The July meeting on Lansdown was run over two days, Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd.and was reported to be a great success. The ancillary entertainments, such as the special balls and ordinaries, were well attended.
"Our races have this year greatly increased in celebrity as double the number of running horses appeared on the Down than had been seen there for several years since. The company on both days was numerous, especially on Thursday."
On Wednesday, the proceedings started when Mr Dundas's horse was matched against Mr Calley's Shrog over one mile for a 100gs stake. Mr Calley's horse failed to start.
Next came a sweepstakes of 25gs a horse entered. Six horses were named, but only three started, and in what the Bath Chronicle described as "An excellent race" the prize went to Mr Tomes, the owner of the winner Duplicate.
In the 100gs match that followed, Mr Jone's Fatima beat Mr Dundas's Pyramus.
A sweepstake followed with a 5gs subscription plus £50 in added money from the "Racing Fund". 27 horses were named for this, but only 11 actually raced. The horse that crossed the line first was Mr Bamfyldes Bullrush, but as he had run the wrong side of one of the posts marking the course, the stakes were given to Mr West as the owner of the second horse, Bulgarian.
The day's sport ended with the Country Members £50 plate run over 3, probably mile, heats and won by Sir T Cope's Buffalo.
On Thursday, "the expectation of fine weather drew together a great concourse of spectators, particularly of females;"
The day's amusements started with a race for a Gold Cup worth 100gs. Thirteen owners paid 10gs to enter, and the race, which was run over 3 miles, was won by Mr King's horse Gainsborough.
Next came the City Members' £50 plate run over 3 heats and, won by Mr Farquharson's Grey Marquis.
This race was not intended to be the last of the meeting, "but about noon a heavy and incessant rain terminated the pleasures of the scene, and afforded another instance of the uncertainty of all sublunary enjoyments! The greater part of the assembly retreated to the adjacent booths, which were in a short time so thronged that numbers were compelled to creep for a temporary shelter under the coaches, waggons, &co that remained stationary. These vehicles, however, afforded them but little service, since they were very shortly put in requisition to convey homeward those who chose to purchase a disagreeable ride at a high rate: three females were contented to take their journey in the boot of a stage-coach; and many were even deprived of this convenience, and rode home in waggons and carts. But the groups of poor female pedestrians exhibited scenes at once calculated to excite risibility and pity: some had lost their shoes in the mud; and the whole appeared as though they had literally waded thro’ a river: while the exposure of delicate legs and ankles drew from some barbarous spectators many curious remarks!"
Despite this disastrous ending, "a considerable subscription" was raced towards organising the races in 1818, for which Col. Tynte was appointed steward.
Col. Charles Tynte lived at Halsewell House, Somerset and Kevanmably Glamorganshire and was a colonel of the West Somerset Cavalry.
"Our races have this year greatly increased in celebrity as double the number of running horses appeared on the Down than had been seen there for several years since. The company on both days was numerous, especially on Thursday."
On Wednesday, the proceedings started when Mr Dundas's horse was matched against Mr Calley's Shrog over one mile for a 100gs stake. Mr Calley's horse failed to start.
Next came a sweepstakes of 25gs a horse entered. Six horses were named, but only three started, and in what the Bath Chronicle described as "An excellent race" the prize went to Mr Tomes, the owner of the winner Duplicate.
In the 100gs match that followed, Mr Jone's Fatima beat Mr Dundas's Pyramus.
A sweepstake followed with a 5gs subscription plus £50 in added money from the "Racing Fund". 27 horses were named for this, but only 11 actually raced. The horse that crossed the line first was Mr Bamfyldes Bullrush, but as he had run the wrong side of one of the posts marking the course, the stakes were given to Mr West as the owner of the second horse, Bulgarian.
The day's sport ended with the Country Members £50 plate run over 3, probably mile, heats and won by Sir T Cope's Buffalo.
On Thursday, "the expectation of fine weather drew together a great concourse of spectators, particularly of females;"
The day's amusements started with a race for a Gold Cup worth 100gs. Thirteen owners paid 10gs to enter, and the race, which was run over 3 miles, was won by Mr King's horse Gainsborough.
Next came the City Members' £50 plate run over 3 heats and, won by Mr Farquharson's Grey Marquis.
This race was not intended to be the last of the meeting, "but about noon a heavy and incessant rain terminated the pleasures of the scene, and afforded another instance of the uncertainty of all sublunary enjoyments! The greater part of the assembly retreated to the adjacent booths, which were in a short time so thronged that numbers were compelled to creep for a temporary shelter under the coaches, waggons, &co that remained stationary. These vehicles, however, afforded them but little service, since they were very shortly put in requisition to convey homeward those who chose to purchase a disagreeable ride at a high rate: three females were contented to take their journey in the boot of a stage-coach; and many were even deprived of this convenience, and rode home in waggons and carts. But the groups of poor female pedestrians exhibited scenes at once calculated to excite risibility and pity: some had lost their shoes in the mud; and the whole appeared as though they had literally waded thro’ a river: while the exposure of delicate legs and ankles drew from some barbarous spectators many curious remarks!"
Despite this disastrous ending, "a considerable subscription" was raced towards organising the races in 1818, for which Col. Tynte was appointed steward.
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| Charles Tynte by Andrew Plimer |
Col. Charles Tynte lived at Halsewell House, Somerset and Kevanmably Glamorganshire and was a colonel of the West Somerset Cavalry.
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| Halsewell House Cira 1830 |
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