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Updated: May 9, 2025
The Spring Meeting at Polefax was always Old Mat's day out. And it was part of the accepted order of things that he should come to the Meeting driving in his American buggy behind the horse with which later in the day he meant to win the Hunters' Steeplechase. There were very few sporting men who remembered the day when Mat had not been a leading figure in the racing world.
"How's the old mare?" she asked, gathering her reins. "Four Pound?" queried the jockey. "I didn't see her this morning as I come along, Miss. She must ha' been layin' behind the trees. Another week, I should say." "William!" called the girl, and rode through the gate into the Paddock Close. Since the Polefax Meeting Silver had come and gone continually.
The vicar replied that the parish nurse thought he was in a very bad way. "Is she seeing to him?" "She's doing what she can." "We'd better ask Dr. Pollock to go round and look at him," said Mrs. Woodburn. "Don't you bother any more, Mr. Haggard. I'll see that the best is done." She telephoned to the Polefax doctor. That afternoon he called at Putnam's and made his report.
He had been brought up a Primitive Methodist and had first heard the Word at Rehoboth, the little red brick place of worship of the sect on the outskirts of Polefax; but being strong as he was original he had seceded from the church of his fathers early in life to the Foundation Methodists and started a little chapel of his own, which bore on its red side the inscription that gave the popular name to its founder's farm.
Haggard, when in the first vigour of youth he had come to take up his ministry in Cuckmere thirty years since: One brilliant morning in early June, some two months after she had brought the gypsy's mare back to Putnam's on the evening of the Polefax Meeting, Boy rose early and stood humming the lines as she dressed, to a simple little tune she had composed for them.
The countryside made of it an annual holiday and flocked to the fields under Polefax Beacon to see the horses and to enjoy Old Mat, who was the accepted centre-piece. The Grand Stand was formed of Sussex wains drawn up end to end; and the Paddock was just roped off.
Nobody but those immediately concerned were at Polefax station to see the local National horse boxed for Liverpool. Albert was there, and Boy, her collar about her ears, and Billy Bluff looking unusually dejected.
Mat and his Ma had one daughter between them, known to all and sundry in the racing world as Boy Woodburn. Boy Shows Her Metal The Polefax Meeting was small and friendly; never taken very seriously by the fraternity, and left almost entirely to local talent. Old Mat described it always as reg'lar old-fashioned.
The buggy bumped over the grass, the old mare trailing behind with outstretched neck. The girl folded her arms and looked down her nose like a footman. Silver, following on his pony, saw her face and chuckled suddenly. This stern girl had a sense of humour after all. Then the chaff became a cheer; and the Polefax Meeting was over. Across the Downs
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