesday, betting was greatly in 

 her favour ; for the accident which happened, in 

 consequence of her saddle girths having slackened 

 and the saddle turning round, was not attended 

 with the slightest accident to her person, nor did 

 it in the least damp her courage, while her horse- 

 manship, and her close-seated riding, astonished 

 the beholders, and inspired a general confidence in 

 her success. 



" Not less than two hundred thousand pounds 

 were pending upon Mrs. Thornton's match ; per- 

 haps more if we include the bets in every part of 

 the country, and there was no part we believe in 

 which there were not some. 



" It is but justice to observe, if the lady had been 

 better mounted she could not possibly have failed 

 of success. Indeed, she laboured under every pos- 

 sible disadvantage ; notwithstanding which, and 

 the ungallant conduct of Mr. Flint, she flew along 

 the course with an astonishing swiftness, conscious 

 of her own superior skill, and would ultimately 



