-^ Reign of Queen Victoria, 1 837-1 901 



Lonsdale's Petrarch. When passing the hotel turn, Petrarch 

 attempted to stop, and made as if he would go to the 

 stables, but Cannon managed him splendidly ; and, although 

 at Swinley Bottom he was six lengths behind, fortune 

 favoured him. At this point Sugar Loaf bolted and jumped 

 the ditch, and Petrarch slipped into third place, increasing 

 his advantage, until at the bend into the straight he took 

 the lead from Skylark and Coomassie, and won easily by 

 four lengths. 



The year 1878 opened unfavourably for the Turf The 

 Marquis of Ailesbury, a good friend, and Admiral Rous, 

 the great authority on racing matters and a thorough 

 sportsman, had both joined the great majority. It was in- 

 teresting, therefore, to find there were nearly seventy entries 

 for the prize founded to commemorate the Admiral's death. 

 The race was run over the mile course, and resulted in a 

 grand contest between Petrarch and Dalham, the former 

 winning by a neck, and pulling up somewhat lame amidst 

 a furore of excitement. 



Count de Lagrange was very successful with Verneuil, 

 winning the Gold Vase, the Gold Cup, and the Alexandra 

 Plate. In the Vase he beat Lady Golightly easily, and in 

 the Cup managed to beat Silvia, who was considered a 

 "cert." Although the four starters were together at the 

 brick kilns Verneuil answered so well to the call that Goater 

 made him that he quickly took front place and won by ten 

 lengths. The Alexandra Plate was captured with as much 

 ease as the Cup. 



The rain seriously interfered with the pleasure of the 

 meeting in 1879, and the storm that raged on the Wednesday 

 morning caused much uneasiness in regard to the running. 



157 



