CHAPTER XII 



AROUND EPSOM AND LEATHERHEAD 



On a misty day in December when I looked up 

 Mickleham, more fog was on the high land than 

 in the valley through which the Mole flows, by 

 hook or by crook, presenting, as it can, the 

 anomaly of superficially stagnant pools, and 

 almost dry stony shallows, between little water- 

 falls. A fine hunting ground for the student of 

 old Epsom racing is this, right along from and 

 including Leatherhead to nearly Dorking. 

 Horses trained at a distance from Epsom used 

 to be quartered for quite long visits and galloped 

 on Mickleham Downs, not so long ago very 

 beautiful going. John Scott was very fond of 

 the district, and so were many Northerners 

 before the railway days. I forget whether there 

 was local connection between Mickleham and the 

 dead-heat for the Blue Riband, which, being- run 

 off, saw Cadland beat The Colonel ; but in the 

 village you find the contest spiritedly depicted 

 one side of the inn's signboard, and on the other 

 the winner alone, his jockey in light blue and 

 dark blue sleeves. I know no country anywhere 

 more beautiful than this dale or the overlooking 

 ranges in summer, nor a lovelier playground than 



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