Jockey Richard Dunwoody is about to try to replicate the achievement of Captain Barclay, who set one of the greatest sporting bets of the Regency era.
“On 29th May 2009 at 11.30pm, Richard Dunwoody will start a 1000 Mile Challenge and walk the same mile 1000 consecutive times (from the Bedford Lodge hotel in Newmarket up the Bury Road to a post half a mile away and back again) for a 1000 consecutive hours with the last mile up the home straight of Newmarket racecourse just before the Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup on 10th July 2009.
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In 1809 Captain Robert Barclay Allardice was bet that he couldn’t walk 1000 miles in 1000 hours for 1000 Guineas – meaning he had to walk one mile in every consecutive hour 24 hours a day – the challenge therefore taking 42 days with the maximum an hour and 20 minutes sleep at any one time (if you walk back to back miles in different hours).
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He completed the challenge on 12th July 1809, losing three stone in the process with his challenge hailed as ‘one of the greatest human feats ever attempted’.
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200 years on, champion jockey, polar explorer and BBC presenter, Richard Dunwoody MBE will recreate this challenge walking the same mile 1000 times in Newmarket – 1000 miles in 1000 hours but this time to raise a substantial sum for charity – Alzheimer’s Society, SPARKS, Racing Welfare and Spinal Research”
In 1809, Captain Barclay won £1,000 from the original bet and around £16,000 from side bets. His feat was considered one of the greatest sporting bets of the Regency era.
Let’s support Richard, his charities, and his sporting achievement!
For more information about the modern day Challenge click on this banner:
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[Gwen ed.: For us Yanks out there:
- One stone equals 14 pounds, meaning Barclay lost 42 pounds performing this feat.
- A guinea is the equivalent of about 20 shillings or roughly one pound sterling.
- In today’s money, Barclay won about £55,000 ($83,000) on the original bet and about £880,000 ($1,335,000) on side bets.]
