540 THE HORSE. 



winner, which he does by the colour worn by the rider, which 

 is handed to him before starting. He does not, as in other 

 places, superintend the weighing of the jockeys, or take any 

 cognizance of them in the race ; and he rarely even sees the 

 horses till they come upon the course. Betting-posts are 

 placed at suitable places, to which the sportsmen resort after 

 each race, to make their bets for the following one ; and the 

 process of offering, taking, and booking bets, is performed 

 with a quickness, regularity, aud decision, which cannot be 

 surpassed. As only half an hour elapses between each race, 

 the interest and excitement of the scene never flag. By the 

 time of starting, the eager crowd that had surrounded the 

 betting-post disperse, as if by a common impulse, some gal- 

 loping to the starting-post, some placing themselves where 

 the ultimate struggle of the horses is expected to take place, 

 and some surrounding the Judge's chair, where they can 

 soonest learn the momentous issue. All has an air of busi- 

 ness, which no other course in the kingdom presents. No 

 noisy crowds, as at the more popular meetings, fill the space, 

 and distract the attention by clamour. Rarely the number 

 of spectators exceeds 500 or 600, the majority of them on 

 horseback, and deeply engaged in the business of the day. 

 In the following morning all the bets are paid, when more 

 than L. 50,000 may change hands in an hour. The meetings at 

 Newmarket are seven in the year : first, the Craven Meet- 

 ing, so named in compliment to Lord Craven, commencing 

 on Easter Monday ; and then, at intervals of a fortnight, the 

 First and Second Spring Meetings ; then the July Meeting ; 

 then three in October, the last of which, termed the Hough- 

 ton, is more numerously attended than any of the others. 



Next in rank to Newmarket for its races is Epsom, situ- 

 ated about fifteen miles south-west from London, on the 

 verge of the Banstead Downs. Upon the open space formerly 

 stood an ale-house, called the Oaks, which was purchased by 

 General Burgoyne, and fitted up for a hunting-seat. It was 

 sold to the Earl of Derby, one of the most perfect sportsmen of 



