OLD BUCKLE. 61 



lante or Medora — or some feat of his own consummate 

 judgment. 



His chief competitor was the well-known Dennis Fitz- 

 patrick, and against him some of Buckle's best riding was 

 called forth. In the race between Hambletonian and 

 Diamond, for 3,000 guineas, he is acknowledged to have 

 displayed the most consummate skill, and to have won the 

 race by manoeuvring between the ditch and the turn of 

 the lands, so as to have gained considerably upon his anta- 

 gonist ere they pushed up the hill, where the running of 

 the compact little horse would have been an overmatch for 

 him. And as a part of the events of that momentous day, 

 Buckle oftentimes related the following anecdote. Sir 

 Harry Vane Tempest had betted heavily on Hambletonian's 

 winning, and in proportion to the heavy sums in his book, 

 his interest in the event had deepened, and his nerves 

 became proportionably unsteady. In the deepest appre- 

 hension, and just as the horses arrived at the starting-post, 

 he approached his jockey with his last orders, (which, by 

 the bye. Buckle chose to disobey,) and to inquire yet 

 once more his opinion as to the event of the race. It was 

 then that the cool and unruffled demeanour of the man of 

 nerve, confident in his own skill and resources, re-assured 

 the Baronet, who exclaimed, as his own fevered hand 

 grasped that of Buckle, — " By G — , but I would give the 

 whole stake to be half as calm as you." 



As far as weight went, he could ride without trouble 7st. 

 101b. ; and frequently 7st. 81b., without even taking a walk. 

 His weight during the winter was 8st. 41b., which increased 

 towards the spring to 8st. 71b. In his earlier days he 

 w^eighed as much at one time as 9st. 71b., but of late years 

 had settled down to about eight stone. There was no falling 

 ofT in him — his seat remained as firm, his nerve as good, 

 his ardour as keen to the last, as at any period of his long, 



