Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-22
Women A.Straddle.

From the London Telegraph
Little surprise need be felt in these days at
the announcement that application has Just
been made by a liege lady to the Belgian
Jockey club for permission to ride ia gsrt:e.
mems races. Madame StrOobants-Ior such is
the fair AmazOn's name-has entered a horse
of her own for tie Prix des Danes NJ Louvan
and threatens that in the event OF her petition
being rejected, she will go TO the scales and
insist on her light tn be weighed as an ordinary
jockey. We may As sumo that it is her intention
to don boots and breeches, after the fashion set
by the professional horsemen OF England and
also to ride upon a man saddle, for Madame
Stroobants can hardly be ignOrant-the famous
race between Mrs. Thornton g. d Frank Buckle
at York, to the contrary Notwithstanding
that the disposition of a ladys weight upon a
side-saddle gives great advantage To her more
equally balanced antagonist oil the other sex
In England The ladies who have hitherto dis
tinguished themselves as race riders against
time and against male antagonists were ALWAYS
content to confine themselves to the side sad
die. No passage of turf history Is better known
than that connected with the two races at
York. In the first Of which Mrs. Thornton, NOM
ton, of Thornvilie Royal, was beaten by Mr..
Flint, while in the second she defeated the cele-
brated Jockey Frank Buckle. The races in ques-
and 1905, and the last of the two afforded a
subject for the picture painted by Benjamin
Marshall, of which many engravinys still hang
upon the walls OF Yorkshire country houses and
wayside inns. "The lady of Col. Thornton v
says Pierce EsaD In bis sporting Anecdotes -
sis equally attached to the sports of the field
with her distinguished husband, and the singu-
Lar contest which took place in 1904 between
Mrs. Thornton and Mr.. Flint stands recorded
as one of the most remarkable occurrences
which ever happened In the annals of the turf ~
In the course OF one Of their equestrian excur-
sions in Thornville park Mrs. Thornton and MI.
merits Of their hprses. vinsariiIo rIdGsn Ss
the lady in her habit, contrived to distance
MIR. Flint, when they submitted their horses
TO a competitive examination, and the gen.
tleman was SD chagrined that he challenged his
fair conquerer who was a very pretty woman
70 meet him in public at York.
humor, and II was agreed that 1t should come
off on the last day of the York meeting in
"a match Tor 500 guineas, with bye bet of
1000 guineas, tour miles, between Col. Thorn
toms Vingarillo and Mr.. Flint's ThornvilIe:
against Mr.. Flint" Never. according to a local
journal, were SO many people-at least 100 900
in number-assembled upon Knavesmire as on
match. The ground was kept and the course
cleared by the 9th light dragons, (which WAS
Internationally the cause OF many lives being
saved
AT the commencement Of the race the odds
were five and six to four on the lady, but in
running the last mile the odds turned round in
favor OF Mr.. Flint, who took the lead and kept
IL without difficulty. Mrs. Thornton used every
exertion TO win. but when she found that vic
tory was out OF the question she pulled up her
horse ''in the most sportsmanlike style" q
couple Of distances from home. Never surely, -
says the enthusiastic reporter, "did woman
ride in better form. 1t was difficult TO say
whether her horsemanship, her dress, or her
beauty was most admired, but the tout ensem-
BILE was unique" The body OF her habit was
leopard colOred, with blue sleeves the skirt
being buff and the cap blue. Mr.. Flint rode in
white.
No words could express Mrs. Thornton's dis.
appointment at her defeat, and the "ungallant
conduct OF Mr.. Flint" whose only Offense
seems to have been that he vanquished q pretty
woman, was severely reflected upon. It was
salo that not less than f200, 900 were staked
upon the match, and the universal admiration
ior the fair sex with which Yorkshire was cred.
ited. and which she has not yet lost, inflicted q
heavy loss upon hackers Of all ages.