matched
Magpie against him, to run four days afterwards, two miles, for 500
guineas. This match, on which immense sums were depending, was won with
ease by Seagull. At this period Lord Foley and Mr Fox were confederates.
In those days the plates averaged from L50 to L100.

Lord Foley, who died in 1793, entered upon the turf with a clear estate
of L1800 a year, and L100,000 ready money, which was considerably
diminished by his losses at Newmarket, Ascot, and Epsom.

The race-horse of this country excels those of the whole world, not only
for speed, but bottom. There is a great difference, however, between
the present race and that of fifty or sixty years ago; for in those days
four-mile heats were the fashion. The sporting records at the end of the
last century give the following exploits of horses of that and previous
periods.

Childers, known by the name of Flying Childers, the property of the Duke
of Devonshire, was looked upon as the fleetest horse that ever was bred.
He was never beaten; the sire of this celebrated horse was an Arabian.

Dorimont, belonging to Lord Ossory, won prizes to the amount of L13,360.

Eclipse was allowed to be the fastest horse that ever ran in England
since the time of Childers. After winning largely for his owner, he
covered, by subscription, forty mares at 30 guineas each, or 1200
guineas.

Highflyer, by King Herod, was the best horse of his day; was never
beaten, nor paid forfeit but once. His winnings amounted to above L9000,
although he only ran as a three, four, and five years old.

Matchem stood high both as a racer and as the sire of many of our most
favourite horses. As a stallion he realized for his master more than
L12,000. He died in 1781, at the advanced age of thirty-three.

Shark won a cup value 120 guineas, eleven hogsheads of claret, and above
L16,000 in plates, matches, and forfeits.(73)

(73) Lord William Lennox, Merrie England.

Among recent celebrities must be mentioned Lord Stamford, who is said
to have engaged Jemmy Grimshaw, a light-weighted jockey, at a salary of
L1000 a year.

The most astounding 'event' of late years was that of 1867, when
the horse Hermit--previously represented as being in an unfit condition
even to run, won the race--to the unspeakable ruin of very many, and
inflicting on the late Marquis of Hastings the enormous loss of about
L100,000, which, however, in spite of unseemly rumours and, it is said,
hopes of that nobleman's ruin