SOME MEMORABLE MATCHES 331 



A.D. 1825 : There was run 'on the public road' 

 near St. Petersburg a match which has been too 

 often described to need much attention, though, 

 as Enghsh horses were engaged in it, it must not 

 be passed over entirely. Two inferior English 

 horses, Mina (son of Orville and Barrosa), five 

 years old. and Sharper (son of Octavius and 

 Young Amazon, by Gohanna), six years old, were 

 matched to run 75 versts (about 50 miles) against 

 two Cossack horses, which received an allowance 

 of about 3 St. apiece. One of the Cossack horses 

 fell dead after 25 miles; Mina went lame and 

 had to be pulled up early ; and Sharper, though 

 his rider lost a stirrup and had to ride several 

 miles with only one, was an easy winner, and left 

 the other Cossack to be ' pulled in with ropes,' it 

 is said. 



A.D. 1826 : On April 17, at the Haigh Park, 

 Leeds, Captain Polhill, King's Dragoon Guards, 

 is recorded (weight unknown) the winner, with 

 4 hours and 55 minutes to spare, of a bet that 

 he would walk 50 miles, drive 50 miles, and ride 

 50 miles within 24 consecutive hours. He varied 

 his mode of progression ; walking, driving, and 

 riding as he felt ' so dispoged.' And in November 



