the  Society's  Meeting , 1883. 
461 
fine  in  the  bone,  and  grand  in  muscle.  A durable,  handsome 
horse  is  Mr.  Carr’s  fourteen-year-old  chestnut  “ Rattle,”  bred  by 
Sir  Tatton  Sykes,  and  well  known  in  the  Showyard.  Several  of 
the  unsuccessful  horses  would  not  have  disgraced  first  tickets. 
The  Hunter  Mare  and  Foal  Class  was  not  particularly  good. 
Mr.  Dixon’s  veteran  twenty-one  years  old  chestnut,  of  his  own 
breeding,  has  kept  together  admirably,  and  has  credit  in  getting 
second  at  such  an  age.  Her  foal  at  foot  by  “ Mapleton  ” shows 
that  her  breeding  properties  have  been  as  well  preserved  as  her 
good  looks.  Mr.  Wright’s  first,  bred  by  Mr.  Spencer,  is  a 
twelve-year-old  chestnut,  of  rare  action  and  strong  body.  The 
third  mare,  owned  by  Mr.  Nalton,  and  bred  by  Mr.  Duffitt,  is 
also  a chestnut,  well  up  in  years.  All  the  winners,  curiously 
enough,  were  of  one  colour,  and  advanced  in  age. 
Handsome  premiums  offered  by  the  Local  Committee  drew 
out  large  entries  in  nine  classes  of  Hunters,  from  heavy-weight 
matured  hunters  down  to  yearlings.  The  Judges  had  very  hard 
work,  especially  in  the  four-year-olds,  which  were  an  extra- 
ordinary class.  In  the  heavy  weights,  five  years  old  and  over, 
Mr.  Andrew  Brown  won  with  “ Waterford,”  a brown  power- 
fully-built five-year-old,  of  the  Marquis  of  Waterford’s  breeding. 
The  quality  and  sprightliness  of  this  horse  were  as  noticeable  as 
his  bone,  breeding,  and  strength  of  body.  Of  the  same  age, 
colour,  and  ownership,  was  the  second,  also  a gelding  of  fine 
quality,  and  bred  in  Ireland  by  Dr.  Nickle,  Meath.  Mr.  Brown 
exhibited  five  beautiful  hunters,  which  made  a marked  impres- 
sion on  the  critical  onlookers.  Mr.  John  Robinson’s  “ Elegant,” 
a powerful  chestnut  gelding,  also  five-year-old,  made  a close 
third.  It  too  was  bred  in  Ireland  by  Mr.  Trew,  Kildare.  In 
such  a good  class  it  is  a great  honour  to  the  Emerald  Isle  to 
have  bred  the  best  three — all  very  pretty,  and  admirably  adapted 
for  crossing  country.  Mr.  Bayly’s  fourth  is  a straight,  dashing, 
seven-year-old  black  gelding,  whose  breeder  is  unknown.  Many 
good  animals  were  beyond  the  reach  of  the  tickets. 
The  Light-weight  Hunters  were  numerous,  and  included 
several  very  clever  specimens.  A seven-year-old  chestnut  gelding 
of  Major  Thwaites  was  popularly  first,  being  a great  beauty,  and 
very  stylish  in  action.  Mr.  Letts’s  second  is  a six-year-old  bay 
mare,  with  light  flinty  bone,  and  much  spirit.  It  was  bred  in 
the  county  of  York.  Mr.  Jacob  Smith’s  third  is  a six-year-old 
brown  mare,  which,  like  Mr.  Robinson’s  five-year  old  commended 
gelding,  is  distinguished  in  the  Catalogue  by  the  “ breeder 
unknown.”  Of  the  thirty-three  four-year-old  geldings  entered, 
no  fewer  than  fourteen  were  absent.  The  nineteen  that  paraded 
before  the  Judges  contained  an  amount  of  high  merit  not  often 
attained.  All  the  more  honour,  then,  is  it  to  Mr.  John  B.  Booth 
