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match between Kingston and Harbinger, the former with 5 to 2 on him, winning by many lengths. A real match succeeded-" all of the olden time"-for a couple of hundreds each. The competitors were Poetry and St. Stephen-the lady, with 2 to 1 on her, winning a bad race by the moiety of a length. The Fifth Stockbridge Triennial Stakes, for two-year-olds, 55 subscribers, brought out half a dozen of the juveniles as they laid 7 to 2 on Autocrat, this was a natural conclusion, and terminating as foregone. The favourite, in a race, won ultimately by a couple of lengths, Ivan second, receiving 3lbs. The Stewards' Plate, in a field of five, Rataplan, 7 to 2 on him, won in a bitter struggle, beating Ninnyhammer by a head. These three-year-olds carried 6st. 10lbs., receiving 1st. 8lbs. from the fouryear-olds. How now about the Leger?......The Mottisfont-another two-year-old stakes-30 subscribers, Bessus-in no esteem among the talents-won in a canter, defeating a field of nine others. This, with racing weights up, had a sound, business-look about it. The Second Year of the Fourth Triennial Stakes, for three-year-olds, also 30 subscribers, was run a match between Cobnut and Cineas, 4 to 1 on the latter. It was a close finish, but Lord Exeter's honest servant won by sheer game, as also especial fine riding. A Chicken Sweepstakes wound up the list.... Friday, the 24th, was allotted to Winchester. The result was five races, opening with the Hampshire Handicap, three runners, won by Antigone the non-fancied. The Two Year Old Stakes followed: it had eight subscribers, and a pair at the post-Bribery, with 6 to 4 on her, beat Anstey a couple of lengths. Torment beat three for the Queen's Plate, and the Triennials being walked over for, some heats, and a cheap Selling Scurry disposed of, the meeting terminated. Harrowgate, Macclesfield, cum multis aliis, in a similar category, must go unsung...

But not so a fact with despotic claim to notice here. Beyond doubt a healthier spirit has manifested itself recently in the economy of horse-racing, than there was reason to hope for from the premises of latter seasons. May it go on and prosper! The turf has but to be true to itself and its legitimate principle, to win golden opinions from all Englishmen interested in the noble national sports of their proverbial sporting land.

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ENGRAVED BY J. B. HUNT, FROM A PAINTING BY HARRY HALL.

BY CASTOR.

It is now some five-and-twenty years since a small boy, with a small bundle, found himself at his journey's end in Newmarket town, and at the door of one of our most celebrated trainers. Naturally enough he enquired for the master of the establishment; and, perhaps, quite as much a matter of course, was at once introduced to the mistress.

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"And where do you come from?" she asked of "the little stranger."

"From Billesdon, Ma'am."

"And what is your name?"

"Elnathan Flatman," was the equally ready answer.

"Oh dear!" said the lady laughingly, "that's far too long and fine a name for such a little bit of a fellow as you-no, no, we must call you Little Nat!”

And "Little Nat" they did call him. As "Little Nat" he laid the foundation of those honours which, like many other an heirapparent, he now wears under the more dignified title of "Mr. Flatman."

Holton, in Suffolk, claims to be the birth-place of the most successful jockey of the day; although the greater part of his early life, up to fourteen or fifteen years of age, was passed at Billesdon, in the same county. His father, a small farmer, would appear to have removed thither very soon after the birth of "Little Nat;" and it is scarcely too much to assume that the fortunes of the latter were materially influenced by this change of scene. At Billesdon, as many of our readers may remember, dwelt Mr. Wilson, better known as "Dick Wilson," the breeder of many very famous race-horses, and the owner, amongst others, of Smolensko-bought on the decease of Sir Charles Bunbury. Now Smolensko and Nat were born in the same year-1810-and Smolensko was the first race-horse our hero ever saw. A very capital one this same Smolensko was, too-a winner of the Derby; and by long odds the best horse of his day.* Coupling this with, and assuming it to give some direction to the tastes of a boy of very small proportions, and living within the influence of" the Heath," it is not strange to find interest was made sufficient to get young Flatman an entry into Cooper's stables. Here we have already seen him announce himself to Mrs. Cooper, and heard her practical commentary on his euphonious appellation. "Elnathan would certainly have been "a hard word" in the

Stable Directory.

Like most of our jockeys, pursuing, in fact, that line-and-rule career so necessary, Nat gradually progressed from riding exercise to riding trials; and hence on, after some three years of this apprenticeship, to an appearance in public. This was on a two-year-old filly of Lord Exeter's, called Gold Pin-which, in the Craven Meeting of 1829, carrying 6st., and ridden by Nat, was not placed for the Craven Stakes, won by Mr. W. Chifney's Zinganee, ridden by his brother Sam-Mr. Delmé Radcliffe's-otherwise his most gracious Majesty King George the Fourth's-Fleur-de-Lis running second. Our young friend at least made his debut in good company.

The opportunity thus offered was never again lost. In the First Spring Meeting of the following season we find him duly registered on a winner for the then Colonel Wilson-a two-year-old Emilius colt,

*"Seges ubi Troja fuit!" Billesdon, the scene of Mr. Wilson's munificent hospitalities, where a hearty welcome ever awaited any friend, or indeed, any friend's friend, has passed away. There is not a vestige of it remaining-of the house that held so much good company; of the cellar, so full of good wine; or f the stable of good horses. All are gone!

who at 6st. 2lb., in a handicap for all ages, beat half a dozen others over the D.M.-ridden by Knatt, as they used in those days to write him.

In a year or two from this he was in the regular service of Mr. George Payne, with whom he still continues, and in whose coloursthe broad black and white stripe-we have had him taken. There are none in which he is more familiar to the public. We fancy we can just remember him now on the game-looking chesnut Paddy, in the Rowton and Camarine times-when Chifney and Robinson were fighting out their "Who shall?" and Nat was a very young man, and we were lookers-on even then-like good little boys should be-with our whole heart and soul in the study.

It would be difficult, however, to identify Flatman with any one cap and jacket: no jockey ever appeared in so many. Riding up to 1840 under seven stone, with power far above his weight, and a head a long way in advance of his years, it is not surprising to find him so much in request. His luck, too, has backed his other recommendations; and while none have ridden so frequently, none have enjoyed a greater proportion of success. His first grand triumph, we believe, was in 1834, when he won the Goodwood Cup for Lord Jersey, on Glencoe. In the following season, he landed Preserve for the Thousand Guineas Stakes, in the purple and black cap of Mr. Greville-one of the most staunch of his patrons, and who, in conjunction with Mr. Payne, has still, after Cooper's stable, the first claim on him. Nat also rode the same mare, Preserve, in the Oaks -for which she was first favourite, but only second best, being beaten by that clipping filly the Queen of Trumps. This, we are told, was Flatman's first mount for the Oaks, and he has never yet improved on, if indeed equalled, "the place" he obtained in it. Epsom, in fact, is not one of his favourite meetings. It is true he ran second in the set-to, and first, in the eye of the law, on Orlando, for Colonel Peel; but the Derby and Oaks records know him no further. His most likely day appeared to be with Alarm; but here the Genii of the place were still against him. The memorable contest at the post between his horse and The Libel, in which Nat was knocked off, apparently lost him a race that, according to subsequent proof, he could not otherwise have missed.

Harking back, we find him again in 1837 winning the Goodwood Cup for Lord Chesterfield, on Carew; as well as coming out in great force for Mr. Greville, on Mango. His defeating Rattrap and Robinson at Ascot with this horse by a short neck only, after a most punishing race, is yet spoken of as one of Nat's finest efforts. He gave up, or, as some say, was prevented by his first master from riding Mango for the Leger-a victory which, it will be remembered, went to the credit of young Sam Day. Flatman, however, subsequently enjoyed turn for turn here, being put on Surplice, when Robinson somewhat hastily declined, on the morning of the race, to fulfil his engagement. It is the only St. Leger Flatman has succeeded in. He won the Doncaster Cup the year after Mango's on Don John-a performance which he has since followed up with Chanticleer and Voltigeur.

It was about the commencement of '40, on the death of Arthur

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