Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/54

 HISTORY OP BISHOP AUCKLAND. 33 1763. On the twelfth of April, fifty pounds was run for by horses, Ac., that never started for match or prize above five guineas, or had been in training before Candlemas last, carrying ten stone (four mile heats), which prize was won by Hbatb. Irt ted 8rd Mr. Comforth'B Bay M. "Flora" 2 11 Mr. Spenoer'a Bay M. " Flomery" 1 2 2 Mr. Hopper'aChes.H. ** Archer" 3 dis. Bishop Auckland (Dubham). 1763. On the tenth of October, fifty pounds was run for by four year olds (weight nine stone, two mile heats), that never won fifty pounds (matches excepted). This prize was won by HKAm • lit 2nd Srd Dnke of Clevdand'a Bay Colfe <* Charm" 2 1 1 Mr Hepple's Or. Colt " Cebema" 1 2 2 Same day, Mr. Hilton's bay gelding, " Cheviot," rode by Mr. Bell, beat Mr. Hopper's chesnut horse, "Archer," rode by himself, weight thirteen stone, the best of three four mile heats, fifty pounds, run or pay. On the eleventh of October, fifty pounds was run for by hunters or road horses, and that never won the value of the prize, carrying ten stone, which prize was won by Ubats. lit 2nd Srd Mr. Simpson's Bay G. *' Last Time of Asking" . . 8 I 1 Sir Robert Eden*s Bay G. "Neptune" 1 3 2 Dr. Dunn's BL M. ••Surprise" 4 2 dr. Mr. Dixon's Or. M. "Flirt" 2 4 dr. Mr. Nicholson's Bay G. " Tapster" 5 dis. Mr. Kiraop'sBL M. "MissFox" 6 dr. Mr. Hilton's Bay G. "Cheviot" dis. 1753. On the twelfth of October, the fifty pounds for horses, &c., that never won above one fifty pound plate, carrying weight for age, was not run for, for want of horses. There is no record as to the particular place where these races were run ; but, as races were held about that time upon Etherley and Byers Green Moors, it is most likely that one or the other was the scene of the contests. In more modem times, races were held upon the Flatts, opposite the lower end of Wear Chare ; and on those occasions a temporary wooden bridge was thrown across the river Wear, and a toll of a penny exacted for passing over it. The late Dr. Clark was the moving spirit of these meetings ; and amongst those who owned horses which ran appear the names of Hudson, of Ferryhill, and Lockey, of West Auckland. *Races were, also, run in the field on which the North-Eastem Eailway Company's warehouses are now erected, and the course then traversed ran nearly in the track of the curve of that railway, as it approaches the station. The old turf spirit and love of sport which then characterised horse racing has now, we fear, degenerated into that of a system of gambling ; and it is weU, that in the place of those annual local gatherings, we now have, in this neighbourhood at least, meetings of a more intellectual character, in the shape of flower shows, &c. We give the following from " Sykes s Local Records," in illustration of what we have already said respecting the inhabitants of Bishop Auckland a century ago, premising it by stating that we are not in possession of the fact as to what part of the town, or particular street, the following procession started from : — On May 20th, 1740, the body of Mrs. Drage, wife of Theodore Drage, of Bishop Auckland, Esq., was removed from thence to be interred at York. Soon after her decease the corpse was dressed in her wedding suit, with a pair of slippers on, and put into a leaden coffin, which was enclosed in another of deal or fir ; and another of fine wainscot gusto by little Sammy and Betty, two well-known wandering ballad singers, to the tone of " Cappy's the Dog:"— Then oome to the races, let's off to the races And see the fine sights near Auckland town. There's much fun expected, there's sure to be The finest horse-rikces yon ever did see : There's " Miss Flood" and ** Sledge-hammer," the pride of the plaoe^ Will surely shew them some style m the raoe^ On the banks of the Wear, where I'll meet with my dear. And all the fine lassies of Auckland town. Digitized by Google
 * The local mnse hM immortalised those meetings on the Flatts in the following strains, which were wont to be snn^ with great