154 SPORTING STORIES 



consoled himself by saying he had made his protest, and 

 vindicated the rights of the students to enjoy a manly 

 sport. 



There was a very severe race at Aylesbury between 

 Messrs J. Allgood (Captain Barlow) and Burton, now of 

 Daventry, who rode two well-known chasers, Zanga and 

 Spangle. Approaching the last fence together, they rose 

 simultaneously and cannoned in the air. The pace they 

 were going upset both horses, and the riders were thrown 

 in opposite directions. Both were picked up insensible ; but 

 the Captain recovered after a few minutes, remounted his 

 horse, and struggled on, just managing to hang on until 

 past the post. 



A dangerous fence was thought to be absolutely necessary 

 in those days on a good steeplechase course. There was 

 generally but one race, or at the most two, in the day, and 

 those who selected the line arranged that the farmers' race 

 should start from a hill at Pitchott, about six miles from 

 the town, and should finish in a small enclosure about two 

 miles from Aylesbury. The last fence was absolutely 

 unjumpable at any time ; but after a horse had been bustled 

 along for four miles, it need not be wondered at that this 

 fence should be designated " a corker." The race was for 

 ;^ioo, given by Baron Rothschild for farmers over whose 

 lands the hounds ran. The course was only marked out 

 by an occasional flag placed in a hedge, and Lhe riders had 

 to find their way as best they could ; there was no showing 

 them over the course beforehand. It is difficult to believe 

 what a natural course was in those days, accustomed as 

 we are to the well-formed and neatly trimmed fences of 

 Kempton, Lingfield, and Sandown ; but this last fence 

 should be seen to enable men of the present day to com- 

 prehend what a cross-country horse and his rider had to 

 negotiate — which is a very expressive and proper term. 

 After the brook, they crossed a macadamised country road 

 (which had just enough ditch on each side to throw a horse 

 down), going over about two hundred yards of rough grass, 

 and arriving at the big double into the last field. First, a 

 wide ditch with a stiff fence into a wide landing-place, 

 with rotten stumps, and big elm trees growing at intervals, 



