BRITISH TURF. 293 



lowing challenge, which, we need scarcely add, has 

 never been accepted, viz : — 



" I challenge any man in the w^orld, of any age, 

 weighing or carrying my weight, to ride any dis- 

 tance he prefers, from 200 to 500 miles, for 

 £20,000, but if he will only ride 200 or 250 

 miles, I will ride for £10,000. Or, I will ride 

 against the jockey of 7st. whom they talk of backing 

 to ride 200 miles in eight hours, receiving thirty 

 minutes for the difference between 7st. and list. 

 Or, I will take £10,000 to £3,000, or £20,000 to 

 £6,000, that I ride 200 miles in eight hours, 

 which, it must be allowed, would be' a wonderful 

 performance for 1 1 st. odd, and I think almost im- 

 possible ; at least, a single accident would lose the 

 match, and I should scarcely have time to mount 

 and dismount. 1 am always to be heard of at 

 Pitsford, near Northampton. 



(Signed) George Osbaldeston." 



Pitsford^ Wednesday, Nov. I6th, 1831. 



The following verses, suggested by this exploit, 

 appeared in the December number of the New 

 Sporting Magazine, to which talented periodical we 

 acknowledge ourselves considerably indebted for 

 the description of Mr. Osbaldeston's match, of 

 which it contained the fullest and most correct 

 account of the day. 



