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MATCH RACES IN ENGLAND First on Record Took Place Over Five Hundred Years Ago. . Voltigeur-The Flying Dutchman : Race One of Most Famous in English History, r i . "Tis written somewhere that "Matches are the elementary particles from which racing sprung" and merely because of this they are interesting, but, with the postwar boom in racing in progress and rumors of matches filling the air, a look-back at some of the old-time straggles is rather fascinating. The first match on record took place in 1377 between Richard II., then Prince of Wales, and the Earl of Arundel, owners up, and the future king was beaten. The next recorded match took place at Newmarket on March S, 1G22. It was for 100 and was between horses belonging to Lord Salisbury and the Duke of Buckingham and the formers horse won. Then in 16GG the first instance of the payment of a forfeit is chronicled in a match between Lord Moimtsarret and Mr. Elliott, in which the former received and the latter paid forfeit, and in the following year colors were chronicled for the first time, as in a match between Mr. Elliott and the Hon. Howard the formers colors were white and the latters green. y About, ten. years later .the jiame ofrgQnweU, Frampton appeared in connection with tiieturf, and In particular with matches. On St. Patricks clay in 1073 his horse. Nutmegge, beat Lord Mon-tngue of Cowdrays Lusty in a match for, some sav, 000, and in the following year he ran two snatches for 1,000 within a week; the one against U horse of Sir Robert Howards son and the other at Salisbury. Then comes the time of the probably baseless scandal about his horse Dragon. The story, as told by Dr. Hawkesworth in 17u3, goes that Mr. Framptons stallion Dragcn beat a mare in a match for 1,000 and that the mares owner, being disappointed at the result, offered to race her for 2,000 against any mare or gelding; whereupon Mr. Frampton qualified Dragon for the match on the following day, which he won and from the results of which died soon after. This is probably an absolutely baseless tale, as there were several Dragons about at this time. An amusing tale is that of the match between Mr. Framptons favorite horse probably cither Spider or Pontz and a horse called Merlin, whose chief backer was Sir William Strickland. Merlin was sent to Newmarket to complete his training under a man named Hcseltine. Framptons jockey met Heseltine soon after and suggested that they should, on their own account, try the two horses together, so that they could know the best and both make fortunes on the result. Heseltine wrote to Sir William Strickland about this and he immediately consented, but told Heseltine to pat seven pounds more weight upon Merlin. Frampton also consented, and also put up seven iHiuiids extra on his horse. Merlin won the trial by a half length, so that the match to Heseltines stable looked a good thing fcr Merlin, and to Framptons stable looked something like a certainty for their horse. The stakes were doubled, as both parties were, not knowing the others game, confident. The match came off and resulted in a win for Merlin by about the same distance as he had won the secret trial, and so much money was lost that the legislature introduced a bill to prevent the recovery of any sum exceeding ten pounds bet on a horse race. In addition to his many matches, Frampton was a keen cockfighter and also raced mules at Newmarket. His picture by Wooton is typical, as it represents hiai with a jockeys whip in his hand, a fighting cock- on the table beside him, and a greyhound at his feet. MATCHES UNDER HEAVY WEIGHTS. In most of the matches light weights were carried, but in 1727 a match was run over four miles between Mr. Vanes mare, Bald Charlotte with 2S2 lKjiinils up, and Mr. Ashbys Swinger with 243 pounds up, and won by the former, and these weights were eclipsed at the Yonk spring meeting of 1738, when, according to Orton, there was a mulch for 100 guineas between Mr. Maynards bay mare and Mr. linkers gray horse," each to carry 420 pounds. The horse started favorite, but the mure won. In 1790, to be precise on March 25 of that year, the historic match between Sir Henry Tempest Vanos Hambletouiau and Mr. Cooksuus Diamond took place. Jtotli horses were seven-year-olds, and the former carried 113 pounds and was ridden by Francis lluckle and allowed the latter, which was ridden by Fitzpatrick, three pounds. Hambletouiau was Yorkshire trained and bred and was in addition a Leger winner, so was strongly supported by the north, while the south pinned their faith to Diamond. The stakes were 3,000 guineas, and the match was run over the Deacon course, which then, as now, was four miles one-eishth and 13S yards. The betting at the start was 3 to 4 on JJiimblctonian, which was mostly in front for the Continued on second page. j-ia.;n, .-hm..- .iU1, ,u - " -- - MATCH RACES IN ENGLAND Continued from first page. first three miles. Coming across the flat the pace improved, and from the Dukes stand to the winning post it was one of the finest races ever witnessed, with Diamond having slightly the best of it, but Hambletoninn gradually wore him down and won by a half neck. John Hilton was judge and Mr. Bctts the starter. Sir H. T. Vane was so proud of Ills win that he drove in a post-chaise and four to London to tell all the news and rode Hamblctonian In the park the following week. The pictures of this match the start and the finish by Sartorius are too well known to need description, but are rarely found in good condition nowadays, and are becoming gems in the sporting print collectors collection. There are also single prints of these two horses by the same artist which are, I think, even rarer than the other two. In 1804 the famous Mrs. Thornton, Alicia Mey-nell, rode her famous match against Mr. Flint on his Brown Thornville for 500 guineas and a side bet of 1,000 guineas. Brown Thornville won, and Vinagarella, Mrs. Thornton"s mount, which was nearly twenty years of .age, broke down. The next year again, at York, she rode Colonel Thorntons Louisa in n match for 700 guineas against Mr. Bloomfields Allegro, giving 5G pounds, with Buckle up. At the start Louisa made the running, and took the lead for a long way, when Allegro went up to and headed her for ,a few lengths; the lady then challenged Buckle, and after a pretty contest won her race in good style by a half length. As Orton writes: Her bold and excellent jockeyshlp elicited the admiration of the assembled thousands, who hailed her successful struggle with the most enthusiastic shouts of applause and congratulation." In 1815 a match that created a, lot of interest was run between Lord Braybrookes Sir Joshua and Mr. Honldsworths Filho da Tula. It was for 1,000 guineas, over the Rowley Mile, and Sir Joshua was in receipt of seven pounds. Arnull rnde Sir Joshua and Goodisson was up on Filho, which would most certainly hav! won had he not reared up at the start and lost several lengths which ho could never quite make up afterward. VOLTIGEUR AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN. The next great match, probably the greatest of all, came off on May 13, 1851, between Voltigeur and the Flying Dutchman. The Flying Dutchman was by Bay Middloton Barhelle, was, the property of Lord Eglinton, and was bred by Mr. Vansittart. As a two-year-old ho ran and won five times, then in 1849 he won the Derby by a half length from the - outsider, Hotspur by the way, the House of Commons by 13S votes to 119 had decided to take a holiday for this event and after walking over for a couple of races at Liverpool went on to Doncaster to win the Legcr from Nnnnykirk and Vatican. Altogether as a three-year-old he won six races, and retired to his winter quarters unbeaten. The following year he won the Ascot Stakes and a sweepstakes at Goodwood, and then giving nineteen pounds was beaten by Voltigeur for the Doncaster Cup. Voltigeur was by Voltaire Martha Lynn, was the property .of Lord Zetland, and was bred by Mr. Robert Stephenson. He only ran once, and won, prior to the Derby of 1S50, whicli also he irron by a length from Titsford with Clincher, a half length away, third. lils next race was the" St. Leger, in which he dead-heated with Russborough, and, in the runoff, after a terrific struggle, won. .by a ba,re length. Thenext day he yvalked : over for the .Scarborough Stakes, and then beat the Dutchman for the Cup. The latters, jockey, Marlow, had dined rather too well, and set the pace at a terrific speed, leaving nothing for the finish, and was beaten by a half length. The matter could not be allowed, to rest there, and, after much talk, the owners, Lords Eglinton and Zetland, agreed that their horses should run a match at the following York Spring meetng forl,000 over two miles. Admiral Rous was asked to allocate the weights, and ho arranged that The Flying Dutchman should carry 12014 pounds and Voltigeur 112, so that the latter, according to the present scale, was in receipt of three and one-half pounds over and above weight for age. Wagering on the event during the winter was high, and mostly done at even money. Marlow and Flatman were engaged to ride, again, and both horses underwent a searching preparation. The match came, off, and the Cup tactics were reversed, as Voltigeur made the running, and five-eighths from home was three lengths ahead. Then The Dutchman commenced to draw up, and gradually overhauling his rival, won a great race by just under a length. To commemorate this match The Flying Dutchmans Handicap was established, and on the second occasion of its celebration was won by Voltigeur. This latter was a great horse, but was beaten by a better. . After this, match other fall into insignificance, but the one between Sir Joseph Hawleys Blue Gown and Friponnier must be mentioned. Blue. Gown had Won the Derby of 1808 and Friponnier had won eighteen out of nineteen races .when they met for 500 over the Dutch Mile at Newmarket in 1869, Blue Gown winning by a half length after a good race. The last match of any importance, to date, was run on October 27, 1000, at Hurst Park between Eager and Royal Flush. The former was six years old, and the latter aged, and both carried 120"pounds. Morny Cannon was up on Eager, and beat Lester Reiff on Royal Flusli pretty easily by three lengths. Adair Dighton in Baileys Magazine. ;
