FAMOUS AMATEUR RIDERS 173 



distinguished themselves over this and similar 

 courses at that time. One gentleman, with whom I 

 have only lately had many a pleasing conversation 

 on those hard-riding times, is Mr. W. Beach, M.P. 

 for one of the divisions of Hampshire, a gallant 

 good sportsman, and very useful member ot Parlia- 

 ment. He had a severe accident over this course 

 whilst riding a horse called the ' Dean,' being 

 knocked over whilst turning a flag in a large grass 

 field. He was carried into my father's house in an 

 unconscious state, in which he remained for some 

 days, but then recovered, and was removed home. 

 I remember a very severe race between the rival 

 jockeys, Messrs. j. Allgood (Captain Barlow) and 

 Burton, now of Daventry, who rode two well-known 

 chasers, Zanga and Spangle. Approaching the last 

 fence into the winning field together, at a terrific 

 pace, both rose simultaneously at the fence, which 

 was a moderately cut single. They cannoned in the 

 air, and the pace they went threw both horses down, 

 the riders being flung with great force in opposite 

 directions. They were carried away insensible, and 

 the ' Captain,' after a few minutes, recovered his 

 horse, remounted, and struggled on, just managing 

 to stagger between the flags, and was declared the 

 winner. Whilst mentioning that a dangerous fence 

 was thought to be absolutely necessary in those days 

 to make a good steeple-chase course, I recall a 

 typical instance which belongs to the period before 

 I took an active part in steeple-chasing. At that 

 time there was generally but one race, or at the most 



