314 HORSE-RACING IN ENGLAND 



beaten by Hermit. Of course, it is just possible 

 that Surprise suffered more than Hermit in the 

 previous race ; but to discover that the latter had 

 more to be got out of him than the former, and to 

 get it out, is just what the professional would 

 probably have been good for. 



A.D. 1784 : According to a letter dated ' Lewes, 

 August 2, 1784,' George P., afterwards George 

 IV., being then twenty-two years of age, 'at 

 seven o'clock on Monday morning . . . mounted 

 his horse at Briojhthelmstone and rode to and 

 from London that day . . . and was only 10 

 hours on the road, being four and a half going, 

 and five and a half returning.' A hundred and 

 twelve miles in 10 hours on the same horse, 

 apparently. Good for ' Florizel.' 



A.D. 1786: On December 4 (.f* 29), at Newmarket, 

 Mr. Hull's brown horse Quibbler (foaled 1780 

 by Minor, dam by Sampson), 'carrying a feather' 

 (that is a boy weighing about 4 st. 7 lb.) 'was 

 engaged to run 23 miles within the hour, which 

 he performed in 58 {} 57) minutes and 10 seconds.' 

 The match was for 1,000 guineas : 5 to 2 on 

 Quibbler. It is said that the little jockey 'did 

 not appear to be in the least tired,' and that 'con- 



