.r//< . <-^p^ '>f^^' TUFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 3 9090 014 662 825 JOHNA.SEAVERNS School of Vetertnary Medicine^ Tufts University 100 Westboro Road Grafton, MA 01536 RACING CUPS 1559 to 1850 COURSING CUP BY SIR WALTER GILBEY, Bart. VINTON & CO., 8 Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C. 1910 CONTENTS PAGES Gold and Silver Bells, Cups and Tankards ... 1-15 Racing Cups ... ... ... ... ... ... 18-61 Coursing Cups ... ... ... ... ... ... 64-77 RACING CUPS GOLD AND SILVER BELLS CUPS AND TANKARDS 1559 to 1850 The earliest prizes given for races in former times took the form of gold or silver bells, most usually the latter A few specimens of bells are still in existence; the oldest being the two " Horse and Nage (Nag) Bells" belonging to the Corporation of Carlisle, which date back at least to the year 1559, as is proved by the inscription on the smaller, "1559 H.B. M.C." The letters stand for "Henry Baines, Mayor of Carlisle" in that year. The larger of the two bells is about the same age A silver bell was the prize given by the Corporation of Chester for a race held on the Roodee Racecourse about the year 1600, and a smaller golden bell was given at York in 1607 ; unfortunately, it Is not known whether these old trophies still exist The Paisley Bells, which were first given to be run for in the year 1620, are still in existence; the " SiK^er Bells Handicap," with added money, figured on the annual race- card until the meeting was abandoned within the last few years t The bells thus given as race prizes were usually round, with a slit in the lower part ; the largest existing round bell is one of those belonging to the Carlisle Corporation ; it is 2j inches in diameter. The inscription on the band round it — The sweftes * Horse * this * Bel To * tak * for * mi * Lade * Daker * sake has been much discussed The Lady Daker, or Dacre, referred to has been identified with Elizabeth wife of William Lord Dacre of Gilsland, who was governor of Carlisle in the early years of Queen Elizabeth's reign ( 1558- 1603). If this lady were the original donor of the trophy, it obviously belongs to much the same period as its smaller companion, dated 1559 The two Paisley Bells are pear-shaped. The larger is about 4 inches in length, the t A meeting under the rules of the " British Racing Association" has been held since the Jockey Club declined to license the course. smaller one about i^ inches lono- ; the latter bearing the date " 1620 " When the Bells were won they were made over by the Corporation,' to whom they belong, to the winner who bound himself by deed to restore the trophies within eleven months under penalty of ^200 I am informed that the sum of ^2,000 has been offered for the Paisley Bells as curios In old days a bell was so usual a prize tor the winner of a race that the phrase " to bear away the bell " became the accepted form of picturesquely describing success, and has lasted till our own time During the Stuart period bowls or cups began to take the place of bells ; either because it was desired to give prizes of greater value or because the bowl made greater show among the plate on the "cup board " and could be put to practical domestic use Examples of these earliest race cups are not very common, and I count myself for- tunate in possessing the example photograph of which appears on page 19 Tankards as authentic race trophies are also uncommon. Of the word "tankard" it is worth pointing out that it only came into use to describe a hand drinkino-vessel about o 1 550-1600 The earhest mention of tankards in this connection occurs * in the will of Sir George Heron of Harbottell, which was proved at Durham in the year 1576 Before that time " tankard " was applied to a large vessel of some kind, it might be pail or tub, used for carrying water ; thus in the thirteenth century the men who carried water from the conduits in London to the doors of householders were called " tankard bearers " The example shown on page 2 1 was, I think, made many years earlier than the date 1738, when it was given as a prize at the Barham Downs Race Meeting These drinking vessels came into use about the date of the Restoration, 1660, and the domestic tankard of that period was very plain, lacking engraving or other ornamentation The oldest domestic tankard was some- times very wide in proportion to its depth, the lid was flat and the massive handle was often fashioned into a whistle by which the user could call a servant in the days before houses were furnished with ordinary bells *_" Old English Plate." By W. T. Cripps (Ninth edition, igo6) Having regard to the shape and freedom from eng^ravinof of the Barham Downs trophy, I venture to suggest that it may be referred to the period 1 680-1 710; it bears no legible marks by which the exact year oi make could be identified About 1 710 or 1720, says Mr. Cripps, a pot with swelling body and dome-shaped lid came into vogue, and this form has continued until the present time The tankard shown on page 7 is also an old example of plate, but of a very different description. It belongs to a class of work on which much taste and skill were bestowed Tankards of this description were no doubt used as wine jugs. They are tall, narrow in proportion to their height and richly decorated, whether made in silver or in glass mounted in silver It is to be observed that the work on this cup, representing a fight between Royalists and Roundheads, is of a later date than the vessel itself (17 13) ; this addition of chasing may be attributed to the fashion which grew up during the eiy;hteenth century of having such plate as mentioned above chased or engraved after designs by famous artists and sculptors. Of this fashion I shall have a few- words to say on a later page. These tall, narrow tankards have long ceased to be made The race cups of the last hundred and fifty years, in their size and value, offer an interesting commentary on the increased importance of the Turf. Usuall)' of silver, but sometimes of silver-gilt, these trophies, widely though they vary in shape, are seldom otherwise than graceful in outline and beautiful in design The Kildare Hunt Cup of 1757, shown on page 23, is an example of a design peculiar to Irish silversmiths of the last hundred and fifty years. The bowl may varv in its proportions, but the general i)lan, the two massive and boldly shaped handles, and the loose cover, either domed or more conical, declare the origin of the " posset cup," as a vessel of this kind was called. They were used to serve the hot liquors called " possets ' The curious old piece of Sheffield Plate figured on page 9 is, 1 am informed by experts, unicjue. It has a massive border of solid silver on which are engraved racing scenes — "The Start," " h\ill Speed," and "The Finish." The hall-mark proves it to have been made in 1771 ; the bowl bears no inscription, but it was evidently designed as a race prize Somewhat similar to the Kildare Cup at first sioht, but showinQ; marked differences when more closely examined, is the cup on page 31, given at Exeter Races. The sides of the bowl are straight, the handles are less massive, and are carried down to the base of the bowl ; the cover differs essentially from that of the Irish Cup In the iMonaghan Cup, page t^2>^ ^'^ have the "posset cup" bowl in a more ornate form ; the handles are fanciful, each con- sisting ot a human hand liolding a heavy jockey whip. The statuette which crowns the cover would seem to be an addition to the cup as originally made, but this is a mere conjecture The Irish Cu[), lacing page 10, is an example of a more Horid style of silver ware ; it bears no inscription, but there can be little doubt that it was the prize given at some old race meeting in the time of George III There is great solidity in the design of the Cup won by Jack Spigot in 1821 ; this trophy is characteristic of the plate of the time in England — massive and richlv chased Mr. Cripps observes that " no sjiecial form or fashions can l)e identified with any particular period " from about 1750 onwards, " if we except the oval pointed cups, some- times fluted but more often ornamented with hanginor festoons, sometimes carried over medallions." These hangino- festoons, not necessarily carried over medallions, were sometimes made distinct froni the cup they were to adorn, being secured to the bowl by rivets or otherwise Goldsmiths' wcM'k was at its best in England during 1700- 1800; the general standard of artistic merit is held by experts to have reached a higher level during that period than it had done before or has done since. The greatest among those artists who confined themselves strictly to gold- smiths' work was Paul Lamerie, whose name first appears on the records of the Gold- smiths' Hall in 1712 Lamerie was a Frenchman and, there is reason to believe, one of the many Hugue- nots compelled to leave his native country by the Edict of Nantes. His work was ot great artistic merit, showing marked individuality, and his example exercised much influence upon his contemporaries. Lamerie died in 1749 10 Another goldsmith artist who stood head and shoulders above his fellows was Paul Storr ; his name first appears in the Gold- smiths' Hall books in 1792, and he worked in London until 1S34. Storr's productions had the same qualities as those of Lamerie ; they were original and individual I am told that an expert can recognise at a glance a cup or other piece of work by either Lamerie or Stcjrr. The latter was largely employed by Rundell and Bridge, the Royal goldsmiths. Another name famous in the annals of the goldsmiths' craft was that of George Niches, who founded the well-known firm of Garrards in 1721 Among the lesser lights of the eighteenth century, Peter Archambo and David Willaume deserve mention ; both were clever engravers who did much excellent work, but they do not stand on the same level with Lamerie and Storr During a long period the goldsmiths' call- ing was somewhat exclusive ; any prominent member of the craft combined in himself the skill of highly-trained mechanic with the talent of the true artist, and souo^ht aid from none outside his own guild ; but during the later years of George III the goldsmiths ] 2 and silversmiths were moved to further endeavour in seeking- to raise the artistic standard of their best pieces of work, and, looking beyond their own comparatively limited circle, employed artists and sculptors of the hiohest eminence to furnish desio-ns This was due to the influence of Flaxman (i 755-1826) and his school. The beauty of the ornamentation of porcelain and similar ware, inspired the goldsmiths with ambition to improve the decoration of their plate Flaxman himself was employed by Messrs. Run dell and Bridge to make designs for cups, etc., and some fine examples of plate made by Rundell and Bridge, after Flax- man's designs, are among the royal collection at Windsor Castle and elsewhere This endeavour to improve the decorative work appears in racing plates of the period. The cup given at the Louth Coursing Meeting (page 71) has interest inasmuch as the design — two greyhounds running a hare — was sketched by George Garrard, A.R.A., a famous animal painter* and sculptor of George Ill's time llie dogs represented are Czarina and * See " Animals Painters'" (V^ol. 1) By Sir Walter Gilbey, Bart. Garrard died in 1826 Maria, two very celel^rated greyhounds of Lord Orford's strain ; some account of them may be found in Daniel's Rural Sports The " H. H."' Cup (page 47) arrests attention by reason of its somewhat unusual but graceful design ; both in form and style of adornment this is a particularly handsome cup It has not been possible t(^ trace in every instance the circumstances under which the cups shown in the following pages were won. In such cases we may safely conclude that the meeting was of strictly local interest, the races being informal and run under no official rules The little gold cup facing this page is ot German workmanship, and was made about the seventeenth century, at a period when Continental goldsmiths had attained to a very high level of artistic excellence. 1 he photograph shows well the clearness and firmness of the relief work. The nature of the scene portrayed suggests that it may have formed a prize in some old-time sporting competition H RACING CUPS The Bowl bears the inscription : — BRAxMPTON MOORE COURSE the 25th March, 1666 Sir Richard Sandtord, Howgill Castle Nothing can be found concerning the races which ill former days were held on Brampton Moor. The Meeting was one of the numerous local oratherino's which were held in all parts ot England in Stuart times, and of which no records were kept Brampton Moor, S(Miie four or hve miles trom Howgiil in Westmorland, is not to be confused with Brampton in Cumberland. The Sandford family is very ancient. Sir Richard Sandford succeeded as second baronet in the year 1660; he was murdered in 1675 18 ■ H ^^1 i^^^^^^^^^i ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^■r^itr < '^^^H H^^^^^^^^ ^^^■^^^^^^HI^^^^^^^^^H^lHiEl ' 1 ^ ^^H^^^l H^^^^l ^^^^^v^C^^^^^B'''^ ^^H ^^^^^H ^^^B'^i^'II^^^H^^: 9H ^^H ^^^K;j^^^^KI^1^H ^^PS ^^^^^^^^^^^3H^^?j^H ^^^wiml^k Ho- ^^^^^BHD^^^^^^I^^ H^^^^l ^^B ^jHI ■|1 fll^^^^^^^B P^H ^^■■^'I^^H ^flnlBHi^^M^^^I ^^^3 ^^wSl^^^^^^Fj^^^^ 1 The Tankard bears the inscription : — BARHAM DOWNS PLATE Won by Grasshopper, 1738 On the handle t ,.,. ^ This is a rehc of the lonQ-forootten race meeting which in former times was lield on Barham Downs, near Canterbury, fohn Cheney's Lis/ of florse MatcJies Run, for the year i ^2\^, shows that Grass- hopper was the property of Edward Thompson, Esq. 20 The Cup bears the inscription : — Given by the KILDARE HUNT on Tuesday, the 13th September, 1757, and won by Sir Ralph Gore's Grey Horse Spot The Curragh of Kildare Meeting of 1757 was held on 13th, 14th, 15th, i6th and 17th September. The race was for ^50, weight for age, run in three heats, distance not mentioned. Eight horses ran. Sir Ralph Gore's Spot was fifth in the first heat and won the second and third heats Spot ran in the King's 100 Guineas at the Curragh on 27th April, 1758, carrying 10 stone, and was beaten by Mr. Erench's chestnut horse Nabob. He also ran at the Trim Meeting on 12th June, 1758, and was placed third to Mr. Brown's Tamerline A curious example of the manner in which old race meetings were conducted in former clays occurred at the Curragh Meeting of April, 1758, above mentioned : "The King's 100 Guineas for four-year-old mares could not be determined, as several of the mares started at different times, which occasioned a Law Suit that was not ended when this \Hebers Calendar for 1758] went to the Press " Silver. Height, lo^ inches The inscription engraved on the Band round the Cup reads : — THE DONCASTER CUP Won bv Stamtord at Doncaster, 1797. The property of Sir F. Standish, Sir Thomas Pilkington and Sir Rovvhmd \\'inn, Baronet<, Stewards The Gold Cup, value 100 guineas, for all ages; three-year-olds, 5 stone 10 lbs. ; four-year-olds, 7 St. /lbs.; five-year-olds, 8 st. 3 lbs.; six-year-olds, 8 St. 12 lbs.; and aged, 9 stone. Four miles. Stamford, a brown colt, by Sir I^eter, beat five others 24 Silver Gilt. Height, 22 inches The Cup is inscribed : — BEVERLEY RACES 6th June, 1810, Gold Cup won by "TUTELINA" The Beverley Meeting of 18 10 lasted from 6th to 8th June, inclusive. The race for the Cup took place on Thursday, 7th June. Described as " The Gold Cup by 10 subscriptions of 10 guineas each, for all ages ; 4 miles " Mr. Richardson's five-year-old bay mare Tutelina, by Stamford, walked over. On the following day Tutelina, carrying 8 st. 5 lbs., won a ^^^50 Plate for all ages, 3-mile heats, beating Restless and Negro Lass. She ran three other races — two at Preston and one at York — before she won again. On iith September she won a ^50 Plate for all ages, 2j-mil,e heats, beating three others; on 21st Septem- ber, at Pontefract, she won the 70 Guineas Plate for all ages, 2-mile heats, beating two others ; on 25th 27 September, at I )()ncaster, she won the Corporation Plate ot £50, 4-n-iile heats, beating four others As a three-year-old 1 Litelina ran five races, of which she won three, walked over in one and was beaten once. In her four-year-old season she ran only once: namely, at Lincoln on 20th September, 1809, ^I'l ^^^^ Royal Plate of 100 Guineas for four- and fiv^e-year-old mares, 2 miie heats. She won, beating three others 28 ^m B3 ^H ^^^R|^^7711^^ H^^H ^^^IH mWx^^^i/: r^^M IB ^H|^^bI I^^H ^hPI I^^^^^^^^^^H ^^^^^^^^^^^I^^^H ^^^H^^l ^^^H^^^^H ^^^^^1 Silver Gilt. Height, 15 inches The inscription reads : — 1811 EXETER RACES Cup given by the Stewards, James Hay, Esq. Albany Savile, Esq. The Exeter Meeting of 181 i was lield on 21st and 22nd August, three races being run on each day. The race for which this cup was given was the first on the second day, viz., the Gold Cup, 100 Guineas, given by the Stewards. Eour-year-olds, 8 St. ; six-year olds, 9 st. 2 lbs. ; aged, 9 st. 4 lbs. Two-mile heats. Won by Mr. I^arqhuarson's six- year-old Wood Daemon at two heats, beating four others ^o Silver; part Silver Gilt. Height, 13I inches The inscription reads : — THIS CUP Given by CHARLES COOTE, Esq. to be run for at the MONAGHAN MEETING 1813 It would seem probable that the Meeting was never held ; the Irish Racing Calendar contains no mention of races at Monaghan in 1S13, and we must conclude that the projected Meeting was abandoned for some reason or reasons not now discoverable. Mr. Charles Coote, the donor, was a generous supporter of racing in Ulster in the earlier days of the century ; his name appears in the year 18 10 as the giver of a "Transferable and Challengeable " Cup at long-forgotten meetings held at Finae. in his native county Cavan. This was a 'Silver Cup, value ^50, added to a Sweepstake of 10 Sovereigns each, for horses the property of freeholders in the County Cavan, Leing four months in their possession to the day of runing." We need not doubt that the Monaghan Cup was offered under similar conditions framed to encourage local horse-owners. Silver. Height, 15 inches The Cup bears on one side the inscription : — PASSAGE RACES July Meeting 1817 On the other : — Won by D a n d y, The Property of Maurice Jones, Esq. I am unable to obtain any information about this Meeting, held at Passage, in Co. Cork, and conclude that it was one of the small Meetings of purely local interest which obtained no official record 34 SiT.VER. Heio^ht, 6f inches This Cup bears the inscription GREAT ST. LEGER 1821 iron by Mr. T. Orde Powlett's Br C Jack Spiggott" The Doncaster St. Leo'er Stakes of 1821 was run on Monday, 17th September; 25 guineas each for three-year-okls. Coks, 8 st. 2 lbs. ; filhes, 8 st ; 49 subs. Jack Spiggott,* by Ardrossan, out of a sister to Bourbon, beat twelve others. On Wednes- day, 19th September, he won the Foal Stakes ot 100 Guineas, beating Mr. R. Milne's My Lady. At Newcastle, on 17th July, 1822, he won the Convivial Stakes of 50 Guineas, beating four others. At Preston Guild, on 5th September, 1822, he won the Gold Cup of 100 Guineas for all aged horses, three miles and a distance, beating Reveller and Dr. Syntax * " Spigot " is the spelling now usually adopted 36 Silver. Height, 17 inches The Cup bears the inscription ; — 1822 WINCHESTER His Majesty's Plate " Incantator " Described in the Calendar as " His Majesty's Plate of 100 Guineas, for four-year-olds, lost. 4 lbs. ; five-year-olds, 1 1 st. 6 lbs. ; six-year-olds, i 2 st. ; and aged, 1 2 St. 2 lbs. Four-mile heats." Won by Mr. Whiteside's four-year-old brown colt Incantator, by Sorcerer, beating four others. Incantator won the first and second heats. His success was the more noteworthy as he had that day — Wednesday, 24th July — run one race, a Five Guineas Sweep- stake, with £2^ added, over the "new straight mile," in which he was placed third to Mr. Fellowes' bay filly Escape Incantator had not a very successful career. As a three-year-old, carrying Lord Rous' colours, he won the Woodcot Green Stakes at the Newmarket Craven Meeting ; and ran third to the Duke of Grafton's Reginald in the Two Thousand. In Lord Stradbroke's colours the same season he won the Ladies' Plate, ^50, two-mile heats, at Swaffham his only opponent being Mr. Rogers' bay colt by Blucher ; and the Town Plate at the Newmarket F'irst October Meetino-, beatins: four others over the Ditch In course. He was unplaced in the Oatlands Stakes at the Second October Meeting, and ran second to Sir J. Shelley's Ivanhoe in a Handicap Sweepstakes over the T.Y.C. at the Houghton Meeting :() Silver Gilt. Height, i8 inches The Cup bears on Lid and Pedestal the following" inscriptions : — LAMBTON PARK RACES Presented bv the Honble. Edwd. Petre 1822 1822 Won by Tom Paine 1823 Purchased by the Lambton Racing Club, and won bv Lord Normanby's Whynot The Lambton Park Race Meeting in County Durham was held by the Lambton Racing Club, and with few exceptions the races were open to gentlemen riders only. The M.e,^ting was held in October and occupied four days ; the programme was a lengthy one, usually consisting of twelve or fourteen rares'and from twelve to twenty of the matches w^hich were so popular at that time The Cup is thus described in 1822: " A Gold Cup, value 100 Guineas, given by the Hon. E. Petre, added to a Handicap Sweepstake of 5 Guineas each, for horses not Thoroughbred. D.C. 21 subscribers " In 1822 Mr. D. Rowley's four-year-old brown gelding Tom Paine, by Prime Minister, ridden by Mr. T. Sykes, 1 1 st. 7 lbs., beat thirteen othtrs In 1823, as the inscription shows, the trophy had been acquired by the Club ; the conditions ot the race in that year were as follows : "The Gold Cup, value 100 Guineas, added by the Lambton Racing Club to a Handicap Sweepstake of 5 Guineas each, for horses, etc., not Thoroughbred, houa-fide the property of a member of a Racing or P"ox-hunting Club. D.C. 25 subscribers" In 1823 Lord Normanby's aged brown horse Why not, by Ossian, ridden by Lord Wilton, 1 1 St. 7 lbs., beat ten others 44 Silver. Height, 15 inches ; on Silver Gilt Stand 3J inches in height The inscription on the Plate on which the Cup stands reads : — Won by Mr. Thompson's Brown Horse Dominichino on Wednesday, 23rd April, 1823, beating Mr. Villebois's Bay Horse Shuttlecock, Honble. W. Sage's Chestnut Mare Olivia, and Capt. Shirreff's Brown Gelding Contract The Hampshire Hunt, still known as the " H. H.," held races, not recorded in the Calendar, from the year 1803 ; the horses run in the race for the Iriunt Club Cup were the property of members of the Club, but professional jockeys were employed. In 1823 the race was run at Winchester ; it was in four heats, and "some of the first jockeys were up for the occasion, including John and Sam Day and 1 )ockery " It is interestino- to notice that Contract, the property of Captain Shirreff, R.N., placed fourth in this race, won the Hunters Stakes at the Hambledon Hunt Meeting on the ist May following (12 St. each, three heats), ridden by the celebrated writer C. J. Apperley (" Nimrod "), beating nine others. After passing the winning post Contract came into collision with a cart-horse and gave his rider a heavy fall 46 Silver Gilt Height, 17 inches; width, 16 inches The inscription on the Cup reads : — NORTHAMPTON RACES Thos. Phillips Maunsell, Esq., Sir Geo. Robinson, Bart., M.P., Colonel W. L. Maherley, M.P. STEWARDS 1828 • The Northampton Meeting of 1828 took place on loth and iith September, three races being run on each day The first event on the second day was The Gold Cup, 100 Guineas, surplus in specie, sub- scription 10 guineas each, for horses of all ages, distance about three miles. It was won by Mr. Payne's three-year-old chestnut colt Oppidan, by Rubens (6 st. 12 lbs.), who beat his only competitor, Lord Mountchru'les' four-year-old bay colt Maresfield (8 st. 7 lbs.) Oppidan, ridden by R. .Stephenson, won the P^ive Sovereigns Sweepstakes, once round and a distance, on the second day, beating two others (w.o. second heat) 48 Silver Gilt. Height, 12 inches The inscription reads : — *^ TARPORLEY HUNT 1830 This is the Tarporley Hunt Cup given by the Club to be run for by the farmers at the annual Tarporley Race Meeting. It was won in 1830 by Mr. Turner's five-year-old brown horse Olympus, ridden by Spring (8 st. 7 lbs.) Tarporley, a village in the centre of the Cheshire County, gives its name to the Hunt Club which still flourishes The hall-mark shows i 766 to have been the date when the Cup was made. Another Cup in the Elsenham Collection, dated 1765, was designed by the same artist 50 Silver. HeiVht, i^ inch es The inscription on the Cup reads : — YORK Spring Meeting 1832 The Pedestal is inscribed : — The Earl of Scarborough \ Lord Kelburne Stewards R. D. Gascoigne, Esq. ' The Hundred Guinea Gold Cup from the Fund, added to a Handicap Sweepstake of 25 Sovereigns each (11 subs.) Two miles Mr. F. Richardson's four-year-old bay filly Lady Elizabeth by Lottery (Conolly, 7 st. 13 lbs.) v/on, beating four others, on Tuesday, 29th September. On the same day Lady Elizabeth had previously won the Claret Stakes of 200 Sovereigns (Conolly, 8 St. 2 lbs.), two miles, beating Boubilliac 52 Silver Gilt, Height, i6 inches This Cup is inscribed on one side : — THE SECOND DECCAN CUP Value One Hundred Guineas On the other : — Won December, 1833 By Lieut. }. S. Grant, Royal Engineers Nothing can be discovered relating to this Cup, but it was evidently the trophy given by the long- defunct Deccan Tent Club to the winner of the greatest number of "first spears" at its Hog-hunting Meeting of December, 1833. Mr. John Schank Grant, R.E., was at that time in the Hon. East India Company's Service as Assistant Inspecting Eno^ineer of the Deccan district Bare mention of former existence of this Club occurs in Captain R. S. S. Baden- Powell's work " Piof-stickins: " The competitors in these hunts are despatched in pairs by the Captain of the Meet when the quarry is sighted ; he who first draws blood, however little, claims "first S[)ear " and wins the heat The resemblance of this Cup to that given at the York Spring Meeting will be noticed ; the two were evidently designed by the same hand 54 Silver Gilt. Heio-ht, i6 inches The inscription reads : — NORTHAMPTONSHIRE YEOMANRY CAVALRY 24th August, 18:^6 The Northampton Meeting of 1836 occupied two days, three races bein^' run on each ; a Royal Plate of 100 Guineas being the principal event The "Yeomanry Cup," subs, two sovereigns each, was given by the noblemen and gentlemen of the county, and brought 23 subscriptions. Once round. Three horses started. The race was won at two heats by Mr. Fletcher's five-year-old bay gelding by Woful (carr\'ino- 11 st. 7 lbs.), beating two others 56 Silver Gilt. Height, 15I- inches Inscribed : — CHESTERFIELD CUP Goodwood, July, 1842 WON BY MAJOR HAY'S 6-YEAK-OLD CHESTNUT HORSE "RETRIEVER" Carrying 7 st. 9 lbs. i Mile The particulars given on the pedestal plate may be suppleniented by a few more details The value of the Cup was advertised as 300 Guineas, the rest in specie by subscription of 1 5 sovereigns each, for horses of all ages, two-year-olds excepted; handicap; over the Craven Course, i mile (38 subs.) Major Hay's Retriever was ridden by Murphy and beat thirteen others 58 Silver. Height, 14 inches Inscribed : — ROCHDALE RACES MILITARY CUP fames Dearden, Esq, ) Stewards John Smith Entwistle, Esq. ) 1845 The Rochdale (Lancashire) Meeting of 1845 ^^'^^ held on 20th and 21st August. It was a small and poorly supported affair, and the Calendar makes no mention of the " Military Cup." It is probable that this was an independent race confined to the Yeomanrv and other arms of the service 60 ^^^^^^H ■ ^^^^^^^r^ !i^9 ^^^^1 B^^J^^H^^^' '' ^^^^m BI^^H ^^Hyv^^'^^^PP ^9HH^^H ^^^^B^ ' ^i^^^^^^l 1b-'^I ^^k!^^<'- "'&fl l^^ii^w ^^^^■j^iMti ^^^Bm W^^^^^^^M ^^^^B|^'.^, ':>'^. ^^qH ^■j^^^H ^^^^^^^O^^ ' '^M l^^^l^^^H li^i ^^Vw J^^ 1 Silver Gilt Height, i8 inches COURSING CUPS 7'he inscription reads : — This Cup Won at the Market Weiciiton Coursing Meetinc;, February 14th and 15th, 18 15 By Mr. JOS. INGRAM'S White Doo- Reo-ent beating several others I have been unable to discover any particulars of this Meeting. " Regent " is not mentioned among the dogs whose names are given in the two volumes of Thomas Goodlake's Coursers Alainiai (1828 and 1833), nor is the Market Weighton Meeting among those described in the Sporting Magazine ofi8i5 64 Silver. Height, lo inches The Jug bears the inscription : — DUMFRIESSHIRE COURSING CLUB Won by Flora Mclvor, loth November, 1823 The jug was the prize given in a thirty-two dog stake. In the first round JNIr. Crichton's Flora Mclvor beat an opponent whose name is not given in the Sporting Magazine s account of the Meeting. In the first ties she beat Captain Graham's The Caddie ; in the second Mr. Murray's Spill ; in the third Mr. Babington's Hcjmer; and in the deciding- course Mr. Menteith's Spring Flora Mclvor ran in excellent style, but at the Club Dinner, held on the day after the Meeting, Lord Oueensberry, Mr. Wyndham and others offered large bets that Mr. Murray's dog Spill, whom she had defeated in the second ties, would beat her. There is nothing to show whether a match was made, or, if made, how it resulted. It is interesting to read the names of the coursing men in Dumfriesshire nearly ninety years ago. The county then, as since, was a stronghold of the sport, and many of the leading men in the South of Scotland bore part in it 66 Silver. Height, 9 inches This Cup is inscribed : — LOUTH COURSING MEETING 1^34 This Meeting, the programme of which comprised thirteen stakes and one match, was held on the lands of Mr. Dawson during the last week of November. The trophy is described as " The Cup with lo sovereigns added, a i6-dog stake." It was won by Mr. Bartholomew's black-and-white doe Baron, who beat in the final Mr. Hassall's black bitch Harmonicon. Baron won the same prize at the Meeting of 1833 " ii"* ^ ^^i^ 3-'"^^ decisive manner;" but his success in 1834 was considered more meritorious, as "he had to contend with some first-rate greyhounds " The Meeting of 1834 was marred by a curiously injudicious proceeding on the part of Mr. Dawson. Having been assured by certain persons that the judge had given unfair decisions, Mr. Dawson warned that official off his land, thinking to render 69 a service to the members ot the Coursing Ckjb. The members, however, fek bound to supj)ort the judge they themselves had appointed, and decided to finish the courses for the Cup elsewhere. As no suitable land could be found, it seemed inevitable that the Meeting must be abandoned, but the difficulty was solved by Mr. Dawson's letter of explanation and apology, in which he begged the members to resume sport on his lands. His motive for warning off the judge was taken into account, the apology accepted and the Meeting brought to a satisfactory conclusion 'O Silver. Heio-ht, i^ inches The Cup is inscribed : — LUDLOW MEETING ■«35 James Ackers, Esq. Steward I have been unable to discover any particulars of this Coursintr Meetino; 72 %^ MM u i?;-., ^ "^\ 'm^.. prws Rscf^^''^ (1 # ■. / ^ \A •r ^ . ' M ^'