Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/38

MR. PIPS HIS DIARY. up ready to ſtart, and preſently a Flag flourished for a Signal: and ſo they off. Good Lack, to ſee them galloping helter-ſkelter, like mad, through Rivers, and over Hedges and Ditches, and the whole Thing done in ten Minutes! Some did jump the Fences and Hedges, which they about me did term Raſpers, clean over; but others not ſo lucky, and ſtuck in Brambles or on Stakes, or between double Rows of Poſts, with a Quickſet in the Middle, whereof the cant name is Bullfinchers. Others upſet in Ditches; and one or two of them not able to get up again, and carried away upon ſome of the Hurdles; and when the Race was over, three Horſes found lying with their Backs broken, and fo mot. did inform me that it was a tidy Field, which I could not agree, with the Raſpers and Paliſades upon it, and the Horves ſpiked, or ſprawling with their Riders on the Ground with broken Backs and Limbs. Nor did I underſtand the Fun of this Part of the Thing; wherefore I ſuppoſe I muſt be dull; for it do ſeem to be the chief Delight that People take in it. For, as if the Gates and Rails belonging to the Ground were not dangerous enough, they do ſet up others called made Fences, being ſtubborn Ports and Stakes twiſted with Briars and Brambles, which do ſeem to be meant for Nothing but to be tumbled over, and in that Caſe to do as much Miſchief, as may be, to Man and Beaſt. The Horſes moſtly ridden by Jockeys for Hire; but ſome by their Owners, who, methinks, do ſet a ſufficient Value upon their own Exiſtence when they venture their Necks in riding a Steeple Chaſe; but I do blame them for riſking the Life of a uſeful Horſe.