OTHER COUNTRY MEETINGS 153 



of a dozen races attracted only fifty-two horses, and it is 

 hardly probable that there will be a resuscitation. 



Salisbury Races, though of considerable antiquity, have 

 never held a high place amongst the country meetings, but 

 now that the Bibury Club have chosen Salisbury for their 

 new headquarters the meetings may acquire further im- 

 portance. The course is on down land, and has a fairly 

 good, though twisting, two miles, which in a measure 

 resembles the course used for the Metropolitan Stakes at 

 Epsom. There is also a straight mile, and portions of this 

 course are requisitioned for the sprint races. About the 

 Salisbury programmes in the past little need be said. They 

 appealed to platers, and the runners were principally drawn 

 from local stables. What changes the advent of the Bibury 

 Club will cause remains to be seen. For forty years this club 

 fixture had been affiliated with Stockbridge Races, which 

 were held in 1898 for the last time. The Bibury Club and 

 Stockbridge between them succeeded in carrying out a very 

 pretty three-days' meeting, the first day of which was under 

 the auspices of the Bibury Club, while the two remaining 

 days were the Stockbridge Meeting proper. Two-year-old 

 events of considerable value were the real feature of the 

 meeting, the Champagne Stakes and Bibury Club Junior 

 Home-bred Stakes figuring on the card of the club day, 

 while the Mottisfont Stakes, the Stockbridge Foal Stakes, 

 and the Hurstbourne Stakes (the richest prize of the meeting) 

 were run on the second and third days. Another good race 

 at the club meeting was the Hampshire Stakes for three- 

 year-olds, and for this, we take it, is substituted the Pembroke 

 Stakes of 10 each with 400 added. In any circumstances 

 it is not likely that the change of venue will in any way 

 harm the Bibury Club, and it is further quite certain that 

 Salisbury Races will become a much more important fixture 

 than they have been in the past. The Bibury Club is 

 immensely popular amongst the patrician contingent of 

 racehorse - owners, and election thereto is eagerly sought. 

 The club maintains its character for exclusiveness, and 

 heart-burnings are occasionally caused after the deadly 

 black ball has been at work. Primarily the object of the 



