Hi readers! I hope your week is going well! Are you at all a fan of mysteries? 🔎 I am! I especially love when the mysteries relate to Jane Austen and her characters! having loved books by Carrie Bebris, Tracy Kiely, and Stephanie Barron, I am really excited about this new mystery series featuring Mary Bennet by Riana Everly! 📚

Last month, Riana released the second book in this series – Death in Highbury: An Emma Mystery. And I am so excited about it because I absolutely adore Highbury! I can’t wait to see how Mary Bennet interacts with all the residents there! 🕵🏻‍♀️ 

Today, Riana is here to share a guest post and excerpt about horse racing. We hope you enjoy!

Thank you, Meredith, for letting me stop by your fabulous blog today. It’s always a delight to be here.

As some of you may know, I recently released the second mystery in my Austen-inspired Miss Mary Investigates series. In this new book, Death in Highbury: An Emma Mystery, Mary Bennet (from Pride and Prejudice) finds herself stuck in Emma Woodhouse’s hometown of Highbury. To her chagrin, she soon discovers that her brother-in-law, Mr. Darcy, has sent a certain annoying investigator from London down as well to make sure she is doing alright.

But this investigator, Alexander Lyons, is in Surrey for his own reasons too. He is investigating some shady goings-on at the nearby horse racing course at Epsom Downs. And so, I thought I would share a little bit of information on this venerable institution.

Horse racing itself is about as ancient as the domestication of horses. The earliest evidence of horse racing is about 6500 years old, among the nomadic tribesmen of Central Asia. Since then, the sport has flourished, especially among the well-to-do.

The Greeks and Romans had their races, both with chariots and with mounted riders. Modern horse racing had its origins in the 12^th century when English knights returned from the Crusades with fast Arab horses, which they then bred with English stock to produce thoroughbreds with both speed and endurance. There was much private wagering between nobles on whose stock was the fasted.

It was under Queen Anne (1702-1714) that horse racing became a professional sport with multiple entrants in a field and mass wagering by spectators. Race courses emerged all over England, and the raising and breeding of fast horses became big business.

One of these courses was Epsom Downs. It lies in Surrey, about 18 miles (29km) south of London. The site was first used as a racecourse by the 1640s, and it was under the pretense of a horse race that a group of Royalists met at Epsom during the Civil War in 1648.

Of this event, the Earl of Clarendon wrote in 1704,

“Soon after the meeting, which was held at Guildford, 18th May 1648 (…) a meeting of the royalists was held on Banstead Downs under the pretence of a horse race, and six hundred horses were collected and marched to Reigate.”

The first recorded race there took place on March 7, 1661. No less an eminence than Charles II was in attendance. Samuel Pepys was no stranger to the races. He wrote this in his famous diary for July 30, 1663:

“The town talk this day is of nothing but the great foot-race run this day on Banstead Downes, between Lee, the Duke of Richmond’s footman, and a tyler, a famous runner. And Lee hath beat him; though the King and Duke of York and all men almost did bet three or four to one upon the tyler’s head.”

Since then, the races have become more and more regular, and from about 1730 there have been regular races between May and October with prizes provided by local nobility. The first really big race took place in 1779, and the very next year the Earl of Derby organized a race for himself and his friends. This became known as the first “Derby,” a term now generally used for grand horse races.

In 1784 the course was extended in length to its current distance of a mile and a half, and by 1820, upwards of 80,000 people travelled from all over South-East England to Epsom to watch the races, and of course, to wager on the outcomes.

No wonder that it was such a big business! And no wonder that Alexander Lyons had something fishy to investigate. When that many people – and that many pounds – are at stake, there is bound to be someone trying to pull a fast one.

***

Here is a short excerpt from Death in Highbury: An Emma Mystery

It was him. Whatever was he doing here? He could hardly be seeking her, for he had not come to visit as he had promised before. What strange business could have drawn him to this village in the middle of Surrey, near no town or location of major importance? And moreover, could she possibly avoid him? She hurried her steps to move to Emma’s side, the quicker to enter Mrs. Latimer’s tea shop, but it was too late.

“Miss Bennet! Mary.” He had seen her. There was no recourse but to halt her steps and turn to face him.

“Mr. Lyons.” Her eyes were narrow and cold. She had not forgiven him, and she wished to let him know it.

“I say,” Mr. Knightley exclaimed. “Lyons—I know that name. Darcy has mentioned you. Miss Bennet, this must be the very man you spoke of in your account of the incident last autumn. Can it be?”

With no good grace, Mary introduced the two men. “Mr. Knightley, may I present Mr. Alexander Lyons of London. Mr. Lyons, Mr. Knightley.”

“We’re back to Mr. and Miss, are we, Mary? Well, so be it.” His voice was resigned, his expression sad, but Mary cared not. They had parted as friends, and then he had broken his promise. Now that the introductions were over, they might go their separate ways once more.

But Mr. Knightley shattered those thoughts. “We were about to take ice at the tea room. Do join us, sir. I would be pleased to know a friend of Mr. Darcy and of Miss Bennet too.” And so the invitation was accepted, much to Mary’s displeasure.

“What brings you here, Mr. Lyons?” Mr. Knightley sat back in the delicate chair in the tea room. The foursome had ordered their treats and were waiting for the serving girl to return with them.

“Two matters really,” the red-headed Scotsman replied. “I had been engaged to look into a situation that pertains somewhat to these parts, and matters had progressed to the point where I felt I must come down to make my inquiries, but it was a commission from another source that brings me to Highbury itself.” His eyes landed upon Mary and she forced herself to meet them coldly and then look away.

“Your business takes you to Surrey, sir?” Mr. Knightley balanced back on his chair

“Aye, to Epsom Downs specifically, but enough of my business lies in the more general neighbourhood that it matters little where I lay my head at night. Highbury is as fine a place as any, and I may discharge my second duty here.”

“That being, if I may so ask?”

“To look in on Miss Bennet. No, Mary, do not get yourself into a bother about this. Darcy was most concerned for your welfare, and to be honest, I was pleased to have a reason to leave London. The city is in an uproar, and little work was possible. He needed to return with your sister to Hertfordshire, but was most distressed knowing you were all alone. When he spoke to me about it, I accepted the task in a moment. I, too, was concerned for your welfare.”

She refused to meet his gaze and was relieved when the serving girl brought the tray of biscuits and ices for the party.

All the time, Emma was sitting at the edge of her chair, her eyes wide with speculation. “And what is your business, Mr. Lyons, that brings you to our corner of Surrey? Do you race horses? You are far too tall to be a rider.” Her eyes asked another question that Mary hoped she would not voice: And how do you two know each other?

Ooh! Mary definitely doesn’t seem to be a fan of Mr. Lyons! I wonder why! It sounds like he has some particular familiarity with her. And lol!! I wonder what mischief Emma will cause!😄

Thanks so much for sharing the interesting history about horse racing, Riana! I wish you all the best with your new release!

~ Book Description ~

A Jane Austen-inspired mystery, set in the world of Pride and Prejudice and Emma.

When political chaos in London forces Mary Bennet to take refuge in the picturesque town of Highbury, Surrey, she quickly finds herself safe among friends. Emma Woodhouse welcomes her as a guest at Hartfield, Jane Fairfax is delighted by her love of music, and Frank Churchill can’t stop flirting with her. But it is not long before Mary starts to suspect that beneath the charming surface, Highbury hides some dark secrets.

Alexander Lyons is sent to Surrey on an investigation, and at his friend Darcy’s request, heads to Highbury to make certain Mary is comfortable and safe. But no sooner does he arrive than one local man dies, and then another!

Soon Alexander and Mary are thrust into the middle of a baffling series of deaths. Are they accidents? Or is there a very clever murderer hiding in their midst? And can they put their personal differences aside in time to prevent yet another death in Highbury?

What do you think, friends?

Are you intrigued by this mystery?