Lady Augusta Fane, eldest daughter of John Rous, 2nd Earl of Stradbroke, and she was dining at the Old Club in Melton Mowbray with 25 people, the men in red coats and white breeches, the hunting set. Latecomers stood around the walls. She was attractive, and all were drawn by an exciting and different evening ahead. A few days before, Augusta had chosen a novel and fun way of celebrating the event. There was to be a full moon on Monday, so she suggested a Moonlight Steeplechase, and the idea was immediately seized upon and what was needed was decided. At about 9.30 pm, a message came into the room that the sky had become overcast, with clouds obscuring the moon. This was a setback, but there was no thought of cancelling the event. Colonel Baldock slipped down to the Midland Railway’s station at the bottom of the street, calling for the stationmaster on the way. Here they borrowed a horse-drawn van, and with the help of a porter, a number of the station’s lamps were loaded inside. Off they went to the course and hung a lamp at each end of every fence. A further lamp was hung high in the tree at the homeward turn. Eleven riders prepared for the race, and it may have been for visibility that caused them to ride wearing nightshirts. For those who were wintering at the Bell Hotel, Colonel Wilson, Algy Burnaby of Baggrave, and Colonel Hill Trevor, and those who lived locally, this was simple, but those who lived further out had had to borrow something. One rider struggled into a pink gossamer item donated by Lady Augusta. It had been planned for the race to be run in secret, but this was a vain hope. The lanes all around were alive with people, carts, and carriages. A hum of excited chatter got stronger as the time approached. At 11.30, a horn was blown and the riders gathered at the start, and away they went, the riders’ nightshirts helping the spectators to pick out where they were. After the turn, the riders rode hard for the finish. Zborowski was neck and neck with Burnaby. A stumble by Zborowski’s horse let Burnaby through, and the Count finished second. After the excitement, all the riders and their friends joined Augusta at Coventry House, the Zborowski home in Melton Mowbray, for a ‘splendid supper