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KINGSCLERE
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SPOTTISWOODF AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUAK1
LONDON
JOHN PORTER
On his Favourite Cob, Jack.
From the Painting by IV. Sextie.
KINGSCLERE
BY
JOHN PORTER
EDITED BY BYRON WEBBER
WITH 19 FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS
AND OTHERS
SECOND EDITION
LONDON
CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY
1896
TO HIS GRACE
THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER, K.G.
THIS WORK IS BY PERMISSION
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF MANY FAVOURS
BY HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT
JOHN PORTER
EDITOR'S FOREWORD
As simple chronicler and amanuensis, my own part
in the present volume appears to ask for a few words
of explanation. From the beginning I have been
made to feel that mine was a task of some difficulty.
I had, of course, to fully set down all that John
Porter said spontaneously for himself. That was
easy. Although he would be the last man in the
world to lay claim to a literary style, he possesses
one of admirable lucidity. He says what he has to
say with directness and graphic force. But ' on their
own merits modest men are dumb,' and it became
necessary again and again, as the book was being com-
piled and written, to compel him to say more. The
arts of the interviewer had to be employed without
mercy, and the author's almost invincible reluctance
to figure prominently in the narrative had to be
set ruthlessly at defiance. Not that even the thus
completed design stands quite as it was shaped for
passing through the press. On the other hand — as,
for example, in the final chapter — I, on my own
part, not without a protest on the part of John
Porter, have presented him as I am sure those who
viii KINGSCLERE
know him and Park House will feel that he and his
family ought to appear. The collateral contributions
to the individual history, which occur in narrative
and notes, were, it is submitted, necessary to make
the work fairly complete. It was said, when he had
been for that period before the public as a trainer,
that ' the history of John Porter for the past twenty-
five years was the history of the British Turf.'
That which was true in the statement eight years
ago has, I need scarcely observe, acquired dis-
tinctly additional force since.
I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without
giving expression to the extreme pleasure which
my collaboration with John Porter has from first
to last afforded. It has been during mornings on
the Downs, and forenoons and afternoons in the
office (or library), that, with the agreeable interrup-
tions of ' stable,' we have put the book together.
To me its pages are pregnant with the most
charming associations. In short, ' Kingsclere' and
the household at Park House are, and will ever
remain, a delightful memory.
BYRON WEBBER.
May 1896.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
John Porters boyhood— Rugeley and ' Hedgeford '— ' All for horses ' —
Alderman Copeland and Walters, his trainer— Tom Ashmall, a school-
fellow — Marlow and Whitehouse — Palmer, the Porters' family doctor
— Letter and anticipatory anecdote of the notorious poisoner— Palmer's
trainer— Porter engaged as light-weight by « Honest John Day ' at
Michel Grove— Horses : Rataplan, Nabob, and the flying Virago,
Porter's special charge— Anecdotes of Virago— A perilous journey and
an appalling dream — Virago's magnificent double victory at Epsom —
Turning-point in a potential jockey's career — Removal to Findon —
William Goater and Mr. Padwick— Story of Merry Hart— With The
Ranger to Paris— Lord Strathmore's opinion — Fordham's delight-
Gardening— Farewell to Findon— A delightful memory
CHAPTER II
Death of Manning— Porter's introduction to Sir Joseph Hawley by the
Earl of Westmorland— ' Why, you are only a boy ! '—The 'boy's'
journey with the Baronet to Cannon Heath— Joint inspection of the
stables, and engagement of Porter as trainer— Remarks on the lucky
Baronet's previous Turf career — His extremely limited stud— St.
Alexis : a case of restoration — Bedminster — A rosy trial — Another not
quite so rosy — ' Well, Annesley, what do you think of the scenery
now ? ' — Serious illness of Porter at Doncaster — The Baronet's charac-
teristic kindness— Letters — The strange story of Satyr — < Vou are a
nice horse to put I on!' — No hedging possible, but the cripple
PAGB
won
CHAPTER III
Sir Frederick Johnstone's first association with the stable— The game
and unchangeable Xi— The two-year-olds, Rosicrucian, Blue Gown,
and Green Sleeve— A big wager — A trial, and a race — Huxtable's
unspeakable surprise— The prologue (at a former Ascot) of the Blue
Gown drama at Doncaster— The weighing-out trick: 'touch-and-
16
KINGSCLERE
PAGB
go ' — Doyle's delight and the Admiral's indignation — Removal to
Park House, and sickness in the stable— Illness of Rosicrucian and
Green Sleeve — Blue Gown's persistent health — 'The Old Toll-house;
or, the Defeat of the Touts' — John Porter's communicative com-
panion, 'who knew Hawley and Wells and Porter' — The parcel from
W. H. Smith & Son's — Disclosure and denouement. . . .31
CHAPTER IV
Filching the trainer's good name — An artfully knavish Turf adviser—
The wrongful heir— A curiosity in Turf prophecy : a Silas Wegg who
dropped into poetry— Important trials, and an unread riddle— Why
Pero Gomez was beaten — Wells that day not Wells — A thunderstorm
which lost the Oaks — A marvellous Kingsclere year — Rosicrucian
and Blue Gown at their greatest — ' Why, I could not tell you how
good Blue Gown was ! ' — Sir Joseph Hawley's failing health— The
relations between owner and trainer — The Baronet's uniform kind-
ness and consideration — ■ One of the best friends I have had ' . . 51
CHAPTER V
Vagabond's City and Suburban — Walter and his ' Kingsclere Racing
Circular' at 'The Swan '—The trial of Vagabond— Effect of the
report on the betting — The scratching of Vagabond and King
Cophetua — The libel on Sir Joseph Hawley in the ' Sporting Times '
— Meeting of Sir Joseph Hawley and Dr. Shorthouse— Additions to
the Kingsclere stable — Isonomy — An extraordinary trial — Isonomy
1 great ' and Fernandez ' good ' — All ' going ' the same to Isonomy —
Porter ceases to train for the owner of Fernandez — Lord Stamford
joins the stable 66
CHAPTER VI
Beaudesert and his bowed tendon— A too confident purchase — • Passed
as sound ' — Geheimniss : her astonishing gift of speed — Whipper In :
an extraordinary tell-tale — A wonderfully strong stable — A Two
Thousand trial — A double claim on Archer — The Derby trial of
St. Blaise — H.R.H. the Prince of Wales's first visit to Kingsclere —
Was St. Blaise a lucky horse ? — The trial good enough to win nine
Derbys out of ten — Charles Wood's masterly riding of St. Blaise —
Reasons for losing the Grand Prix — Accident to Reprieve — ' A line '
for St. Simon— Mr. Cloete — Purchase of the Casuistry colt — Trouble-
some to train — Sale and re-sale of Paradox — Scratched for the Cam-
bridgeshire—Porter ceases to train for Mr. Cloete ....
CONTENTS xi
CHAPTER VII
PAGB
The greatest horse of the century — Ormonde stripped for the first and
only time in a trial — Kendal, Whipper In, and Whitefriar in • the
question'— Ormonde's races his trials— Minting and Ormonde meet
for the first time— John Porter and Matthew Dawson at New-
market — The confidence of Minting's trainer — Viney's insubordina-
tion at the post— Had ' to make running for Ormonde '— Ormonde's
wonderful performance in the Free Handicap— A more interesting
match than The Dutchman's with Voltigeur declared off— Ormonde's
winning balance— ' Useful' Candlemas compared with Ormonde —
The Prince of Wales joins the stable— John Porter and Matthew
Dawson at Ascot— Porter far from sanguine — Ormonde a roarer, and
yet a mightier victor than ever — Ormonde summoned to a Jubilee
Reception at Grosvenor House — The cabman's unbelief— Ormonde
goes to the stud— Departs for Argentina— His return, reception of
his old trainer, and final departure for America .... 99
CHAPTER VIII
A trial of Friar's Balsam— A great week for Kingsclere at Goodwood —
Why and how the Portsmouth barber followed the stable — The
accident to Friar's Balsam — What really occurred — Orbit— Ormuz,
the stable slave — Purchase of the son of Springfield and Sanda — He
(Sainfoin) sold to Sir James Miller with contingencies — Sainfoin's
Derby no fluke — Two unlucky horses — The Baron de Hirsch's horses
at Kingsclere — A neglected sire — ' Do we want stayers ? ' — The slow
coming of Common— He 'wanted time' — The trial for the Guineas
— The oracular opinion of Newmarket — Common's races - Views on
taking such slowly maturing horses out of the trainer's hands at the
end of their three-year-old career 117
CHAPTER IX
A splendid quartette— La Fleche— A record price for a yearling— The
Prince of Wales's excellent judgment — Undefeated at two years old
— Ought to have won the Derby — A question of jockeyship— The
mare's other races — Orme : a late blossom— Orme, La Fleche, and
Watercress ■ together ' — The poisoning of Orme — Discovery of the
symptoms — Veterinary and other opinions— The voluminous horse-
dentist— A vexed and heated controversy — Offer of a reward for the
apprehension of the poisoner — The Press, serious and humorous, on
Orme — The horse's restoration and splendid victories — Orme's place
in the St. Leger accounted for — The second Eclipse, ' the greatest
race of his life' — Matchbox not a tip-topper — The unfortunate
Bullingdon , , . . .134
xii KINGSCLERE
CHAPTER X
PAGB
Throstle — Her two-year old career — The Coronation and the sensational
St. Leger— Parallel cases — Caller Ou and Dutch Oven — A story of
Caller Ou's St. Leger — Throstle's trainer on the wrong one —
Throstle, when she liked, 'the best filly of her year' — Her final
* bolt ' — The season following remarkable for Kingsclere seconds—
An excuse for Garter Queen —The disappointing Le Var — Always
slightly unsound — Only a tolerable trial — Porter's advice to Lady
Stamford— Omladina — Good, game Matchmaker — Analysis of stakes
won by horses trained by John Porter 153
CHAPTER XI
Porter's former views on Turf reform — Early foaling and its evils — In-
jurious effects of 'sprint' racing on both horse and jockey— Porter's
evidence before the Royal Commission on horse-breeding — Principal
points recapitulated — Curious case of a transmitted defect — Racing in
France — The French the better system — Confirmatory evidence re-
specting ' sprint ' racing and roaring given by other witnesses —
Matthew Dawson not amongst the reformers — The great Jockey ques-
tion— Suggested change in the foaling period — Fewer short races and
an alteration in the running of two-year-olds suggested— Letter from
the secretary of the Royal Commission to Porter — If a March half-
bred foal, why not adopt the principle with thoroughbreds? . . 168
CHAPTER XII
Suitable site for a breeding establishment — Dressing the land — Buildings
and paddocks — Mr. Dollar's plan and description — The sire and the
dam — The foal : feeding and treatment — Mr. Dollar on training
stables — The structures : their appointments, appliances, and fittings
■ — The Park House stables — Education of the yearling — First lessons
— Step by step progress— The system of Capt. M. H. Hayes — An
experiment— Porter's verdict— 'The trainer's anxious time' — The
forcing method denounced — The race-horse leaves home — Risks of
travel — The old and new system contrasted — Anecdote of Sir Joseph
Ilawley— 'The fall of Wolsey '—Arrival at the place of sport — End
of the trainer's duties — The race . . . . . . .187
CHAPTER XIII
Stables — The Kingsclere establishment — Mr. Dollar's views— The head
lad — His duties and responsibilities— The daily work — The 'feed ' —
The litter — ' Throw physic to the dogs ' — The stable boy: his inden-
CONTENTS xiii
PAGE
tures — His treatment and discipline at Kingsclere —Advantages of
such training to the boy — Jockeys — 'Where are they?' — The jockey's
position and emolument compared with the trainer's — A suggested
and much-needed reform — Wells and Sir Joseph Hawley — Wells's
walk over — Wells's tailor — Trainers — John Scott — Thomas Dawson
— Matthew Dawson : ' a great trainer ' — Joseph Dawson — William
Goater — ' The ten best horses ' — Teddington a weak foal — Birming-
ham another — Fisherman's stoutness — Gladiateur's age — St. Simon . 207
CHAPTER XIV
Touts, horse-watchers, ' training reporters ' — A highly respectable voca-
tion — The tout made amusing — Another side to the question — Porter's
protest in ' Bell's Life ' — A stable-boy tampered with — ' A backer
of horses ' retained for the defence — The tipsters of the circulars the
first employers of training reporters — Burlesque reports from train-
ing quarters — A specimen — The cost of thrashing a tout — ' Necessary
evils' — The serious side of the question . . . . . .241
CHAPTER XV
A native's opinion of the Downs — Other opinions — Gleanings from their
ancient history — Sporting from the beginning — The researches of
Messrs. W. Money and T. W. Shore — King John at Freemantle
Park — A royal sportsman and breeder of running horses — The sport-
ing Duke of Cumberland at Cannon Heath — Eclipse — A font for a
horse-block — Rescued by Porter — Burghclere : William Cobbett —
Steventon : Jane Austen — Laverstoke mills — The robbery of bank-
note-paper ........... 250
CHAPTER XVI
The Prince of Wales's visits to Kingsclere — Other visitors to Park
House— -Lord Russell of Killowen and Sir Henry Hawkins on the
Downs with Porter — Sir Henry's fox-terrier 'Jack' — The missing
Bishop — Distinct advantages of the Downs as a training ground —
The beauty of animated nature on the Downs — A Conservative
rookery — The trainer's troubles — 'The North Pole' — Coursing —
Fox-hunting : full-cry after ' Pat ' — ' The Kingsclere Farmers' Meet-
ing ' — Never again ! — Gamekeeper and poacher — A temporary
attachment — Demonstrations and festivities — Lost and found on
the Downs 266
xiv KINGSCLERE
CHAPTER XVII
PAGE
Park House and its characteristics —The gardens — Pheasants, owls, and
Mornington Cannon's cat — 'Sanctuary' — The pet pony from San-
dringham— Mementoes and relics— Kingsclere's connection with Park
House— The Vicar and the stable-boys — The rival barbers and
carriers — The Whiteley of Kingsclere — An ancient hostelry— The
Albert Hall— John Porter's speech— The concerts— The Horticul-
tural Society — Football and cricket — The Church — Graves in the
churchyard — Old-world Kingsclere — Conclusion .... 285
EDITOR'S NOTES
William Palmer 303
Palmer's Stud 3°9
Virago 3 12
Catch'em Alive's Cambridgeshire, 1863 313
The Champagne Stakes, 1864 316
George Augustus Sala's Impressions of Sir Joseph Hawley . . . 317
* The Kingsclere Racing Circular ' 317
The Kingsclere, London, and Glasgow Turf Commission Agency — The
Methods of the Swindler 319
Dr. Shorthouse and the Swindler, Walter 322
The Libel on Sir Joseph Hawley 323
Committal and Imprisonment of Dr. Shorthouse—' Argus's ' Spite . 326
Who wrote the Libel 3 2 8
The Ancestry of Isonomy 329
Fred. Archer 330
Tributes to the Memory of Fred. Archer 333
Paradox 336
The Eaton Stud 33$
The Dam of Ormonde 337
The Worship of Ormonde 339
A distinguished Roarer at the Stud 340
' The Infirmity ' not transmitted 340
Mr. J. F. Nisbet on Heredity and Roaring 341
Visitors to Orme .......... 345
Daniel Dawson, the Horse-poisoner 347
The Robbery of Bank (of England) Note-paper 349
The Natural Foaling Period 35 2
The Old and the New Jockey 353
1 Tommy Hughes's Yearlings ' 354
CONTENTS xv
PAliB
The Burning of Klarikoff in his Van 355
The Vanning of Elis from Goodwood to Doncaster . . . . 356
Eclipse 358
The Burlesque of the Training Reports in the ' Sporting Gazette ' . 360
Two Thousand Guineas Winners ........ 364
Winners of the Derby ......... 365
Winners of the Oaks 366
Winners of the St. Leger 368
Scale of Weight for Age 369
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FULL-PAGE PLATES
JOHN PORTER Frontispiece
BLUE GOWN, WINNER OF THE DERBY . . . to face fi. 36
PERO GOMEZ, WINNER OF THE LEGER „ 59
ISONOMY „ 72
GEHEIMNISS, WINNER OF THE OAKS „ 80
SHOTOVER, WINNER OF THE TWO THOUSAND AND
DERBY „ 84
TRIAL OF ST. BLAISE ....... „ 86
ST. BLAISE, WINNER OF THE DERBY .... „ 88
BEND OR, ORMONDE, AND LILY AGNES ... „ IOO
ORMONDE, WINNER OF THE TWO THOUSAND, DERBY,
AND LEGER ......... ,,104
THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER „ 112
ORMONDE, WINNER OF THE TWO THOUSAND, DERBY,
AND LEGER „ 12S
COMMON, WINNER OF THE TWO THOUSAND, DERBY,
AND LEGER „ 1 30
LA FLECHE, WINNER OF THE ONE THOUSAND, OAKS,
AND LEGER „ 1 36
PARK HOUSE, SOUTH VIEW „ 2c6
FRONT YARD, PARK HOUSE „ 2g3
MIDDLE YARD, PARK HOUSE „ 2iO
NEW YARD, PARK HOUSE ,, 2lS
MUSEUM, PARK HOUSE „ 230
xviii KINGSCLERE
IN TEXT
PAGE
GENERAL VIEW OF BREEDING ESTABLISHMENT . . . . 191
VIEW OF PADDOCK BOXES FOR MARES AND FOALS. . .193
PORTION OF PARK HOUSE, SOUTH VIEW 207
GROUND PLAN OF PARK HOUSE GROUNDS AND STABLES . 2o8
MODEL RACING ESTABLISHMENT 209
MANGER AND SECTION OF MANGER 212
VENTILATOR (OPEN AND SHUT) AND SECTION OF VENTILATOR 213
BOYS' SITTING-ROOM, WITH DORMITORIES OVER . . . 217
HEAD MEN'S ROOMS IN NEW YARD 2l8
WATER TOWER 287
COACHMAN'S COTTAGE . - . 288
STUD-GROOM'S COTTAGE 289
KINGSCLERE
CHAPTER I
John Porter's boyhood — Rugeley and 'Hedgeford' — 'All for horses'
— Alderman Copeland and Walters, his trainer — Tom Ashmall,
a schoolfellow — Marlow and Whitehouse — Palmer, the Porters'
family doctor — Letter and anticipatory anecdote of the notorious
poisoner — Palmer's trainer — Porter engaged as light-weight by
1 Honest John Day' at Michel Grove — Horses : Rataplan, Nabob,
and the flying Virago, Porter's special charge — Anecdotes of Virago
— A perilous journey and an appalling dream — Virago's magnificent
double victory at Epsom — Turning-point in a potential jockey's
career — Removal to Findon — William Goater and Mr. Padwick —
Story of Merry Hart— With The Ranger to Paris — Lord Strathmore's
opinion — Fordham's delight — Gardening — Farewell to Findon— A
delightful memory.
John Porter was born at Rugeley in Staffordshire
on March 2, 1838. He passed prosperously through
the ordinary ailments and perils which beset infancy
and boyhood, and with the exception of having been
once fished out of a brook, and once missing by
the space of a few minutes premature burial beneath
a falling wall, he was never at that period in any
apparent danger of summary dismissal from the world.
John's father, who had had some early connection
with the law, destined the robust youth for a legal
career ; but this idea was abandoned when it was
B
2 KINGSCLERE
perceived that the boy was ' all for horses.' From
Rugeley to Hednesford (locally, ' Hedgeford ' ) is but
a step, and we must take it to find the very beginning
of John Porter's association with the Turf. Hed-
nesford was rough, and an American might have
deemed some of the inhabitants rather ' tough,' in
his sense of the term, but it was a sporting com-
munity out and out. It was the headquarters of
an important training district, and belonged more
or less to ' the country ' of several packs of hounds.
Those who are familiar with the history of the Turf
for the past fifty years need scarcely be reminded
that for long after 1838 Hednesford held its own
among English training grounds, while the country
is hunted thereabouts to-day. Alderman Copeland,
whose colours, ' blue and white stripe,' were as
popular as they were frequently seen in the 'forties
and 'fifties, trained at Hednesford, and Walters, the
Alderman's trainer, taking a friendly and sympa-
thetic interest in the boy, permitted him the run of
the stables. Not that John ever neglected, or had
any truant desire to absent himself from, school.
The schoolmaster was an old-fashioned pedagogue
named Brittan, a worthy man and a conscientious
teacher, who received a number of the better class
of boys as day pupils in his own house at a place
called Hitching Hill. John's recollections of his
comparatively uneventful schooldays are altogether
pleasant. The schoolmaster at home and the school-
master abroad were, as frequently happens, different
persons. On duty, and after he and kindly Mrs.
SCHOOL DAYS 3
Brittan had made the lads warm and comfortable —
the motherly solicitude of the dame being especially
appreciated on wet and wintry mornings — ' master '
was all austerity and strict attention to study. After
school was ' after school ' to him, as well as to his
scholars. John remained at his studies, where,
thanks to the educational method of excellent Mr.
Brittan, he was thoroughly grounded in all the
essentials of a good plain education for a period of
six years. While there he made friendships which
exercised a marked influence on his subsequent
career, and were only severed by death. One
of his schoolfellows was Tom Ashmall, whose
father, a country squire, resided at an old ancestral
mansion called Fairwell Hall. Tom Carr, another
Hednesford trainer, was Ashmall's uncle. John often
spent his holidays at Fairwell Hall, and together
the lads would make excursions to Carr's, so that, as
Porter expresses it, ' even in those early days I was
among racehorses.' The jockeys whom he became
acquainted with at that time — there were never
very many regularly located at Hednesford — were
Charles Marlow and George Whitehouse. He also
got to know FlintofT, the trainer, and Bradley, a
well-known trainer of steeplechasers. Among the
horses he most distinctly remembers are Chanticleer
and King Cole, especially the latter, ' the first horse
he was ever put across.' Charles Marlow was one
of the famous jockeys of his time. Among other
records of him in the pages of ' The Druid ' there
is one in which he and King Cole are amusingly
B 2
4 KINGSCLERE
associated. In one of his swiftly vivid sketches of
the characteristics of jockeys of the period ' The
Druid ' says that ' Marlow was a very nice, but not
perhaps a brilliant, horseman, with good hands, very
patient, and a most resolute mode of riding his
races out. "A race is never won till you're past
the post," was his invariable motto ; and hence he
always persevered while there was an ounce of
squeezing powder left. Few but him could have
brought home the Knight of Avenel in the Port, or
landed Eltheron and Phlegethon at Ascot. Still, his
style, like his seat, was not firm and close ; and his
set-to was so high that he often seemed to have the
horse's head as well as his own in his hands.'
In the history of racing, as well as in the
chronicles of crime, the name of William Palmer, the
poisoner, is inseparable from Rugeley, in which town
he resided and practised as a medical man. Rugeley,
indeed, had so much cause to loathe the man and
the crime which made the town notorious that we
were gravely and circumstantially informed of an
effort that was made on behalf of the inhabitants to
get the name of the place changed. It is a good
story, and ought therefore to be true, that when
Lord Palmerston was waited upon by a deputation
of the protesting inhabitants, he suggested that
' Palmerston ' would be an appropriate substitute.
Palmer was the Porters' family doctor. He was
accounted very clever in his profession, and, with
his cheery, companionable manner, was popular
with both patients and friends, of whom he had an
THE POISONER PALMER 5
extensive local circle. Inasmuch as there will be no
further occasion to mention him, it may be remarked
in this place that some years after Porter had finally
left Rugeley, he was paying his annual visit to
the old people, when he had occasion to pass
Palmer's surgery gate. The doctor observed and
detained him, and, after a chat about Yellow Jack,
Coroner, Loup Garou, and other horses in which he
was interested, said ' he was sorry to hear that Cook
was dead,' and then invited Porter 'to join him at
lunch.' John declined the invitation, as he was
going for a ride. Thereupon Palmer asked him to
oblige him by taking a note to Saunders, his trainer,
to inform the latter of Cook's death ; which Porter
did. That day at the family dinner the death of
Cook was discussed, and John's father expressed
4 his belief that there was something wrong.' With
this anecdote, by the way, an extract from a letter
of Palmer's may be given showing to what desperate
extremities the poisoner was at that time driven for
want of money. He writes to a gentleman who was
well known to the Porter family as follows : ' Will
you please go with the bearer to Mr. , and ask
him to send me 5/. if he has it. If not, ask him to
please to borrow it. Tell him it is [words illegible]
of necessity, as you know. Tell him how I am
situated, and also that I will do as much for him in
return the first opportunity I have. I know he can
borrow it for me if he will. He shall have it back
as soon as I have money for you, which I hope will
not be longer than a week ; or else I am sure I must
6 KINGSCLERE
go to jail. God bless you ! Do all you can for me.
I must have the 5/. somehow or other.'
To resume the narrative. John Porter's school-
days furnish few stories of boyish scrapes and
adventures. It was 'horses' from the beginning,
albeit none of his remembrances of the nobler animal
have displaced from his mind's eye a certain quaint
old donkey which he and Tom Ashmall used to ride
along a gravel path ; never, however, without being
rubbed off against a wall or a grindstone — answering
to the starting and winning posts — during the up-
roarious operation. Morland might have painted pic-
tures from Porter's vivid recollections of the besom-
makers from Cannock Chase, with the ' lengths of
ling' packed round the donkeys' bodies, and the
charcoal-burners who followed their calling in the
same neighbourhood. These pictorial memories,
with the wonderful 'echo tree,' the overwhelming of
the wall of Hagley Park by a mighty flood which is
a fearsome tradition in those parts to this day — a
catastrophe, already referred to, which occurred but
a few minutes after John had passed the spot on
his way from school — comprise all the reflections of
incidents which at this distant period colour the
remembrance of those happy days.
Shortly after he left school for good and all a
step was taken which was remarkable for starting
him in what proved to be the business of his active
life. Saunders (who trained for Palmer) had suc-
ceeded Carr, and the Porters' business bringing
young John into closer connection with the stable,
WITH 'HONEST JOHN' DAY 7
he, allowed by the elders his own way in the matter,
entered into a sort of independent service with
Saunders for master, on a plain and simple verbal
agreement. This arrangement continued for about
twelve months, and may be described as John
Porter's apprenticeship. Among the good horses
which were then in the stable were Goldfinder,
(Palmer's horse), Hobbie Noble, and Doubt. At
the termination of the period named the subject of
this narrative was attracted by an advertisement in
the ' Racing Calendar,' to the effect that J. B. Day
(' Honest John') had a vacancy in his stable for a
light-weight. He promptly replied to this, to him,
alluring ' wanted,' and having given an account of
his experience and qualifications, was immediately
engaged. The contracting parties conferred to-
gether at Michel Grove, the youth drew out his own
indentures in proper legal form, and the two
signatures were appended to the document. The
term of service was three years. At that time
1 Honest John ' trained for Mr. Padwick,and the stud,
which was somewhat extensive, included Lascelles,
Trickness, Scythian (who won the Chester Cup),
and Rataplan. John often rode Rataplan, and his
remembrance of Stockwell's famous brother is that
of a big coachy chestnut, in disposition docile and
lazy, and ' rather flat in his heels.' Then there was
Nabob, a black horse, high on the leg, and the
renowned Virago. Of this mare Porter retains a
vivid recollection, and with abundant cause. She
was his special charge, and it might almost have
8 KINGSCLERE
been said that ' he was always with her.' He had
a trying experience and a great fright when she
went to York, with him in constant attendance, to
run in the Great Northern and Flying Dutchman
handicaps. During the journey down the ventilator
of the van, a piece of perforated metal of about a
foot square, blew off, and left the mare exposed to a
dangerous draught. He placed a cushion over the
aperture, and kept it there without moving until the
completion of the journey. He felt very nervous as
the train dashed under the bridges lest she should
take fright ; but, thanks to her extreme docility, York
was reached without a mishap. It was reported
at York that ' she was to be poisoned.' Whether
the rumour was well or ill founded, every precau-
tion was taken to defeat the nobblers. John Day
and William Goater sat up all night with Virago,
and Porter himself slept in the box with her. In
order to make a certainty of it — to defend her at the
last extremity in the event of any enterprising mis-
creant entering the box ' in the dead waste and
middle of the night' — the boy threaded his wrist
through the strap of the mare's muzzle, and then,
making himself a bed in the litter, addressed
himself to slumber. He slept, and dreamt, and
in his dreams was yet attending on Virago. He
imagined that she had been poisoned. He saw
distinctly the poor creature quivering with agony,
and the froth of the deadly poison dropping from
her muzzle, and then, gently drawn to his feet, as
she herself got up after a tranquil night's rest, he
VIRAGO 9
found, to his enormous relief, that it was all a dream.
When Virago, again at York, was run into and a
hind leg cut she was unable to do any work between
that meeting and Newmarket. However, she
warmed up to her work in the race, and won in a
canter. Porter has no hesitation in giving it as his
opinion that Virago was the best mare at all
distances that ever trod the turf. He questions the
accuracy of the description of her adopted by ' The
Druid,' namely, 'the roach-backed Virago.' She
had great length and power, and as to any striking
peculiarity in ' shape and make,' all you could justly
say of her, neither more nor less, was that she had
1 the regular mare's head and neck.' Looking back
over the animals that have passed through his hands,
Porter considers it remarkable that the two finest of
them all, Virago and Ormonde, should have become
roarers. Oulston and Yellow Jack, the historical
'second,' were also of the Michel Grove company.
Porter, in recalling the last-named celebrity, is
reminded of a horse of more recent date, namely
Matchbox, who, like Yellow Jack, 'was not quite
good enough.'
The Michel Grove stud also included Little
Harry and St. Hubert. During his service there
Porter rode in all the trials, and occasionally sported
silk in public, albeit Wells (who could ride 6 st.)
was the recognised stable jockey. The bother
about St. Hubert causing the retirement of ' Honest
John' and the transfer of Mr. Pad wick's horses to
the care of William Goater (previously head lad
io KINGSCLERE
to John Day) at Findon, Mr. Pad wick made
arrangements with Porter to remove to the latter
place in his especial interest. He took up his
residence at Mr. Padwick's house. At Findon,
notwithstanding his youth, he was appointed to a
responsible position. He fed the horses, kept the
books, was paymaster, and, in short, saw to every-
thing. Whatever may have been said of Mr.
Padwick by others, John Porter always found him
a kind and considerate employer, one of the least
suspicious men in the world, and one whom it was a
constant pleasure to serve. Porter's recollections of
William Goater are grateful and admiring. He (to
quote the words of the subject of this biographical
sketch) ' was an excellent stableman and a sound
trainer, although, perhaps, a little too severe ; a good
and honourable man, faithful to his employers, and
most kind to me.' In recalling those days he
adds, ' Findon in more than one respect proved
the turning-point of my career.' For example, he
went to Epsom to ride Virago in the Metropolitan,
but that marvellous mare winning the City and
Suburban (both races took place on the same day),
she put up the penalty and let in Wells. It was
a battle between Danebury and Findon, and the
circumstances of it made the conflict one of the
most remarkable on record. The two races were
run on the Thursday, and we read that ' in the
City on Tuesday morning Virago opened in im-
mense force, and as little as 2 to i was taken
about her until the advance of Marc Antony,
VIRAGO'S DOUBLE EVENT n
who, introduced at 8 to i, closed, after a large
outlay, at 4 to i taken, 5 to 2 being offered
against the mare. On Wednesday, at the City
rendezvous, the eagerness of Marc Antony's sup-
porters for the City and Suburban slightly preju-
diced the position of Virago, and at the close
there was little to choose between them, 7 to 2
being taken about each.' When the numbers ap-
peared on the telegraph board on the day, as
little as 6 to 4 was taken about Virago, Mr.
Howard (the owner) and a great many of his
friends at the same time backing her at 20 and 25
to 1 for the double event. The Danebury party
nevertheless swore by Marc Antony, ' young John
Day ' declaring that ' nothing but a flyer ' could beat
him. Virago proved to be that flyer. Virago, 3 yrs.,
6 st. 4 lb., was first, with Marc Antony, 3 yrs., 5 st.
1 lb., second, the verdict being, ' won in a canter by
three lengths.' Carrying 6 st. in the Great Metro-
politan, including the 5 lb. winning penalty, Virago
won cleverly by a length, Muscovite, 5 yrs., 7 st.
7 lb., being second. The City and Suburban was
run over the last mile and a quarter of the New
Derby course, and the Great Metropolitan em-
braced a distance of ' two miles and a quarter, to
start from the winning-chair.' They took 10 to 3
about Virago, first favourite, for the second race,
and 5 to 1 about Muscovite. The confidence of
the public in this great mare was unbounded.
They took 5 to 1 about her at Epsom for the
Great Northern Handicap, which she won. She
12 KINGSCLERE
headed the list of winning horses in that year
(1854) with 10,070/., Andover (who had won the
Derby) coming next with 7,095/., and Boiardo,
another three-year-old, third with 4,700/. To sum
up her deeds in another way, Mr. Howard's ch. f.
Virago, by Pyrrhus the First, out of Virginia, ran
eleven times as a three-year-old, and was only
beaten once, in the County Plate at the York August
Meeting, when they laid 2 to 1 on her. With
Virago's splendid double victory at the Epsom
Spring Meeting in 1854 John Porter's hopes and
ambition as a jockey waned. His disappointment
there engendered different aspirations. He sported
silk afterwards, it is true, but not with any further
intention of making jockeyship his career.
One of the most remarkable horses in the
Findon stud was Merry Hart, a three-year-old
by Fallow Buck out of Joyful, the property of the
Earl of Westmorland. He ran eight times in
1863, and was credited once with the barren victory
of a walk-over. Merry Hart was bred by a
Lincolnshire farmer, and had never had a collar
on him, or been ' managed ' in any way, when he
was taken in hand at Findon. However, he once
came very near rewarding the trainer for all the
trouble which had been taken to break him, and
that was when he finished second to Catch-'em-
Alive in the Cambridgeshire. The respective
weights were — Catch-'em-Alive, 4 yrs., 7 st. ;
Merry Hart, 3 yrs., 5 st. 12 lb. Won by a
head. After the race it was found that the scales
WITH THE RANGER TO PARIS 13
had been tampered with, thereby preventing the
winner from drawing the proper weight. In the
following year Merry Hart, 4 yrs., 7 st. 6 lb.,
compensated owner and stable for their disappoint-
ment by winning the City and Suburban from a
big field, and at the handsome price of 20 to 1.
No owner saw more of the ways and work of the
subject of this page of early biography than the late
Lord Westmorland. Porter reckons him among
his first, his kindest, and most appreciative friends.
Hearing that Mr. Savile was in want of a trainer,
Porter waited on his Lordship, and said he thought of
applying for the berth ; whereupon Lord Westmor-
land adjured him to ' do nothing of the kind,' adding,
1 1 have something else much better than that in
store for you.' The advice of Lord Westmorland
was followed, and Porter remained on at Findon.
It fell to his lot as manager to accompany The
Ranger to Paris to superintend that comparatively
famous horse's starting in the Grand Prix (the first
year it was run), with James Goater as the jockey.
The horse was stabled under the same roof as Lord
Strathmore's Saccharometer. Those who recollect
The Ranger are aware that in the slow paces his
action was anything but taking. When Lord
Strathmore saw him on the course the day before
the engagement, he remarked to Porter, rather
scornfully, ' Why, the beggar cannot even trot !
Ignoring this not over-intelligent disparagement,
Porter replied, ' Never mind that, my Lord ; he can
eat! It was well known to the English contingent
i 4 KINGSCLERE
that Saccharometer had gone off his feed, and was
being ineffectually tempted and coddled with carrots
and other stable dainties. Unquestionably, The
Ranger went a bit short in his trotting paces ; horses
frequently do that who are all right when they
begin to gallop. Porter recalls the tremendous
excitement which the race caused among the
multitude, and Fordham's unbounded delight at
The Ranger's defeat of Lord Clifden. This was
no more than natural. Fordham had ridden Lord
Clifden in the Derby when Macaroni did him by a
head (and for the St. Leger John Osborne was sub-
stituted ; in both the Derby and the St. Leger The
Ranger ran unplaced). It was, therefore, a sweet
revenge for Fordham to see Lord Clifden, with the
substituted jockey on his back, unable to get nearer
than fifth — and such a fifth ! — for this was how they
finished : The Ranger first, La Toucques second,
Saccharometer third, Donnybrook fourth, and Lord
Clifden fifth. Won by a length, two lengths between
second and third, a length between third and fourth,
and two lengths between fourth and fifth. Lord
Strathmore admitted afterwards, in talking over the
race with Porter, that if The Ranger was a defective
trotter, he could gallop. At this distant period one
fact in connection with the race stands forth dis-
tinctly, and that is, The Ranger's hardiness and un-
impaired enjoyment of the contents of the manger.
The journey by land and water did not put him about
in the least, and he had never once to be ' 'ticed '
with unusual food. Therefore he met the French
FAREWELL TO FINDON 15
horses on equal terms, while he had his English
rivals at a disadvantage. Shortly after the Grand
Prix of 1863 John Porter's ten years' service at
Findon came to an end. He had during his
intimate and highly responsible connection with
the Goater stable established himself firmly in the
esteem of owners and others by a manifest pride in
his business, and unwearying attention to its every
detail, the smallest as well as the greatest. It was
at Findon he first indulged in his inherent passion
— for with him it is nothing less — for gardening.
(Captain Hawley Smart once said of him, ' that if
you started the subject of gardening in John Porter's
hearing the horse galloped clean out of the con-
versation.') He rented a small enclosed garden
in the village, and employed every hour of his
leisure which was undevoted to a tenderer occupa-
tion in cultivating it. He grew everything — flowers,
fruit, vegetables — and practically mastered an art
the love of which has strengthened with his capacity
to pursue it ever since. As to the produce — well,
as he says himself, ' I gave the stuff away.' Findon,
indeed, is to him a delightful memory. His place
with William Goater, who from first to last showed
him the greatest kindness and consideration, was
the very best of places. He parted with employer
and place with heartfelt regret.
CHAPTER II
Death of Manning — Porter's introduction to Sir Joseph Hawley by
the Earl of Westmorland — ' Why, you are only a boy ! ' — The
'boy's' journey with the Baronet to Cannon Heath — Joint inspec-
tion of the stables, and engagement of Porter as trainer — Remarks
on the lucky Baronet's previous Turf career — His extremely limited
stud — St. Alexis : a case of restoration — Bedminster — A rosy trial
— Another not quite so rosy — ' Well, Annesley, what do you think
of the scenery now?' — Serious illness of Porter at Doncaster — The
Baronet's characteristic kindness — Letters — The strange story of
Satyr — ' You are a nice horse to put I on ! '—No hedging possible,
but the cripple won.
In the year 1863 George Manning, Sir Joseph
Hawley' s trainer, who had been in failing health for
some time, died. It was, no doubt, the assurance,
founded on medical opinion, that Manning was
hopelessly past recovery which Lord Westmorland
had in his mind when he advised John Porter to
take no steps with regard to the vacancy which
Mr. Savile was reported desirous of filling. Porter
was preparing to start to Liverpool with some of
Lord Westmorland's horses when his Lordship said,
1 You had better call and see Sir Joseph Hawley in
London on your way.' Accordingly, he repaired to
34 Eaton Place, sent in his name, and was presently
ushered into the library. On perusing the letter of
introduction which Lord Westmorland had duly
provided, Sir Joseph deliberately looked the bearer
INSTALLED AT CANNON HEATH 17
over, and at the end of his apparently somewhat
amused inspection said, ' Why, you are surely not
the John Porter mentioned here ? You are only a
boy.' ' The boy,' without deeming it desirable to
say anything about his age, declared that he was
the person referred to, and at the same time assured
Sir Joseph, with modest firmness, that he would not
regret it if he placed his horses under his — 'the boy's'
— care. The actual words were, 4 Give me the chance,
Sir Joseph, and I think I can manage them.' ' Very
well,' replied the Baronet. ' I understand you are
going to Liverpool ; call on me here on your return.'
Possibly further inquiries were made in the mean-
time — the object of them is unable to say, but thinks
it extremely likely — and in due course the youthful
applicant for the important post of private trainer to
Sir Joseph Hawley paid his second visit to Eaton
Place. That was on the Saturday in the same week.
Without further parley Porter was laconically
desired to be ready to accompany his future master
to Cannon Heath ' the day after to-morrow.' They
journeyed into Hampshire, and together made an
inspection of the stables at Cannon Heath, which,
with the adjoining premises, the trainer, whose
phrenological bump of ' order ' is abnormally
developed, found in a deplorable condition — weeds
flourishing all over the yards, cobwebs hanging
about the stables, and the mangers looking as if they
had not been washed out since the day they were
first used. This unsatisfactory state of things did
not, of course, represent poor Manning's habitually
c
18 KINGSCLERE
careful method of management. He was an
excellent trainer, and had been a good servant to
Sir Joseph Hawley, who thought highly of him.
His long illness had prevented him from giving his
personal attention to the work he had previously
seen to, and the place had consequently fallen into
disorder. The Baronet and ' the boy ' talked matters
over, and the latter, convincing Sir Joseph that he
could properly manage the establishment and train
the horses, an engagement was entered into there
and then. In shaking hands with Porter, who had
already planned in his own mind a radical system of
reform, Sir Joseph said, 'In a week or ten days I
will run down again, and see how you are getting
on.' The new broom went to work, but not un-
impeded. The head lad, who remained in the
stable, ' put his back up,' and had to be told that if
he wished to retain his situation he must simply
obey orders. There was only going to be one
master there. Sir Joseph Hawley paid the promised
visit within the time that had been named, and,
after going over the place and silently noticing, not
only the general cleanliness and tidiness of the
entire establishment, but also certain alterations
which the young trainer had already introduced,
said, ' Well, I think you'll do.' In the meantime
Porter had taken unto himself a wife. The young
couple took up their abode in the house at Cannon
Heath in which Mrs. Manning, the widow of the
former trainer, by the kindness of the Baronet, yet
had temporary quarters.
'THE LUCKY BARONET' 19
Sir Joseph Hawley had already achieved big
things on the Turf. Vibration, Venus, and The
Bishop of Romford's Cob appeared in ' Weatherby '
opposite to his name as early as 1 844 ; but before
that year he had yachted in the Mediterranean and
raced in Italy, he and his confederate, Mr. J. M.
Stanley, having run a few platers at Florence.
There was joint-ownership between Sir Joseph and
Mr. Stanley in later years. In fact, they owned
Teddington together. With Miami, Aphrodite,
and Teddington, not to mention other winners, Sir
Joseph earned for himself the title of ' the lucky
Baronet,' and as he was a plucky backer as well as
a sound judge — possessing, in short, all the qualities
of a famous sportsman — it is not surprising that
Sir Tatton Sykes was anxious to see him. ' We,
however,' writes ' The Druid,' ' never remember
him (Sir Tatton) asking us so earnestly to try and
point anyone out to him as Sir Joseph Hawley,
whom he looked upon as quite the Turf hero of
the day.' Sir Joseph's friends commiserated with
him when he gave Mr. Gully close upon 3,000/. for
Mendicant, who broke down ; but she afterwards
became the dam of Beadsman, and on the female
side the founder of the Baronet's illustrious stud.
Sir Joseph, unjustly aspersed over the running of
Breba, a deceiver, who cost him more money than
she cost all her other backers put together, and
falsely accused of having run two horses in the
race for the Doncaster Cup when The Ban won,
and Mr. Morris's Vatican, alleged to be his, was
c 2
20 KINGSCLERE
fifth, withdrew from the Turf in disgust, and the
greater part of his stud went to the hammer.
Curiously enough, Mendicant could not be sold, as
the reserve price, 500 guineas, was not reached.
Sir Joseph was fully exonerated over The Ban
business, the decision of the tribunal representing
the Jockey Club being that the Doncaster ' Stewards
committed an error in allowing Vatican to run, he
having been entered in Sir Joseph Hawley's name,
and if he had come in first Mr. Morris would not
have been entitled to the cup.' The official in-
vestigators were, however, ' satisfied that a bona-fide
sale of Vatican to Mr. Morris took place previous to
the race.' That 'good Friday' at Doncaster when
Aphrodite won both the Park Hill and Doncaster
Stakes, Clincher a handicap plate, Teddington
walked over for the Don Stakes, and the Cup fell to
The Ban, answered to the Baronet's farewell to the
English Turf from 1851 to 1855. He proceeded to
Italy, and again, in a small way, raced there. John
Day was his trainer for a couple of years when he
resumed operations at home. Then he went to
Cannon Heath, with George Manning, who had for
some years been head lad to Percy at Pimperne, as
trainer. It is only necessary to mention Beadsman,
Fitz Roland, and Musjid to show how, under
restored conditions, ' the lucky Baronet ' renewed his
form.
The small stud in the possession of Sir Joseph
Hawley when Porter commenced to train for him
included Argonaut, Asteroid (broken down and done
ST. ALEXIS 21
for), and St. Alexis. This was in July 1863. At
Doncaster in that year he won for Sir Joseph two
small races — the first he tried for — with Washington
and Columba — little fish, but under the circum-
stances ' exceeding sweet,' and a lucky beginning for
the cherry jacket in the new hands. It was, however,
with St. Alexis that Porter was enabled to first show
his new master a taste of his quality. This deli-
cately constitutioned son of Stockwell and Mendicant,
with his highly nervous and excitable temperament,
had run badly the year before. Even Lord Glasgow,
proverbially unfortunate in matchmaking, had de-
feated St. Alexis with one of his, while the horse
had been nowhere in Caractacus's Derby, and last
in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot. More-
over, he had lost heart and was apparently good
for nothing. Such, at any rate, was the owner's
opinion, but the trainer was persuaded that he had
good reason to think otherwise. Porter began by
riding St. Alexis about as a hack, and as man and
horse got to know each other mutual confidence was
established, and the hitherto impracticable St. Alexis
put on condition and confidence, his nervousness
disappeared, and he became as tractable as a well-
educated collie. When requested to sanction the
entry of St. Alexis for the Great Eastern Handicap
at Newmarket, Sir Joseph Hawley said, ' What is
the use ? He is not a bit of good. Besides, if he
were, he won't try a yard.' Assured that the horse
was not by any means the nervous, erratic creature
he had been, and that he might be implicitly relied
22 KINGSCLERE
on to try, the owner not only gave his consent, but
had ' fifty on,' just by way of good-humouredly back-
ing his trainer's opinion. St. Alexis (4 yrs., 7 st.
4 lb.) justified Porter s judgment and hopeful forecast
by winning the handicap from Queen Elizabeth
(4 yrs., 6 st. 9 lb.) by three-parts of a length, Juliet
(aged, 6 st. 7 lb.), one of 'Tommy Hughes's year-
lings,' being third. Welland was favourite at 5 to 1,
St. Alexis starting at the remunerative price of 16
to 1.
We now come to the story of a very remark-
able horse, and although part of it invades the
record of succeeding years, it had, perhaps, best be
related right off the reel. For that matter it is a
complete tale in one chapter, and might be dropped
anywhere within the compass of these pages. In
the autumn of 1863 a colt by Newminster out of
Secret, by Melbourne, the joint property of Sir
Joseph Hawley and Lord Annesley, came under
Porter's care. He had been bought as a yearling
out of Mr. Cookson's lot at Doncaster, the price being
880 guineas. This same animal was Bedminster —
already so named. He was tried to be a good one,
and in fact proved it, at the two-year-old stage of
his career, when he defeated the mighty Gladiateur
in the Prendergast. This was after he had, the
day before, made a hack of Mr. Naylor's Biondina
in a 300 sovs. Sweepstakes, which was reduced to
a match between them, over the Bretby Stakes
course. On the following day they took as little as
BEDMINSTER 23
6 to 4 about the old-fashioned-looking French-
man, Bedminster starting at 7 to 1. Siberia was
second, beaten a length, while Longdown and
Gladiateur, a head behind Siberia, made a dead-
heat of it for third place. Bedminster started first
favourite — 7 to 2 against — for the Two Thousand,
Gladiateur's price being what Bedminster's had
been in the Prendergast. As racing goes and is
(sometimes not too logically) reckoned up, theie was a
plausible reason, apart from his two-year-old record,
for the popularity of Bedminster. Argonaut, 6yrs.,
had won the City and Suburban carrying 8 st. 11 lb.,
and the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket
with 9 st. on his back, and Argonaut was the trial
horse. Undoubtedly his victory in the City and
Suburban was extraordinary. He was giving The
Grinder (3 yrs., 6 st. 2 lb.), whom he defeated by a
head, a lump of weight. Naturally, although they
knew they had a good game horse in Argonaut, the
stable were not at all sanguine, and as a matter of
fact he started at the somewhat outside price of
25 to 1 ; but he brought it off, and, following that
achievement by putting up a 7 lb. penalty and beat-
ing Diomed, 4 yrs., 6 st. 9 lb., by a neck, with a
tremendous field behind, over the Rowley Mile, it
was not surprising, perhaps, that the public crowded
on to Bedminster for ' The Guineas.' Well, as we
have stated, Argonaut had been the trial horse. The
trial itself took place on April 27, 1865, and was as
follows :
24 KINGSCLERE
ONE MILE
Bedminster, 3 yrs. (Wells), 8 st. 13 lb. . . 1
Merry Wife, 4 yrs. (Morgan), 7 st. . .2
Argonaut, 6 yrs. (Payter), 10 st. 6 lb. . . 3
Won by two lengths ; the same between second and third.
After ' the question,' which was put very early
in the morning on Cannon Heath Downs, in the
presence of Sir Joseph Hawley, Lord Annesley,
and the trainer, with as many sleepless birds of
the touting flock as were lucky enough to chance
upon the worm, the stable thought they were in
possession of a certainty. Alas! for those rosy
anticipations. Bedminster never did so well again.
He was simply at his very best on that fine, promis-
ing morning. It was the greatest moment of his life.
His subsequent running was pounds short of the Two
Thousand trial. He was put through the mill again
in view of the Derby, but the strain of the second
test settled him, for he broke down. Bedminster as
remembered and appraised by his trainer was a
delicate horse of the true Newminster type, and was
radically unsound. It may be mentioned in passing,
that Sir Joseph Hawley and Lord Annesley were
witnesses of the second, as they had been of the
first, trial. On the latter occasion his Lordship was in
high spirits, and on his way to the ground gave glow-
ing expression to his appreciation of the loveliness
of the morning, the balminess of the air, the beauty
of the scenery, and, above all, the magnificent view
which, under the circumstances, that part of the
THE TRAINER'S ILLNESS 25
Cannon Heath Downs afforded. He said it was
beyond everything pleasant and exhilarating to be
able to ride freely about, and have your horse tried
upon those delightful downs. When the trial was
over, and Bedminster had collapsed, hopelessly
lame, Sir Joseph drily observed, ■ Well, Annesley,
what do you think of the scenery now ? '
The trainer himself broke down badly the same
year, at Doncaster, under a severe attack of typhoid
fever. He, however, was fortunate enough to fall
into the hands of an excellent physician, and was
carefully nursed. Thanks to the skill and care of
Dr. Schofield, Porter made a good recovery, although
it was Christmas before that was complete and he
was again about his business. Among the many
acts of thoughtful and even tender kindness on the
part of Sir Joseph Hawley which Porter recalls is
a circumstance which occurred at Doncaster during
the earliest stage of the illness in question. The
patient was lying motionless in bed, with his eyes
closed and apparently asleep, when Sir Joseph
entered the room. The sufferer was quite conscious
of what was going on ; he could hear distinctly, and
through his half-closed eyelids discern objects clearly
enough, albeit he was unable to move or utter a
word. Sir Joseph, evidently persuaded that the sick
man was sleeping, paced gently up and down at the
foot of the bed, and muttered to himself as he passed,
' I wonder if he has any money with him ? ' With
these words he emptied his note-case, and laid the
contents upon the bed. Then, no doubt recollecting
26 KINGSCLERE
that he had quite impoverished himself, he withdrew
one of the notes and left the remainder of the bundle,
to the amount of 55/., at the disposal of the patient.
Thereupon he withdrew from the room as quietly
as he had entered. Sir Joseph Hawley's considerate
kindness did not end there — indeed, it never ceased,
John Porter is proud and happy to remember, until
death severed their long and friendly association.
The following letters, which were written by the
Baronet to Mrs. Porter at that anxious period, tell
their own kindly tale : —
1 1 have just seen your husband, and also the
doctor, and I have no hesitation in saying that I
think your husband is decidedly better this morning,
and the doctor assures me that he is in no danger,
and that he is not anxious about him, but his
recovery will be tedious. He does not think there
will be any chance of his leaving Doncaster for ten
days. He is in a very comfortable lodging, and a
most particularly nice, attentive woman is looking
after him ; in fact he could not be better if he was at
home at Cannon Heath. He has the advantage of
having a very clever doctor, and I assure you he
is most perfectly well looked after. Wells will be
at Cannon Heath, and will tell you what I have
arranged about the horses. I beg you not to fret
and be anxious about him. All will do well.'
* I am very sorry to hear that your husband still
continues so ill, but the doctor always told me it
must be tedious. I had a letter from the doctor to-
day, in which he gives me a favourable account. I
hope Porter will not worry about the horses, as they
will do well. The only ones that are of the slightest
consequence, as you know, are sent to Dover, so I
THE BARONET'S KINDNESS 27
have no fear but all will go on well. Write to me
constantly, and let me know how your husband is
going on. I shall be here for another week. The
doctor assures me in his letter to-day there are no
unfavourable symptoms, and I have no doubt in the
course of a week or so Porter will be able to be
removed. Hoping this letter will find your husband
much better, I remain, &c.'
' I am truly delighted to hear that your husband's
illness has at last taken a favourable turn. ... I
should strongly recommend you, as soon as he is
well enough, to move him to the seaside for a few
days, as he could gain more in strength there in that
time than he would in a month at home. I leave
this place to-morrow, therefore, when you write to me,
direct to me in Eaton Place. I told you in my first
letter that he had a most attentive, kind nurse, and
I am glad to hear your corroboration. Write soon.'
The following is in reply to a letter from Porter
himself, who had recovered sufficiently to resume
correspondence with Sir Joseph Hawley : —
' I am delighted to see your handwriting again,
as that proves to me how much better you are. I am
going to Dover's to-morrow, and to Cannon Heath on
Friday. I saw from the first your illness must be
tedious, and that made me send some of the horses
to Dover, as I thought it would be too much of a
charge for Harry. ... I shall write again on
Saturday. Do not fret about the horses ; and I shall
do nothing to the back yard till you return. Now,
take my advice — the moment you can move from
Doncaster, go to the seaside somewhere. You will
regain your strength ten times as quick there as
you would at Cannon Heath. Ask the doctor if
I am not right. Write to me if you want money
and tell me where you are going.'
28 KINGSCLERE
As will be gathered from the foregoing letters,
in order to relieve the invalid while he was slowly ap-
proaching convalescence of all anxiety respecting the
horses, they were removed to Dover's, and remained
with that trainer until the commencement of 1866.
The Palmer may be said to have been in many
respects Sir Joseph Hawley's most remarkable horse
at that time. Before, however, we deal with The
Palmer, there is the story of Satyr to be related, one
of the most extraordinary in Porter's experience,
and more even than the account of the rise and
fall of Bedminster entitled to a separate niche in
the narrative. Satyr, 2 yrs. old (by Marsyas out
of Diomedia), entered to be sold for 100/., won
a plate at Newmarket. He was heavily backed by
the stable ; indeed, Mr. T. E. Walker afterwards
informed Porter that they won 7,000/. on the
race. Sir Joseph Hawley, who was second with
Red Shoes, claimed Satyr, and Lord Westmor-
land claimed the second. Satyr ran a dozen times
as a two-year-old, occasionally in the best com-
pany, but he was a disappointing animal. For his
new owner he ran third in the Spencer Plate at
Northampton, carrying 6 st. 12 lb. (Mr. Pitt, 4 yrs.,
7 st. 13 lb., first, and Miller's Maid, 5 st. 12 lb., third),
and he won a handicap at Ascot in the following
May. However, putting this and that together,
at home and abroad, the stable were led to
believe that in Satyr they had a good thing for
the Cambridgeshire ; in fact, they satisfied them-
selves that they could win. All hopes, however,
SATYR 29
of his success in that race were destroyed by his
breaking down. It was then thought that he
might be patched up for the Royal Hunt Cup at
Ascot. Satyr was carefully prepared for that race,
and a week before the meeting was tried. In the
course of the trial he fell head over heels and
shot the jockey out of the saddle, got up again,
galloped headlong for a couple of miles, and was
then recovered, an utterly woeful wreck of a horse.
He was so dead-lame it was with extreme difficulty
they could assist him home. In addition to sus-
taining other injuries of a miscellaneous character,
he had sprung both suspensory ligaments. Get-
ting the horse anything like right for Ascot with
the brief time at the trainer's disposal before the
meeting was a notion that was not for a moment
entertained. However, the best was made of a
bad job. The broken-down cripple was imme-
diately taken in hand, and treated literally day and
night. Fomentations at the proper time and in
the proper place, applications of iced water, and,
finally, when he could move about a bit, the
gentlest walking exercise, comprised the treatment,
pursued, however, with no idea of his making
more than the very slowest recovery. Sir Joseph
Hawley, nevertheless, having backed Satyr to win
him a large stake at Ascot, gave orders that the
horse should be taken thither, in order to give the
owner a chance of hedging some of his money.
Accordingly, Satyr's name appeared among the
arrivals at the Royal Heath. The morning before
30
KINGSCLERE
the race for the Hunt Cup he was brought out
for a short canter, with quaint Jem Adams in the
saddle. After going about a hundred yards Jem
pulled up, exclaiming, ' You are a nice horse to put
I on ! You'll fall down and break my neck.' Under
the circumstances it was not surprising that Sir
Joseph Hawley found it impossible to hedge a
single penny of his bets. Well, Satyr (4 yrs., 8 st.
1 lb.) was started ; to say as the forlornest of for-
lorn hopes would be to grossly overstate the opinion
of the stable and everybody else in the know.
Yes, he was started, and he won the Royal Hunt
Cup in a canter. The judge's verdict was a length
in front of Eastley (3 yrs., 5 st. 12 lb.), one of
the hottest of hot favourites. The betting was re-
markable, measured by the result. It was 5 to 4
against Eastley ; 7 to 1 against Master Willie (4
yrs., 7 st. 7 lb.), a neck behind Eastley, third ; and
10 to 1 against Satyr. Sir Joseph Hawley was thus
compelled, in spite of himself, to come off a hand-
some winner. Horses of all sorts, shapes, and
colours win races, the crippled as well as the sound
being returned victors, but it may be doubted
whether the annals of the Turf furnish a more
astonishing instance of ' the glorious uncertainty of
racing' than is supplied by the Royal Hunt Cup,
1868. Satyr, although a cripple to the end of his
career, won other races.
CHAPTER III
Sir Frederick Johnstone's first association with the stable — The game
and unchangeable Xi — The two-year-olds, Rosicrucian, Blue Gown,
and Green Sleeve — A big wager — A trial, and a race — Huxtable's
unspeakable surprise — The prologue (at a former Ascot) of the
Blue Gown drama at Doncaster — The weighing-out trick : ' touch-
and go' — Doyle's delight and the Admiral's indignation — Removal
to Park House, and sickness in the stable — Illness of Rosicrucian
and Green Sleeve — Blue Gown's persistent health — ' The Old Toll-
house ; or, the Defeat of the Touts ' — John Porter's communicative
companion, 'who knew Hawley and Wells and Porter' — The
parcel from W. H. Smith & Son's — Disclosure and denouement.
Another remarkable horse, although of a very
different stamp, which came to school at Cannon
Heath about this period was Xi. He was purchased
conjointly by Sir Joseph Hawley and Sir Frederick
Johnstone of old John Osborne. Porter, apart
from other considerations, recalls the circumstance
with extreme pleasure, inasmuch as it first associated
him as trainer with Sir Frederick, the valued patron
whose horses are now under his care. Xi was a
colt by General Williams out of Lambda. He was
purchased in 1866. Sir Joseph Hawley was very
fond of the horse. In writing to Porter at the
time the latter was approaching convalescence the
Baronet says, ' I have bought a beautiful two-year-
old, Xi. He is one of the best-looking horses
I ever saw. Dover will look after him until you
32 KINGSCLERE
come back to Cannon Heath.' Xi won a great
many races in 1867, 1868, and 1869— all prosperous
seasons for the stable — and was one of the most
trustworthy horses that Porter has ever trained.
His performances in public never varied in the
least from his ■ examinations ' at home. So far,
so good. But Xi possessed qualities in a trial
which, in the trainer's experience, have rarely been
equalled, much less surpassed. A test with Xi
engaged in the operation, no matter what weight he
carried or what distance he galloped, was, so far as
he was concerned, absolute. In the beginning of
1867 Sir Joseph Hawley's stud, which at no period
of Porter's management was numerous, included
The Palmer (3 yrs.), Xi (6 yrs.), Satyr (3 yrs.), and
Blue Gown, Rosicrucian, and Green Sleeve, two-
year-olds. There was also a filly called Cottyto in
the victorious group. It was the year of Hermit's
sensational Derby, the Derby which was run in a
snowstorm and won by an infirm, scarcely con-
valescent, and therefore generally discredited, horse,
who started at what might be considered hopeless
odds. The more striking incidents associated with
that memorable race belong more appropriately to
other histories than they do to the career of John
Porter, but Sir Joseph Hawley figured in connection
with the race in a manner which proved what a
thorough sportsman he was. He had a bet of
50,000/., even, with Mr. Chaplin — The Palmer
against Hermit, one to win. For what appeared to
him to be conclusive reasons, 20,000/. of that 50,000/.
NOT A TIP-TOPPER 33
was hedged, which left the Baronet a loser of a
handsome fortune by the transaction. But they
raced and wagered heroically in those plunging days !
The Palmer afterwards won some good races,
notably the Liverpool Autumn Cup, beating Knight
of the Garter, See Saw, and others ; but in the
opinion of Porter he was never a tip-topper. He
was a powerful bay, in shape long and low, and with
rather a coarse head.
The Newmarket Autumn Meetings of 1867 were
something to be remembered by the Cannon Heath
stable and the followers of the cherry and black.
So many brilliant victories in the same class, each
following close upon the heels of the other, had,
perhaps, never fallen to the share of a single stable
before. It is Porter's custom to proceed to New-
market with his horses immediately before the first
of the three meetings, and to remain at headquarters
until the final fall of the curtain. He is, as it were,
for the time being a Newmarket trainer. Before
going thither in 1867 the three famous — the 'his-
torical ' — horses that have been mentioned were put
through the mill, with the following result : —
THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE
Rosicrucian, 2 yrs., 8 st. 4 lb. . . . .1
Green Sleeve, 2 yrs., 7 st. 12 lb. . . .2
Blue Gown, 2 yrs., 7 st. 12 lb. . . .3
Xi, 4 yrs., 9 st. 8 lb. . . . . .4
Won by a length ; five lengths between second and third,
and a length between third and fourth,
34 KINGSCLERE
They were then taken to Newmarket, and on
the Wednesday of the Houghton Meeting Xi and The
Earl ran a significantly interesting match over the
Bretby Stakes Course (three-quarters of a mile) on
the terms and with the result here given : —
Xi, 4 yrs., 9 st. 4 lb 1
The Earl, 3 yrs., 7 st. 9 lb. . . . .2
Betting : 55 to 50 on The Earl. Won by a head.
Without overloading this portion of these pages
with conveniently accessible details, it may be
remarked that Sir Joseph Hawley literally swept
the board at Newmarket, winning the Clearwell
with Blue Gown, running first and second in the
Middle Park Plate with Rosicrucian and Green
Sleeve, and securing the Prendergast with Green
Sleeve, and the Troy and the Criterion with Rosi-
crucian. Even Cottyto, by long- chalks the worst
two-year-old in the stable, was returned a winner.
When the limited extent of Sir Joseph Hawley's
stud is taken into consideration, the number and
splendour of these successes appear extraordinary
indeed. Kenyon and Huxtable rode for the stable
in the Middle Park Plate. After the race Porter,
who had in the saddle been an accompanying spec-
tator of the proceedings, cantered up to the rider of
Rosicrucian, and said, ' Well, Huxtable, how did
he carry you ? ' ' Oh ! ' replied the jockey, with airy
confidence, * I won in a canter by about six lengths.'
When Porter informed him that Green Sleeve had
beaten ' Rosi ' the mortification of poor Huxtable
HUXTABLE'S MORTIFICATION 35
was unspeakable. As Porter remarks in telling the
story, ' he nearly fainted.' Huxtable was not the
first jockey by many who, running wide on the
R. M., the most deceptive of courses, had misjudged
the position of the judge's eye. Green Sleeve and
Rosicrucian, as will have been inferred, ran on their
merits, Sir Joseph Hawley advisedly omitting to
declare to win with either of the pair. The renowned
and unfortunate Lady Elizabeth, about whom the
short price of 1 1 to 10 was eagerly taken, was fifth
in the race, Formosa being fourth, close up to Lady
Coventry, who was third. Green Sleeve beat Rosi-
crucian by a head, and the third was two lengths off.
To the Ascot Summer Meeting of that year,
allusion to which has been omitted until more
important Newmarket was dealt with, a reference
must be made. Briefly, Sir Joseph Hawley there
got back all his Derby losses and a good bit over,
thanks to Rosicrucian and Blue Gown. ' Rosi ' won
a maiden plate on the first day, beating Charn-
wood, an equal favourite, and a big field ; while Blue
Gown defeated a hot favourite in Grimston for the
Fern Hill Stakes. Although the stable had repre
sentatives running in other races (for example, The
Palmer appropriately waited upon Hermit in the
St. James's Palace Stakes), they were of small
account.
It now appears necessary, in order to present
with what may be termed dramatic completeness the
Baronet's place in the history of that exciting
season, to go back to a previous Ascot — the Royal
D 2
36 KINGSCLERE
Heath of the year before. Everybody who is familiar
with the more sensational incidents which have
occurred on the Turf during the past twenty-five or
thirty years will remember the disqualification of
Blue Gown for the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster
in the week of Achievement's defeat of Hermit in
the St. Leger. The incident, which was essentially
unprecedented in the chronicles of the national
sport, was the crowning result of a carefully matured
plan, for the mainspring of which one must look to
one of the official reports in the ' Racing Calendar.'
The 'return' of the Sunning Hill Stakes, on p. 98
of the volume for 1866, reads innocently enough;
but thereby hangs a tale, or, rather, the portentous
beginning of the story of the Champagne Stakes
of 1867, and of the Derby which followed in due
course. The Sunning Hill Stakes was awarded to
Baron Rothschild's Hippia, Sir Joseph Hawley's
Fakir (Wells) being placed second, and Satyr third ;
but it was Mr. H. Savile's D'Estournel that had
passed the winning-post first, beating Hippia by a
head. Morris, the rider of Hippia, objected to
D'Estournel for cannoning against him, and the case
having been heard after the next race, the following
decision was given : ' The opinion of the Stewards
is that Hippia is entitled to the stakes, but no blame
is attached to John Doyle, who rode D'Estournel.
(Signed) Cork, W. G. Craven, H. J. Rous.' Inas-
much as Wells was third in the race — he finished a
length behind the leading pair, and ' saw it all ' — he
was the most weighty witness at the hearing of the
DOYLE'S THREAT 3 7
objection. Doyle, at all events, attributed his losing
the award to Wells's evidence, unquestionably correct
as that evidence was. D'Estournel was a pig of a
horse to ride. ' Rogue ! ' exclaimed Custance on one
occasion, when he was asked what he thought of
D'Estournel — ' he's no rogue. But I can tell you
what he is. He is an (adjectived) fool.' Doyle had
got him home first, anyhow, and landed a mild sort of
coup, for the handsome deceiver had started at 10 to
i, and the jockey himself no doubt had a bit on.
Altogether it was a sorry come-down, and, refusing
to be solaced by the fact that the Stewards had held
him personally blameless in the matter, the discom-
fited jockey ' swore an oath, or something as good,'
that he would be revenged on the witness who had
done him. After giving Wells the length and the
rough side of his tongue, which was North Riding
Yorkshire, his name notwithstanding, Doyle closed
the account between them for the time being with
the threat, 'I'll have you yet, Brusher!' Doyle
kept his word. He had.
Wells, in common with many other jockeys, not
excluding Doyle himself (set a thief to catch a
thief), was addicted to the habit of pressing his toe
upon the ground, with the apparently innocent
desire of momentarily steadying himself in the scale
— literally, a touch and — go! It was 'useful,' and
had, no doubt, served the turn of certain adroit
practitioners on many occasions, in the presence of
an unsuspecting clerk of the scales, when they
happened to be 'a bit over ' the prescribed weight.
3 8 KINGSCLERE
At Doncaster, in the September of the season
which followed the utterance of Doyle's vow at
Ascot, Wells weighed out for Blue Gown in the
Champagne Stakes — weighed out, be it observed,
' that way,' with a ' touch and — go ' ; and Doyle,
who had laid his plans for the startling disclosure
which followed, had scanned the operation with a
ca/eful, if malign, eye. Blue Gown, on whom they
laid odds of 2 to 1, came in first, with Virtue,
ridden by Snowden, next. On entering the room
to weigh in and be passed by the clerk, Wells
dropped one of his small saddlecloths. Doyle, who
had grimly stuck to his victim's heels, thereupon
exclaimed, ' Here ! you weighed out with this cloth ;
weigh in with it.' The exclamation was like a
match to a train of gunpowder. It was evident to
the spectators — some of whom were, no doubt, in
the know — who crowded up to the barrier, that
something unusual was in progress. Before, how-
ever, the extreme importance of the business could
be realised, the clerk of the scales, at the instigation
of the owner of Virtue, the second in the race,
ordered Wells to remain in the scale, and remove
his feet from the ground. Doyle had kept his
word. That was his innings. A trial of the excess,
brief but solemn, and carried out amid a silence
which could be felt, proved that Wells was more
than two pounds over weight, and Blue Gown was
thereupon disqualified and the race awarded to the
mare. Admiral Rous, who was present, lost his
temper. It may be said, indeed— for such a loss
THE ADMIRAL'S ANGER 39
was not entirely unprecedented — that until that
moment the reigning Dictator of the Turf had
seldom been seen more like an admiral afloat, with
' punishment ' for some flat mutineer impending.
Nevertheless, angry as he was, he refused to be
blinded to the fact that Sir Joseph Hawley was in
danger of being still further given away. On all sides
he was urged to keep the jockey in the scale until
it was ascertained how much extra weight Wells
had actually carried ; but the Admiral repelled this
disingenuous advice with righteous scorn. ' No ! '
he exclaimed, ' it would be doing an injustice to Sir
Joseph Hawley to permit such a thing.' Then,
striking Wells on the back, he cried, ' Get out ! I
am disgusted with you.' That part of the incident
closed. Doyle had had his revenge. The exact
information, which the spectators of the disqualifica-
tion vainly clamoured for, may now be supplied.
The unlawful excess which Blue Gown carried
in the race was 5 lb., making the full weight
9 st. 1 lb.
The weighing out was not witnessed by Porter,
owing to a thunderstorm. He had given orders
that the horse should leave the stable, but, calculat-
ing that the storm would be of short duration, he
borrowed a pony from Mr. Axe, the veterinary
surgeon, and, cantering back, prevented Blue Gown
from leaving his box as early as had been arranged,
in fact not until the storm had abated. There was
a great crowd, and Porter rode along with the
horse to save him from being run into. When he
4 o KINGSCLERE
returned to the room he inquired if Wells had
weighed out, and was informed by Mr. Manning,
the clerk of the scales, that he had. Porter, to his
intense mortification and disgust, was a witness of
Wells's second ignominious withdrawal from the
scale. The disqualification of Blue Gown cost the
owner the round sum of 4,000/. When the crushed
and shamefaced Wells presented himself before Sir
Joseph Hawley, which, to do the jockey justice,
was immediately after the occurrence, the Baronet
said, ' I can't talk to you here. Come to me next
Monday in town.' Wells's account of the inter-
view was brief but graphic. He said to Porter,
■ John, I lost more weight in half an hour than I
ever did wasting in all my life.' His punishment
took the form of a temporary withdrawal of the
Baronet's jacket and cap. Wells did not again wear
Sir Joseph Hawley's colours until he carried them
on Xi in the match (already referred to) against
The Earl (Cannon), which he won, after a brilliant
finish, by a head. This was one of the finest races
he ever rode.
During the winter of 1867 and 1868 Rosicru-
cian and Green Sleeve were attacked with influenza,
a misfortune which was attributed by the trainer
to the sweating of the new stables at Kingsclere,
whereto they had been prematurely removed. Blue
Gown, who stood between the pair, was, however,
neither sick nor sorry. As for the influenza, or, indeed,
any other malady which was going about, you could
not have given it to him if you had tried ; while for
SICKNESS IN THE STABLE 41
clearing out the manger as often as it was filled (and
it was impossible to repeat the latter operation too
often) he was a fair champion. Rosicrucian's and
Green Sleeve's cases were serious, and gave Porter
cause for sleepless anxiety. Mr. Mannington, the
well-known veterinary surgeon, whose practice lay
chiefly among blood-stock, was summoned, and
his treatment, which comprehended the insertion
of setons in the throat and chest, strictly followed.
The seton was employed as a final resource, in the
hope of subduing the obstinate cough that hung
about the pair so persistently. As a matter of fact,
the setons were not withdrawn from Rosicrucian
until within three weeks of his running in the Two
Thousand. Under the circumstances it was plainly
impossible to get the horses fit, or anything like fit,
to run in the Guineas. Although the public had
known all along that Rosicrucian and Green Sleeve
were amiss, and appreciated the trainer's difficulty
in bringing them fully conditioned to the post within
the short time at his disposal, they were not to be
stalled-off on the day of the race, but made Green
Sleeve a hot favourite. She started at the short
price of 5 to 2 against. Formosa and Moslem made
a dead-heat of it for first place, and St. Ronan
finished a bad third, with Green Sleeve next.
In reference to one of the most sensational
Derbys on record, namely, that of Lady Elizabeth
— for it will always be remembered as Lady
Elizabeth's Derby and (in the Napoleonic sense)
the Marquis of Hastings's ' Waterloo ' — it is only
42 KINGSCLERE
necessary in the present narrative to refer to Sir
Joseph Hawley's part in the fray. He — to some-
what anticipate events — declared to win with either
Rosicrucian or Green Sleeve, in preference to Blue
Gown, the reason being that he had backed the
three to win him large stakes. He hedged his Blue
Gown money simply because the horse was the
worst animal of the three, and, as a matter of fact,
he won comparatively little on the race. Blue
Gown — to go back to Newmarket — did not figure
in the Two Thousand, but he had run in the
Biennial Stakes at the Craven Meeting, and been
beaten a neck by The Earl. That, however, was
not his form. His plates had been put on so tight
he ran practically lame. At the First Spring he
picked up, very easily, two little races. Public
interest in the Derby increased to an enormous
extent after the Two Thousand, and was naturally
divided between the Danebury and Kingsclere
stables. The running at the Newmarket Craven,
which, through the defeat of Blue Gown by The
Earl, appeared to supply a line to the appraisers of
public form, together with the overthrow of Green
Sleeve in the Guineas, afforded commentators in
the sporting press abundant material for discussion,
and the arguments poured forth were ingenious,
exhaustive, and long-drawn-out. Porter, however,
doubts whether, in any instance, sufficient import-
ance was ascribed to the fact that Green Sleeve
was yet on the sick-list, or that Blue Gown was
lame when The Earl got a neck in front of him in
AN IMPENDING TRIAL 43
the Biennial. The trainer's extensive and peculiar
knowledge of the animal which is under his care is
always, for him, ' a bit in hand ' ; and in reference to
the impending Derby of 1867, Porter is inclined to
think that he knew rather more than his critics. It
is necessary, sometimes, to re-state a hackneyed
truism, and this, to the subject of the present narra-
tive, appears to be an appropriate occasion for such
a repetition.
Everything pointed to the certainty of an
important trial taking place at Kingsclere before
the unusually eventful day. There have been
Derbys won by horses which ran untried — there
will be occasion to discuss at least one such Derby
before these pages of Turf history are complete ;
but, what with the upsetting of all two-year-old
form in consequence of the best of the Baronet's
three going dead amiss, the daily improvement of
the yet unrestored pair, and Blue Gown's form in
relation to them, which had finally to be ascertained,
a determining trial was, of course, felt to be neces-
sary, and was duly arranged. Kingsclere and the
neighbourhood swarmed with touts. John Porter
never remembers to have been more beset by
members of the motley and unscrupulous fraternity
than he was then. It could not be said that the news
of the inevitable test got wind, because not a soul
save Sir Joseph Hawley, his trainer, and eventually,
just prior to its being brought off, the head lad, were
cognisant of the day and hour of the intended busi-
ness. But the touts had, with unsurprising saga-
44 KINGSCLERE
city, agreed among themselves that a trial must
inevitably take place before the Derby, and they
had vowed to each other that, let it occur when it
might, they would be there to see. Sir Joseph
Hawley, who himself naturally objected to being
touted, arranged with Porter to be on the ground
early in the morning, but not to previously approach
Kingsclere by the accustomed route. Overton on
the one side of the Downs, and Newbury on the
other, were incessantly watched, while Kingsclere
itself, with, of course, Park House, was kept under
sleepless surveillance. The plan agreed upon was for
the Baronet to avoid alighting, as usual, at Overton,
but to go on to Whitchurch, where it was hoped
and believed he would not be recognised. Guess
the Baronet's horror when, on giving up his ticket
at the latter station, he was accosted with, ' Can I
have the honour of taking you, Sir Joseph ?' The
applicant for a fare was the proprietor of a pony-
trap, who had formerly been postboy at the inn at
Stockbridge. Making the best of it, Sir Joseph
hired the vehicle, and inasmuch as he was the only
passenger for Whitchurch by that particular train,
and the old postboy was merely plying for hire, all
went, so far, well. Sir Joseph was driven part of the
way on to the Downs, and then he dismissed his
charioteer.
And now, as the novelist would say, we must
shift the scene to Kingsclere. At that time there was
an old tollhouse standing on the Overton Road —
the ramshackle edifice was but recently razed to the
THE WATCHERS WATCHED 45
ground — distant about half a mile, on the Downs
side, from the Kingsclere stables. It was necessary
for Porter to pass through the tollhouse gateway
with his horses in order to reach his training-ground.
For this privilege he compounded with the collector
by paying him an annual rent. Several touts had
established themselves thereabouts, and performed
unremitting sentry duty during the prevalence of
daylight, off and on. It is shrewdly conjectured
that the watchers had also devised a code of signals.
On the night before the trial, of which, by some
means best known to themselves, they had got ' the
office,' they induced the tollkeeper, for a considera-
tion, to allow them to take temporary possession of
his habitation. Providing themselves with liquid
and other refreshments, obtained from the Swan
Inn in the village, and some packs of cards, they
arranged to make a jolly yet wideawake night of
it. But it happened that the other and principal
parties to this extraordinary trial were equally wide-
awake. The touts were under the eye of an alert
observer, one of Porter's most trustworthy servants,
who kept his master fully informed of all that was
going on. Said he, on that fateful night when
those 'jolly companions, every one,' were at the
high tide of their nocturnal enjoyment, ' If you like,
sir, I can make every one of them safe. There's a
chain and staple outside the door, and a padlock
would do the job.' Consent was, of course, cheerfully
given, and ' the job ' was done. Porter, avoiding
the tollhouse altogether, took the horses by a bridle-
46 KINGSCLERE
path across the fields, went thereafter ' roundly to
work,' met Sir Joseph Hawley on the way, and the
trial took place unwitnessed by a single tout. All
the time the watchers were under padlock and key,
and when Sir Joseph and Porter returned with the
horses, of course by way of the old tollhouse, they
were regaled with the sight of the enraged prisoners
engaged in the act of removing a window-frame,
they having apparently made the direful discovery
that exit by the door had been made impossible.
To say that the language which was used by the
frustrated spies, especially when they recognised Sir
Joseph Hawley, and concluded that ' it was all over,'
was unfit for publication would be to flatter their
vocabulary.
And now for the trial itself, one of the most
remarkable of the many recorded in the chronicles
of Kingsclere :
ONE MILE AND A QUARTER
Rosicrucian, 3 yrs., 8 st. 7 lb. . . . .1
Blue Gown, 3 yrs., 8 st. 7 lb. . . .2
The Palmer, 4 yrs., 9 st. 10 lb. . . .3
Won by a neck ; two lengths between second and third.
The Two Thousand was run on April 28, the
above-named trial took place on May 12, and the
Derby itself occurred on the 27th of the latter month.
It was in the course of their return to Park House,
when they naturally discussed the marked improve-
ment which had taken place in Rosicrucian, that
Sir Joseph Hawley communicated his intentions to
BLUE GOWN'S DERBY 47
Porter. He said : ' I shall start all my horses, and
if Blue Gown is the best on the day he will win ;
but I declare to win with either of the other two.'
In fact, as Porter himself expresses it, Blue Gown
was started for the benefit of the public. Wells,
who had the choice of mounts, decided to ride the
•Gown.' His sturdy partner in the Champagne
Stakes had never been otherwise than sound and well.
They knew each other ; and no doubt the jockey
concluded, not without some cause, that he was the
best judge of how much he had in hand when he
got home first at Doncaster. Besides, if he could
win on Blue Gown, would not that be a glorious
sequel to the Doncaster mishap, and a perfect
condonation of the offence ?
After the trial, some visionary account of which
was, no doubt, evolved by the discomfited spies, and
despatched to their multitude of clients, the Derby
was more talked about than ever. Members of the
trainer's family were frequently compelled, in rail-
way carriages and other public places, to hear John
Porter and his business canvassed, and invariably by
persons who referred to him as though they knew
and had been on intimate terms with him from his
earliest boyhood. On one occasion Mrs. Porter,
after enduring with extreme annoyance a conversa-
tion relating to her husband's business and intentions
until she could bear the infliction no longer, effec-
tually silenced the inventive chatterers by simply
informing them that she was — Mrs. John Porter.
It was, however, reserved for John himself to play
4 8 KINGSCLERE
the leading part, albeit a silent one, in the most
amusing of these little comedies, in which the
intentions of Sir Joseph Hawley, the strictly private
opinions of the Baronet's trainer, Wells's views, and
in short all the secrets of the Kingsclere stable, were
canvassed. Porter was suffering from a sore throat,
for which, although he was assured that it was in
nowise serious, he was locally advised to consult a
London specialist and undergo a slight surgical
operation. Accordingly he went to London for the
purpose of consulting Sir Duncan Gibb. On his
way from Waterloo he called upon his old friend
Mr. W. Faux, the manager of the library department
of Smith & Son's, and arranged to have a parcel
of books handed to him at the railway station for
the return journey. Sir Duncan Gibb performed the
operation, and then enjoined his patient to provide
himself with a small quantity of ice to suck upon
the road home, and thereby reduce the risk of in-
flammation. In due time Porter ensconced himself
in a corner seat of a carriage bound for Overton,
and proceeded to treat himself according to the
doctor's orders by paying sedulous attention to the
contents of his bag of ice. Under the circumstances
taking part in a conversation, except in the most
laconic fashion, was on his part impossible. The
parcel of books from Smith & Son's, it is neces-
sary to remark, was not forthcoming when the train
started. For some distance Porter's sole companion —
a carefully groomed, well set-up, and military-looking
gentleman in an opposite seat — perused his sporting
THE BIGGEST FOOL?' 49
paper in silence. Then he spoke, and it did not sur-
prise his auditor in the least that his remarks had re-
ference to the — well — the inevitable subject. In fact,
John had been humorously expecting it, and wonder-
ing ' what particular line of country ' his companion
would take. He began : ' My friend Hawley has
three horses engaged in the Derby.' Porter nodded
and nibbled his ice. The statement was unim-
peachable. It defied denial. But 'my friend
Hawley'! ('Who is this friend of Sir Joseph's?'
said Porter to himself. ' I don't know him, at any
rate.') ' Yes,' continued the trainer's communicative
companion, ' Sir Joseph tells me, and so does John
Porter, that they fancy Rosicrucian is the best, but
Wells, the jockey, who is also an intimate friend of
mine, fancies Blue Gown.' That ended the conver-
sation, or rather the soliloquy, for Porter, busy with
his ice, made no remark. When the train reached
Woking the expected parcel of books was handed
into the carriage by the guard. Upon the outside
of the package was inscribed, in bold and legible
characters, 'John Porter, Esq., Park House, Kings-
clere? The next moment was intense. The
gentleman who was on such extremely friendly
terms with Sir Joseph Hawley, John Porter, and
Wells, looked over the top of his newspaper
furtively, but with perceptibly widening eyes,
and read, or rather devoured, the address on
the parcel. On arriving at Farnborough he dis-
charged himself somewhat precipitately from the
carriage, and walked at a swift rate a short distance
5 o KINGSCLERE
along the platform. Turning sharply round he
retraced his steps, re-appeared at the door of the
compartment wherein Porter had remained seated,
and exclaimed : ' Don't you think, sir, that I am the
biggest fool you ever met in your life ? ' A good-
tempered rejoinder, which denied the querist the
championship he had claimed, closed the incident.
5'
CHAPTER IV
Filching the trainer's good name — An artfully knavish Turf adviser —
The wrongful heir — A curiosity in Turf prophecy : a Silas Wegg
who dropped into poetry — Important trials, and an unread riddle
— Why Pero Gomez was beaten — Wells that day not Wells— A
thunderstorm which lost the Oaks — A marvellous Kingsclere year—
Rosicrucian and Blue Gown at their greatest — ' Why, I could not
tell you how good Blue Gown was ! ' — Sir Joseph Hawley's failing
health — The relations between owner and trainer — The Baronet's
uniform kindness and consideration — ' One of the best friends I
have had.'
A digression may be permitted here. It has been
Porter's fate to have his name and position fraudu-
lently taken in vain on several occasions. Two
diverse instances of this enterprise on the part of the
knaves of the pack appear deserving of citation.
1 The Aristocratic Tout,' writing in the ' Licensed
Victuallers' Gazette,' chanced to run imitative
knave number one to earth, as he relates, in the
following manner :
' Early in the present season a neighbour of mine,
from a motive of curiosity, answered the following
advertisement which appeared in the " Daily Tele-
graph " :
'" REQUIRED, the services of a gentleman to
manage a City office. Would be required
to travel to the Continent once a week. Address
Continent, &c."
E 2
52 KINGSCLERE
4 Well, there was nothing much in the advertise-
ment, although my friend had his suspicions, but
there was a great deal in the reply, which I will
reproduce, merely premising that the letter-paper
was headed with the address of Mr. John Porter,
but of the word " Park " the first three letters had
been torn away, leaving the final letter " k " — a bait
which might have excited the cupidity of many
inquiring mugs but for the indifferent orthography
of the composition which was headed by this
respectable address :
k House, Kingsclere, Hants, Saturday.
1 " Dear Sir, — I regret that owing to the gross
carelessness of a clerk, your application addressed to
1 Continent,' with others, were only seen by me
whilst on a visit here for a week or two. The
appointment you then applied for is of course now
provided for (sic ! ). In the course of a month or so
several additions will be made to the Continental
office, and a gentleman for special duty between
London and Paris. We may then give your letter
consideration. No security will be required in these
cases, but the very best of references are necessary ;
you will, however, be expected to have some little
knoivledge of Turf details, practices, and phrases,
and I would advise you to purchase the ' Practical
Turfite,' which is published privately, and circulated
amongst professional people. It can only be ob-
tained from Mr. [here an address in the City is
given], who will refuse to supply you unless you
mention my name. There is no necessity for you
to take a yearly subscription, ' two guineas,' one for
half-year will answer your purpose, One Guinea. If
you carefully study the information contained therein,
as well as the accounts, advice, and suggestions, you
should be fairly well posted, and if at any interview
/ find you as intelligent as your letter suggests we
A CLUMSY ROGUE 53
may give you something. Any change of address
you can forward to me, but do not trouble further
unless your character -is unquestionable. Yours
truly [here follows an address in the neigh-
bourhood of Clapham]. P.S. — You must under-
stand if you have to go to Holland it is a very quiet
place."
4 Enclosed was a note requesting Mr. to
"kindly allow Mr. to subscribe for a half-year
for the ' Practical Turfite' on ordinary terms.'"
The next was a police court case, and, but for
the imagination which the vulgar rascal displayed in
the concoction of a bogus will, might have been
passed over unnoticed. But in respect of that auda-
cious exploit the exploit was uncommon, ranking in
fiction with Captain Kearney in ' Peter Simple,' who
* made his will and devised sundry chateaux en
Espagne for the benefit of those concerned,' and, in
fact, with ' pore Sir Roger ' (an impostor not alto-
gether unknown in Hampshire), who invented and
placed the estates to which he declared he was the
rightful heir in the wrong counties.
1 Robert Boorer, twenty-five, alias James Porter,
a young man who was employed as a groom and
a coachman by a music-hall agent, was charged
at the Westminster Police Court, before Mr.
D'Eyncourt, with obtaining money by fraud and
false representations from Henry Pope, an omnibus
conductor, and others. The wife of Pope deposed
that in the early part of 1888 the prisoner was
a lodger in her husband's house in Dorset Place,
Pimlico. He said his name was Porter, and repre-
sented himself as the nephew of Mr. John Porter,
the racehorse trainer of " Newmarket." In the
54 KINGSCLERE
month of June, at which time he owed 10/. for
board and lodging, he stated that his uncle, Porter,
had died and left him a fortune. He showed a
number of letters on deep mourning note-paper
purporting to be written by "Mr. G. W. Lewis, Q.C.,"
to the effect that his (prisoner's) presence was
urgently required at Newmarket to settle his late
uncle's affairs. He also exhibited a fictitious will,
which set out that the testator left his estates and
racehorses to James Porter (himself), subject to an
interest to his sister Dorothea, to be paid when she
was twenty-one. The value of the estates was stated
to be 1 7,870/., and the will concluded, " Signed before
the executors, Matthew Dawson and Sir Geo.
Chetwynd, both of Newmarket, gentlemen." An-
nexed to the document was a schedule or catalogue
of the horses and other property which the prisoner
said had been sent to him by his lawyers, and this
list was headed " Kingsclere Stable." It included
139 mares in foal, 45 yearlings, 20 geldings,
broughams, mail phaetons, 207 patent collars, 14 fields,
comprising 394 acres, 3 roods, 2 perches, three fields
of new hay, three cornfields, and cattle, poultry, &c.
The Popes, believing all the prisoner's representa*
tions, advanced him 5/. in order to go to Newmarket
to look after his property. Mr. George Gardner
Leader, solicitor, deposed that he was closely con-
nected with Mr. John Porter, trainer, of Kingsclere,
and acted professionally for him. He had never
seen the prisoner before, and Mr. Porter was alive
and well that morning. Robert Boorer, alias James
Porter, was committed for trial, and subsequently
convicted at the London County Sessions.'
A rich crop of the curiosities of Turf prophecy
might be gathered from the articles which appeared
in the newspapers, sporting and general, imme-
diately prior to Blue Gown's — or Lady Elizabeth's
A CURIOSITY IN .'TIPS' 55
— Derby. A more than commonly inspired fore-
cast, written by a prophet in a fine frenzy, appears
to demand rescue from the columns of the daily
journal which it inflamed. It ran, not to say rushed,
on thus :
'Expressing a final opinion as to what Judge
Clark may say when the telling moment arrives,
let me fancy the preliminary canters over, and the
candidates for England's greatest prize are seen
wending their way through the paddock with
Mr. M 'George awaiting their arrival at the gate.
Excitement is now at its highest pitch, and thou-
sands and thousands are almost breathless at the
sound of "They're off!" for fear the "All right"
should not be passed by Mr. Manning in favour of
their blue riband representative. Preceded by one
or two false starts, the flag falls with the pioneers
for Danebury, Kingsclere, and Newmarket rushing
to the front ere the top of the hill is gained, and we
may picture Cock of the Walk for Lady Elizabeth,
Green Sleeve for Blue Gown, Pace for Speculum,
and King Alfred for Suffolk, all in the van before
the mile post is reached. At that point the pace is
so great that the rubbish is disposed of, and, tearing
down for Tattenham Corner, the leaders in turn
give way in favour of their more trustworthy stable
companions. Fairly in the straight, nearer and
nearer grows the strife and louder swell the shouts.
"Sir Joseph" cry the "upper ten," "Lord Hast-
ings" scream the touts. Within a quarter of a mile
of home the favourite takes her place on the whip
hand with two of the " cherry " representatives
hugging on the rails, and Daley, as with Hermit
last year, biding his time most patiently in the
middle of the course. The distance is reached, and
Paul Jones, Orion, and the Duke's colours fail in
their attempt to overhaul the leaders. At the lower
56 KINGSCLERE
end of the stand enclosure the four great horsemen
of the day are singled out, Custance and Wells hard
on the Kingsclere pair, and Fordham, with a " Lord
Clifden " eye on Daley, preparing for a final rush.
1 The shouts are fearful, for the struggle's close,
And no one knows how strong he'll get the dose ;
Now, Hawley frown
On poor Blue Gown,
For, in spite of private spins,
The best mare since Blink Bonny's year —
'Tis Lady Elizabeth wins.
1 Thus, then, my five months verdict remains
unchanged ; and as I have persisted all through
the piece that the favourite would win the Derby if
well on the day, I must finish as I began with
'Lady Elizabeth .... First
Suffolk Second.'
The foregoing ebullition is dated ' Epsom,
Tuesday,' the day before the Derby.
To resume, Rosicrucian was pretty well done
with for that season — the season, by the way, that
Satyr won the Royal Hunt Cup — under the extra-
ordinary circumstances already related. In recalling
1868, while refreshing his memory by turning over
the pages of the ' Calendar,' Porter cannot refrain
from dwelling on the form which proved how
wonderfully good those two-year-olds were. Xi
won the Queen's Stand Plate, giving three stone
all but a pound to Abstinence (2 yrs., 6 st. 9 lb.),
beating her a length and a half, and Blue Gown
won the Gold Cup by four lengths at Ascot, King
Alfred being two lengths off, third, while The
Palmer carried off the Liverpool Cup, beating
TWO TRIALS 57
Knight of the Garter, as already referred to. The
stable, although yet, as it had constantly been,
limited in extent, maintained a high, if not the
highest, standard of quality. By comparison it
will almost suffice to mention the two-year-olds,
Morna and Pero Gomez. Then there was another
good horse in Siderolite, who developed into a
good stayer ; but we shall hear more of him
further on. Morna won the Champagne, beating
Belladrum, who was second, and Pero Gomez won
the Middle Park, and the Criterion, after a dead
heat with Wild Oats. Scottish Queen was second
to Pero Gomez in the Middle Park Plate, and
Pretender third. There were two trials in antici-
pation of the races in question which should per-
haps be recorded. The first, which took place on
September i , was as follows :
SIX FURLONGS
Morna, 2 yrs., 7 st. 4 lb. . . . .1
Pero Gomez, 2 yrs., 8 st. 1 1 lb. . . .2
Xi, 4 yrs., 10 st. 4 lb 3
Won by two lengths ; the same between second and third.
The second trial, which came off just before the
Middle Park Plate, was as follows :
SIX FURLONGS
Pero Gomez, 2 yrs., 9 st. 7 lb. . . .1
Morna, 2 yrs., 9 st. o lb. . . . .2
The Palmer, 4 yrs., 10 st. 7 lb. . . .3
Won by a neck ; the same between second and third.
58 KINGSCLERE
In reference to the Cambridgeshire, in which
Blue Gown carried top weight — namely 9 st. —
Porter is of opinion that although the horse did not
win, he deserved more credit than was ascribed to
him for his performance. There was a long delay
at the post ; he was, under his crushing weight, in at
nearly all the attempts to get away ; and yet he
finished second to that good three-year-old See
Saw, to whom he was conceding 12 lb.
Sir Joseph Hawley had purchased Lictor (4
years, by Lambton out of Parasol) of Sir John
Astley, and that useful horse became a member
of the stud in 1869. Useful indeed! Lictor was,
with Xi, the best and most trustworthy horse of
his rare stamp Porter ever had through his hands.
His 'answer' to 'the question' could, like Xi's,
be implicitly relied on. There was a Derby trial
some time in the spring which Porter vaguely
remembers, but of which he has preserved no
record. It was one of those false — or, at any rate,
perplexing — investigations into form which constitute
part of the experience of every seasoned master of
the art of training racehorses. ' Something went
wrong with the works,' and therefore the affair was
considered of no account and has since been for-
gotten. If, however, that vague ghost of a futile
trial has ceased to trouble the memory of the trainer
of Sir Joseph Hawley's uncommon stud, the real
test which followed, and of which a record has been
preserved, is yet to him, as it was on its occurrence
to the mystified owner, an unsolved problem. The
, a
A RIDDLE 59
trial took place on May 20, 1869, in the presence of
the Baronet and Porter, with, of course — for no
secret was made of the transaction — many outlying
but uninvited spectators in watchful attendance. It
was as follows :
ONE MILE AND A HALF
Lictor, 4 yrs., 7 st. 1 lb. . . . . .1
Morna, 3 yrs., 7 st. 8 lb. . . . .2
Blue Gown, 4 yrs., 9 st. 1 1 lb. . . .3
Pero Gomez, 3 yrs., 8 st. 9 lb. . . .4
Won by two lengths ; ten lengths between second and
third ; and four lengths between third and fourth.
Wells rode Blue Gown and Jem Adams Pero
Gomez, two stable boys being upon the others.
Neither Sir Joseph Hawley nor Porter could read
the riddle of that astounding trial, and the jockeys
could give them no clue to its solution. Nothing
which occurred subsequently helped to clear up the
mystery, and to this day it is impenetrable. May 20
was too near the date of the Derby (which took
place on the 26th) to afford a chance of re-trying
Morna and Pero Gomez ; therefore the usual pre-
parations were advanced for sending them to Epsom,
although it was a forlorn hope. It was possible
that the trial had been all wrong — trials occasionally
are ; but, at any rate, the Kingsclere outlook wore a
gloomy aspect. Pretender, ridden by John Osborne,
defeated Pero Gomez by a head, the betting being
1 1 to 8 against the winner and 1 1 to 2 against Sir
Joseph Hawley's colt. It was so close a finish that
60 KINGSCLERE
many experienced spectators of the race thought
that Pero Gomez had won. The horse was care-
lessly ridden when he ought to have been got
through, and was seriously interfered with by a
horse of Teddy Brayley's (Duke of Beaufort) in
coming round Tattenham Corner. In a word, it is
John Porter's abiding persuasion that if Wells had
ridden with greater confidence and resolution, the
verdict of the judge would have been reversed.
Although, for reasons which have been assigned,
the stable were more than dubious with regard to
the Derby, Morna had beaten Pero Gomez so far
in a canter in the trial, they felt certain that she
would secure the Oaks. Again was disappointment
their doom. A tremendous thunderstorm broke
over the course while the mares were at the post,
and as the thoroughbred is quite as nervous under
such a visitation as man, and is necessarily more at
its mercy, Porter attributes the defeat of a highly
organised and frightened animal to the storm. Pero
Gomez (to dismiss him for the present) afterwards
won the Doncaster St. Leger ' cleverly ' — with,
however, plenty in hand — while Pretender ran un-
placed, and he also carried off the Doncaster Stakes,
Pretender second, half a length, and the third,
Typhon, three lengths behind the Derby winner.
In talking over the events of that wonderful
Kingsclere year, Porter is roused to a pitch of
enthusiasm when he recalls the achievements of
Blue Gown and Rosicrucian. 'Why, I could not
tell you how good Blue Gown was ! At Goodwood,
A WONDERFUL KINGSCLERE YEAR 61
in the Craven Stakes, he met Vespasian — Blue
Gown, 9 st. 6 lb., and Vespasian, 9 st. 9 lb. He beat
him by a head. The same week Vespasian won
the Duke of Richmond's Plate, carrying 9 st. 7 lb.,
and the Chesterfield Cup with 10 st. 4 lb. on his
back. Then there was Rosicrucian. He won the
All-Aged Stakes (six furlongs) at Newmarket two
years in succession, proving what a horse he was
for speed. He beat Vespasian at a mile, which was
Vespasian's best course. He won the Ascot Stakes
carrying 8 st. 12 lb., and walked past the post ! He
followed this up by winning the Alexandra Plate
(three miles), conceding 7 lb. to Musket, who was
considered one of the best stayers of modern times.
You rarely find a horse like Rosicrucian, possessing
all the great qualities, namely — generosity, game-
ness, speed, and staying power.' Lictor has been
mentioned. In referring again to that useful servant,
most invaluable in trials (for employment in which
he was purchased) no matter what the distance,
from a T.Y.C. to a mile and upwards, his winning
the Liverpool Cup may be included amongst the
exploits of the stable in 1 869.
Sir Joseph Hawley's failing health prevented
him in the year succeeding from participating with
the accustomed relish in the business of his favourite
sport. His name figures but seldom in the list of
winning owners during that season. Rosicrucian,
now five years old, easily won the Prince of Wales'
Stakes at the Epsom Spring, carrying 9 st, the top
weight, the Craven at Newmarket, a Plate at ' head-
62 KINGSCLERE
quarters' — the First Spring — the Craven at Good-
wood, beating Vespasian, with whom he was running
on equal terms, and carrying off the York Cup.
Agility, 3 yrs., 7 st. 4 lb., came in first, beating
Rosicrucian by a head ; but Wells objected to
Agility on the ground of a jostle, and the Stewards,
after investigation, decided that the jostle was
proved and that Rosicrucian was the winner of the
Cup. Agility was a good deal more than 'smart,'
as her victories that year proved. Rosicrucian's
final victory that season was in the All- Aged Stakes
at the Newmarket Houghton Meeting. Reduced
to a match between him and Formosa, Siderolite
(4 yrs., 8 st. 10 lb.) won the Gold Vase at Ascot,
the mare, carrying 2 lb. more, being beaten by a
length. A Queen's Plate at Lewes, another at
Lichfield also, with a couple of bloodless victories,
fell to the share of this son of Asteroid and Aphrodite.
' Prince Pless's Blue Gown ' obtained winning
brackets once out of six attempts in 1870, the horse
being returned twice in the ' Calendar's ' list of
winning horses, first as M. Andre's, for receiving
forfeit, and then, as owned by Prince Pless, when
he won a handicap plate — top weight, of course —
at the Newmarket Houghton.
During John Porter's connection with Sir
Joseph Hawley as his private trainer ' they never
had a wrong word.' He was constantly kind and
considerate, and took the warmest personal interest
in the trainer, in whom he reposed unswerving con-
fidence, and also in the welfare of every member of
SIR JOSEPH— A RETROSPECT 63
his family. This same kindly consideration he dis-
played in a multitude of ways, both in and out of
business. His first inquiry when he visited Cannon
Heath or Kingsclere, and he was a frequent and
informal visitor, was not after the horses, but the
health of Mrs. Porter and the children. He was
a splendid sportsman of the true Corinthian order,
and, winner or loser, was equally imperturbable. In
Bedminster's year he and his brother called at Tad-
worth on their way to the course. They found
Porter in the stable with Bedminster's legs in the
fomenting pail. The Baronet made no inquiries
about the horse — what he saw was sufficient — but
asked after Wells. Porter told him that the jockey
was in bed with a hot tile on his stomach ; he was
suffering from cramp. Sir Joseph humorously re-
marked that his prospects of winning the Derby
looked particularly bright and rosy, seeing that his
horse had no legs under him and the jockey was
sick. 'However,' he added, 'never mind. Let us
have lunch.' Accordingly a table was improvised in
the stable, the cloth spread, certain baskets unpacked,
and a luncheon heartily discussed. The alliance
between owner and trainer in the case of the Baronet
and his trainer was indeed complete. The latter
thought and wrought for him early and late, far more
than he would have done for himself, because he
felt that it was impossible to do too much for an
employer who never for a moment questioned or
doubted the policy or wisdom of a single thing he
did. They would argue matters over of course, but
64 KINGSCLERE
always in a friendly, companionable manner, as two
men should whose purpose and interests were iden-
tical. When a point of difference did arise, which
was seldom, Sir Joseph Hawley was invariably the
first to give in. On occasions when the stable had
been beaten, it was the Baronet who came forward
to sympathise with Porter and explain away the
failure before the trainer could find words to express
his own regret and, generally, his less plausible ex-
cuse. If poor Wells were living his testimony to the
memory of Sir Joseph Hawley would no doubt be as
whole-souled and as pregnant with affectionate ad-
miration as that of Wells's life-long friend and com-
rade, John Porter. No one could have behaved
more magnanimously under excessively trying cir-
cumstances than Sir Joseph Hawley did to Wells.
How many owners would have borne what he did,
and still retained the reckless jockey in his service ?
As to Sir Joseph Hawley's qualities as an owmer,
John Porter, than whom no man in the world had a
better opportunity of knowing, says, ' He was a fine
judge of racing, the very best hand at putting horses
together I ever met with, and one of the straightest
I ever knew. He played the game — small blame to
him ! — like a sportsman. As he himself used to say,
"He was not going to take 3 to 1 about any of his
horses when he ought fairly to have had 10 to 1."
His stud was a marvel. Look at the few horses he
bred — seldom more than five or six a year ; and he
never had more than ten or a dozen going at onetime.
'ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS' 65
I felt,' said Porter, ' when I was at the graveside of
Sir Joseph Hawley, that I had seen the last of a
splendid pillar of the Turf, and parted from one of
the very best friends I had had in the whole course
of my career.'
66
CHAPTER V
Vagabond's City and Suburban — Walter and his * Kingsclere Racing
Circular' at 'The Swan' — The trial of Vagabond— Effect of the
report on the betting — The scratching of Vagabond and King
Cophetua — The libel on Sir Joseph Hawley in the ' Sporting
Times ' — Meeting of Sir Joseph Hawley and Dr. Shorthouse —
Additions to the Kingsclere stable — Isonomy — An extraordinary
trial — Isonomy 'great ' and Fernandez 'good' — All 'going' the
same to Isonomy — Porter ceases to train for the owner of Fernan-
dez — Lord Stamford joins the stable
Before referring to the libel on Sir Joseph Hawley
which appeared in the ' Sporting Times ' (a full
account of which and the circumstances connected
therewith will be found in the Editor's notes), when
that journal was under the genial yet aggressive
control of the original proprietor and editor, the late
Dr. Shorthouse (those who best knew the Doctor
are aware that he was a curious mixture of big-
hearted geniality and Cobbett-like aggressiveness)
— it is necessary to state the plain facts of ' the
provocation.' The City and Suburban, 1869, was
won by Alpenstock, who ran also in the Metro-
politan at the same meeting. Sir Joseph Hawley
had accepted with Vagabond, 3 yrs., 6 st. 2 lb., for
the City and Suburban, and the colt was tried as
follows :
WALTER 67
ONE MILE AND A QUARTER
Vagabond, 3 yrs., 7 st. 2 lb. . . . .1
The Palmer, 5 yrs., 9 st. 7 lb. . . .2
Blue Gown, 4 yrs., 9 st. 13 lb. . . .3
King Cophetua, 3 yrs., 7 st. 2 lb. . . .4
Won by a length ; a neck between second and third, and
four lengths between third and fourth.
At that time the notorious Walter, the son of
the landlady of the Swan Inn, Kingsclere, was
' managing ' an impudently fraudulent Discretionary
Investment Scheme, in connection with which he
published a sheet of four pages called ' The
Kingsclere Racing Circular.' He advertised ex-
tensively in the sporting journals, forged and garbled
1 opinions of the press,' invented winners of immense
stakes by his ' system,' and otherwise employed
every nefarious dodge which a shrewd conception
of the unquestioning greed of his gullible dupes —
whose name was legion — and a cunning, but utterly
knavish, brain could devise. Such ' information ' as
could be wormed out of a corrupted stable boy or
two in the Kingsclere stable (there is a black sheep
or dark-complexioned lambkin in every flock) he
no doubt occasionally obtained, and, as was dis-
covered before the suborned youngster was found
guilty and sent about his business, paid for. On
leaving school Walter had been placed with a
chemist and druggist at Newbury ; but honest
employment of any description was distasteful to
him, therefore he abandoned the pestle and mortar
F 2
68 KINGSCLERE
and returned to Kingsclere, and became an ill-
conditioned loafer. Walter was always ' a bad egg,'
as the phrase goes. On one occasion Porter came
home after seeing the horses at work, and was
informed that the young ruffian had assailed a
female member of the household with a torrent of
foul language. ' Master,' furious for once, jumped
upon his hack, caught the blackguard in the road,
and gave him a horsewhipping, without abatement,
over a T.Y.C. — full measure !
There was no telegraph station at Kingsclere in
1869. and the touts had therefore to wire their
1 information ' abroad from Overton or Newbury.
Walter had collected his troop of assistants, mounted
them, and placed them at different points of the
road to carry the message forward when the trial
was over. Porter saw the fellow in his shirt-sleeves
on a hack, waiting for the verdict, and also when he
was galloping off to despatch the news of the result.
So much for the tout and his band of toutlings.
That the ' intelligence ' itself, such as it was, had an
influence on the betting market goes without saying.
The intelligence of a trial, however obtained, or not
obtained at all but a piece of fraudulent invention,
will always produce that effect. And yet it is not
usual for a trainer to make known even to a limited
circle of his friends, much less to the spies, the
relative weights at which the trial horses run.
However, the trial in question took place, and a
report of it communicated through the channels of
information which Walter controlled, and, whether
'THE MARKET' 69
on that account exclusively or not, Vagabond came
with a rush in the market. It is curious to note, in
passing, Vagabond's advance. On Friday, March 19,
he was quoted in 'the market returns' at 20 to 1 ;
on Monday, the 22nd, at 100 to 7 ; on Wednesday,
the 24th, at 5 to 1 ; and the next day at 3 to 1, with
9 to 4 ' taken with a start.' On the day last named
he was backed at 8 to 1 for the Great Metropolitan
(6 st. 9 lb.) and 100 to 8 for the Chester Cup
(5 st. 9 lb.). In the chronicle of the market,
referring to March 29, the day before the City and
Suburban, we read that ' the announcement of the
scratching of The Parson for the City and Suburban
which greeted members on their arrival from the
city, although altogether unexpected, was a mere
fleabite compared to the notice posted on the board
shortly before four o'clock, to the effect that
Vagabond and King Cophetua had been struck
out to Messrs. Weatherby at 3.10 p.m.' It can
be well conceived what a revolution was caused by
a 5 to 2 candidate going out without the slightest
warning, and this proved the signal for some
gigantic wagering. There is no necessity to give
the history of the horse to the end. It may, how-
ever, be mentioned that Vagabond ran unplaced
in the Great Metropolitan, starting third favourite
at 4 to 1. As to the trial of Vagabond, neither Sir
Joseph Hawley nor Porter thought the result
flattering. They both, however, thought the horse
had a fair chance of winning the City and Suburban.
When, however the Baronet found that Vagabond
70 KINGSCLERE
had been made first favourite without his having
backed him for a single penny he determined to
scratch him from the race. To settle once for all a
point concerning which there may yet be doubts, the
public grossly overrated Vagabond, who was never
anything but a moderate horse. A description of
Walter's system of swindling, and an account of his
career will be found in the Appendix.
Although strongly urged by his friends to prose-
cute the ' Sporting Times,' and while he himself was
persuaded that he could not suffer such an atrocious
libel on his honour to pass unchallenged, Sir Joseph
Hawley was deeply grieved at the severity of the
sentence which was passed on Dr. Shorthouse, and
used his utmost endeavours to obtain a mitigation
of the Doctor's punishment. He personally waited
upon the Home Secretary, and implored him to
curtail the term of imprisonment, but without
avail. It was, Porter is convinced, a matter of deep
and lasting regret to Sir Joseph Hawley that his
strenuous efforts to procure the release or mitigation
of the excessive sentence passed on the editor of the
1 Sporting Times ' altogether failed, the more espe-
cially as he was aware from the commencement of the
proceedings that Dr. Shorthouse himself was not the
writer of the libel. One of the first race meetings
which Dr. Shorthouse attended on his release was
his favourite Epsom. Porter happened to be stand-
ing at the foot of the steps in the little paddock
when Dr. Shorthouse approached, and said, ' Porter,
where is Sir Joseph Hawley? I want to see him.'
SIR JOSEPH AND THE DOCTOR 71
He was informed that the Baronet was in the
Stewards' Stand, and might appear at any moment.
Presently Sir Joseph came down, whereupon the
Doctor, removing his hat and bowing profoundly,
said, ' I admire you, Sir Joseph. No man in Eng-
land except yourself would have had the courage to
prosecute me. Let us shake hands.' They shook
hands, and were good friends ever afterwards. Dr.
Shorthouse died June 13, 1883.
Some time prior to his death the Baronet had
allowed his trainer to undertake the training of a
few horses the property of other owners. Messrs.
T. E. Walker and F. Gretton were the earliest
additions. Mr. John Gretton was the next. One
of the first of the notable horses which renewed the
Kingsclere traditions was Pageant, by Elland out of
Panoply, a gelding which Mr. F. Gretton purchased
from Mr. Gomm. He had up to that time won a
great many minor races, both as a two and three-
year-old, and had had several different owners.
Under the new schoolmaster he won two Doncaster
cups, the Brighton Cup, and twice won 'the Cup'
itself at Chester. These performances embraced
several seasons, for he was a good ' old un,' and ran
on. Mr. F. Gretton had a horse called Monk — by
Hermit out of Thorsday. That horses prefer some
courses, and therefore do better upon them than they
do on others, is well known. It is equally certain that
horses often repeat in public their disappointing trials.
Monk, for example, was tried for the Stewards' Cup
at Goodwood (in 1877), and failed (swerving in it)
72 KINGSCLERE
by about a length. Mr. F. Gretton attributed this
to the seventy of the course, and remarked at the
time, ' If that had been at Goodwood he would have
won.' Well, Monk ran at Goodwood, and failed in
the race (he finished second to Herald) precisely
as he had done in his trial. It occurs to Porter to
mention by the way a comparatively recent illus-
tration of a horses liking for a particular course —
one amongst many which might be submitted. Son
of a Gun, who won twice at Liverpool, was a stone
better there than he was when he ran over New-
market Heath.
In the year 1876 Porter purchased for Mr. F.
Gretton at the Yardley sale a yearling by Sterling
out of Isola Bella for the sum of 360 guineas. That
colt was afterwards named Isonomy, and became
one of the best and stoutest horses that ever faced
a flag. Stout himself, he has transmitted the quality
to his progeny, as has been proved in his sons,
Common and Isinglass. As a two-year-old, during
which period he ran very little — but thrice in fact,
his solitary victory being a Nursery at the New-
market First October — Porter was afforded daily
evidence of his essentially great character. He was
sound and hardy, with a constitution of iron, perhaps
just a wee bit excitable in temperament, and, as was
frequently shown, to him every description of going
was alike. John Porter glows with enthusiasm when
he speaks of Isonomy. ' Why, when he won the
Manchester Cup, you could not have put a pickaxe
into the ground ; while at York he had to gallop
WHY FORTY TO ONE? y 3
through a quarter of a mile of swamp.' They did
not run him, after the two-year-old period, until his
Cambridgeshire was at hand, and then he was tried
at Newmarket, the Second October Meeting, over
the Cambridgeshire course. Concerning both trial
and race there is something to be said. The former,
which was perfectly open and naturally did not take
place unwitnessed by ' neighbouring eyes,' came out
as follows :
CAMBRIDGESHIRE COURSE
Ancient Pistol, 3 yrs. (Graves), 6 st. 7 lb. .1
Isonomy, 3 yrs. (Fordham), 8 st. 5 lb. . .2
Harbinger, 4 yrs. (T. Cannon), 8 st. 9 lb. .3
Singleton, 3 yrs. (Huxtable), 7 st. o lb. . .4
Won by a neck ; six lengths between second and third,
and two lengths between third and fourth.
It will be remembered, by the backers of the
horse to their satisfaction, that Isonomy started at
the outside price of 40 to 1. Why was this ? The
obvious answer, not altogether uninspired by the
evidence of the uninvited spectators of the trial, is
that Isonomy had not emerged triumphantly from
' the mill' But, there are trials and trials. Porter
drove up in a fly with Mr. Gretton, and as they
passed down by the side of the Cambridgeshire
Course to the Birdcage, they scanned the track to
see that it was clear. Satisfied that there were no
obstacles in the way, the jockeys were weighed out,
and owner and trainer were driven rapidly back to
the winning post. As they proceeded, they found to
74 KINGSCLERE
their consternation that during their absence at the
Birdcage two of the upper rows of 'dolls' had been
placed across the course. The horses had then gone
to the post, and there was scarcely time for Porter
and Mr. Gretton to jump out of the trap and remove
the two centre 'dolls' before the quartette got
home. The upper row of ' dolls ' was left standing.
At the finish, closing a most unsatisfactory test,
Fordham and the others were pulling up. Needless
to observe that the trial, such as it was, left a wide
margin for guesswork. It, at all events, prevented
Mr. Gretton from backing his horse as he would
otherwise have done, although he did land 40,000/.
on the race. There were no fewer than thirty-eight
runners in that particular Cambridgeshire, which
Isonomy (3 yrs., 7 st. 1 lb.) won by two lengths.
Speaking generally of Isonomy, Porter assigns no
small part of the horse's extraordinarily successful
career to the fact that he was not over-raced as a
two-year-old ; and, by the way, it is remarkable that
the Cambridgeshire was his only race at three. The
trainer has strong views on the folly of racing young
horses during their most tender period, as other pages
of this volume testify. The stable record of 1879 is
largely monopolised by the exploits of Isonomy,
who, with Westbourne, kept Kingsclere most
prominently in the winning list. A mere recital of
Isonomy's performances discloses his greatness.
He, now four years old, won the Gold Vase at Ascot,
beating Silvio (5 yrs.) by half a length, and also the
Gold Cup at the same meeting — the latter by a
A GLORIOUS CAREER 75
couple of lengths — with Insulaire and Touchet vainly
toiling on in the rear. After securing the Goodwood
Cup — by three lengths — beating The Bear and
others, he conferred further distinction on the Sussex
fortnight by easily capturing the Brighton trophy.
They laid 10 to 1 on him for the latter race.
At York he called forth a Knavesmire edition of
1 the Yorkshire cheer ' by cantering home a victor —
by eight lengths — in the Great Ebor Handicap, with
9 st. 10 lb. on his back, having to carry his burthen —
as Porter has already remarked in proof that all
kinds of going were the same to him — over, not to
say through, a quarter of a mile of a course more
than fetlock deep. He was defeated once, not
fairly and squarely, with room to do his best, but
through being knocked over by his stable companion,
Westbourne, and by Dresden China. This was in
the Cesarewitch. Mr. F. Gretton had backed
Westbourne to win him 50,000/., and had also backed
Isonomy for a little. Porter feels certain that but
for the accident which befell Isonomy he would
have carried his 9 st. 10 lb. to victory. Westbourne
was in the Cambridgeshire and was made first
favourite, but inasmuch as the owner was unable
to obtain the price he wanted and felt that he had a
right to have, the pen was put through the horse's
name, and the owner ran him in the Newmarket
Derby instead. That race he won by three lengths,
defeating Lancastrian and three others. This
was a sweetener to Mr. Gretton, who landed a
single bet of 7,000/. to 4,000/. In 1880 the glorious
7 6 KINGSCLERE
career of Isonomy was continued, albeit he ran but
twice. He won the Manchester Cup when, as has
been mentioned, the going was as hard as bricks,
carrying 9 st. 12 lb., and giving The Abbot, who
had been third in the Two Thousand, no less than
42 lb. ! Truly a marvellous achievement. Finally
he was victor in the race for the Gold Cup at Ascot,
beating Chippendale by a length, with Zut, two
lengths off, third. This closed Isonomy's splendid
running career, one that has perhaps never been
surpassed for exhibiting all the fine and powerful
qualities which are embodied in a truly magnificent
racehorse. Altogether, Isonomy piled up for Mr.
F. Gretton in bets and stakes upwards of one hundred
and ten thousand pounds.
Fernandez, 3 yrs., another son of Sterling and
I sola Bella, came to the front concurrently with
Isonomy's farewell of the Turf to go to the stud in
1 880. He may be summed up in the simple but ex-
pressive phrase, employed in its first intention, 'a
good horse.' Neither more nor less. He won the
Craven Stakes at Newmarket, and was afterwards
defeated by Bend Or, who had just carried off the
Derby. Critics of condition, who are so often down
upon the poor trainer for bringing a horse to the post
palpably unfit to run, might take a lesson from the
defeat of Fernandez. It was never intended to run
him at Ascot ; consequently, he was not wound up
to appear there. But the owner is paramount, and
when orders were received from Mr. Gretton to the
effect that Fernandez was to be pulled out to meet
MR. F. GRETTON'S RETIREMENT yy
Bend Or, there was no alternative but to comply.
However, unfit as the horse was, and nobody knew
that better than John Porter himself, he was only
beaten a head by the Derby winner. Then followed
the Cambridgeshire, which should — and would — ■
have been his if, to put it popularly, he had had a
clear course. As it happened, however, although
he was giving Lucetta (4 yrs.) 141b. and the year,
he finished but half a length behind the mare.
Fordham, who was never the man to submit
frivolous objections, lodged one immediately after
the race on the ground of a cross. It was an excit-
ing scene. The predominant feeling was signified
in the accustomed manner, and it was striking
enough. Odds were freely laid that Fordham got
the race. The case was heard by the Stewards at
the end of the day's regular business, and, after a
prolonged sitting, the stakes were awarded to the
winner. Mr. F. Gretton had Prestonpans and
F'ernandez in the Liverpool Cup, which race the
former won. The gap between the sentence just
written and that which follows might, perhaps, be
otherwise and more fully filled. It is, however,
quite sufficient to state that Porter ceased to train
for the owner of Fernandez with the termination of
the season, and during the winter his stud of
eighteen good-looking horses were transferred to
Alec Taylor's, and not one of them succeeded in
subsequently winning a race. Mr. John Gretton,
who until then had trained a few horses at Kingsclere,
remained, and soon after Lord Stamford placed his
stud in Porter's care.
78
CHAPTER VI
Beaudesert and his bowed tendon — A too confident purchase —
' Passed as sound ' — Geheimniss : her astonishing gift of speed —
Whipper In : an extraordinary tell-tale — A wonderfully strong
stable — A Two Thousand Trial— A double claim on Archer —
The Derby trial of St. Blaise— H.R.H. the Prince of Wales's first
visit to Kingsclere — Was St. Blaise a lucky horse ? — The trial good
enough to win nine Derbys out of ten — Charles Wood's masterly
riding of St. Blaise — Reasons for losing the Grand Prix — Accident
to Reprieve — 'A line' for St. Simon — Mr. Cloete — Purchase of
the Casuistry colt — Troublesome to train — Sale and re-sale of
Paradox — Scratched for the Cambridgeshire — Porter ceases to
train for Mr. Cloete
In this place it is appropriate to mention that in the
autumn of 1878 Lord Alington requested Porter to
train Beaudesert for him for the Derby. His lord-
ship at that time had a few horses at the Percys'.
Beaudesert had been purchased after the Middle
Park Plate, in fact after the Houghton Meeting in
1878, from Lord Anglesey, the price being 5,000 or
6,000 guineas. The colt was brought to Porter at
Mrs. Aldcroft's stables for inspection. He had
cloths on his legs. Upon removing these the
trainer, to whom the most responsible and anxious
task incidental to a person in his profession had
been assigned, observed that Beaudesert was
afflicted with a bowed tendon, probably one of the
most serious infirmities which a horse can sustain,
THE BOWED TENDON
79
seeing that the ligament in question is one of his
principal supports. Porter immediately sent for
Lord Alington, and his lordship and Sir Frederick
Johnstone came together. On their attention being
called to the blemish, Barrow, the Newmarket
veterinary surgeon, who had passed Beaudesert as
sound, was summoned to the conference. That
well-known authority was reminded that Beaudesert
had been purchased conditionally on his passing
him as sound, whereupon Barrow replied that the
horse had won the Middle Park Plate and his being
sound or not did not matter — or words to that effect.
Although Porter urged Lord Alington and Sir
Frederick Johnstone to obtain further veterinary ad-
vice, they felt that, inasmuch as they had purchased
the colt subject to Barrow's certificate, and the
veterinary ' authority ' had duly ' passed ' him, they
were bound to accept the situation. ' But,' to repeat
the narrator's natural exclamation, ' fancy passing
the horse — any horse — without first removing his
bandages ! ' As Porter had anticipated and foretold,
the first good gallop Beaudesert was given as a
three-year-old broke him down : the bowed tendon
gave way.
Lord Stamford made a lucky beginning at
Kingsclere in 1881 by purchasing Geheimniss
(a daughter of Rosicrucian and Nameless) of
Tom Cannon for 2,000/. Otherwise his lordship
had few horses, and they of no great account.
Geheimniss, who as a two-year-old ' won every-
thing,' was perhaps one of the speediest animals at
So KINGSCLERE
six furlongs that ever trod the turf. She carried off
the Oaks, and was second for the St. Leger ; but it
was her one great gift of extraordinary speed which
landed her on each occasion, as she had no pre-
tensions whatever to stay either course. When she
was defeated in the Fern Hill Stakes at Ascot by
Lord Rosebery's Narcissa, it was not on her merits,
for she had jumped the road. On the death of the
trainer, Percy, Lord Alington's and Sir Frederick
Johnstone's horses were removed to Kingsclere, and
eventually, on the retirement from business of
Robert Peck, the Duke of Westminster's, these
owners, with Lord Stamford and Mr. John Gretton,
comprising the stable. Porter is happy to think
that the only gap which has occurred in the
association which was thus formed was caused by
the lamentable death of Lord Stamford in 1883.
Among the horses now at Kingsclere was St.
Blaise. He came into the hands of the new
schoolmaster after running (in 1882) moderately
well as a two-year-old. One of his most note-
worthy exploits was winning the Troy Stakes at
the Newmarket Houghton Meeting. Porter's
opinion of St. Blaise, from first to last, is that he
was a good, without being a great horse. The
accession of the Duke of Westminster's stud of
yearlings, and of his horses in training, taxed the
resources of Kingsclere to the utmost, and kept the
head of what was now, perhaps, the most extensive
establishment of the kind in England incessantly
AN ADMIRABLE TRIAL HORSE 81
employed. But he found himself and Park House
quite equal to the strain. Amongst the additions
were Whipper In and Shotover. On becoming
familiar with Whipper In, Porter was impelled to
admit that he was the most admirable trial horse he
had ever possessed, or was ever likely to possess
Superior to Xi, as a test of other ' form,' and better
than Lictor. He was the trustworthy tell-tale over
all courses ; the key to the stable for five successive
seasons, in fact up to the year 1886. ' He tried
everything,' every distance up to a mile and a half,
and never made the ghost of a mistake. A con-
sideration of the remarkable strength of the stable
at this time, which will be readily recognised in the
respective ages of the horses mentioned, points to
the following group : St. Blaise (2 yrs.), Shotover
(3 y rs> )> Whipper In (3 yrs.), and Geheimniss (3
yrs.). Take Shotover to begin with. She was a
beautiful but extremely delicate mare, who exhibited
small promise, at the commencement of her career,
of becoming as good as she eventually proved. To
put it otherwise, there was nothing about her that
looked like the making of a Two Thousand or
Derby winner. However, she carried off both
prizes, and thereby started that brilliant succession
of victories on the Turf which John Porter was
enabled to achieve for the Duke of Westminster.
In view of the Two Thousand there was a trial at
Kingsclere on April 18, 1882, which came out as
follows :
82 KINGSCLERE
ONE MILE
Incendiary, 5 yrs., 9 st. o lb I
Locksley, 3 yrs., 7 st. o lb 2
Shotover, 3 yrs., 9 st. o lb 3
Sindar, 5 yrs., 9 st. o lb. . . . .4
Won by a neck ; a head between second, third, and fourth.
Shotover won the Two Thousand in a canter ;
beating Marden and Quicklime. She started at 10
to 1. In the One Thousand she was beaten a neck
by St. Marguerite, with Nelly third. Although she
had won the Two Thousand so easily, she was so
delicate that ' all was out,' and she needed a longer
interval of rest than would have been required by a
mare of even average stamina to enable her to keep
fit for the fillies' race two days after. As a matter
of fact, she had not recovered from the effects of the
first gallop, albeit she had not been called upon for
anything like a severe effort, and that accounted
for the defeat in the second. But she beat
Quicklime again in the Derby, for which Bruce
was a hot favourite. She won the Ascot Derby,
and, after a walk-over at the same meeting, there
was her engagement in the St. Leger to re-awaken
the anxiety of the trainer and the speculations of
his sleepless critics. That race, from a public as
well as from the stable point of view, was fraught
with unusual interest. As it happened, Kingsclere
was left at the last moment without a jockey for
either Geheimniss or Shotover. It had all along
been expected that Archer, who had been regularly
SHOTOVER 'A JADE' 83
riding for the stable, would pilot Shotover,
the Duke of Westminster possessing a claim on
his services. But inasmuch as it was well known
that Geheimniss was the better of the pair, Lord
Falmouth (also Archer's regular employer), in accor-
dance with established practice if not according to
what may be roughly termed the unwritten law of
the Turf, considered that the jockey ought to be
placed at his disposal. Under the circumstances,
there was no alternative but to yield, and in the
result the popular idol rode Dutch Oven — who won,
Geheimniss being second and Shotover unplaced.
The latter mare, however, won the Park Hill Stakes
the same week in a common canter. She was
beaten at Newmarket by Lord Rosebery's Kermesse
and Nellie (who ran a dead-heat for first place) ;
to the latter mare she was conceding 10 lb. It was
a fine race on the part of the three. Shotover,
at four years old, was made favourite for the City
and Suburban (8 st. 9 lb.), but was nowhere in the
race. Constitutionally she was never so well, and in
condition she was as perfect as her most exacting
backers could have possibly desired ' on the day ' ;
but alas ! she had turned out to be a jade and would
not try. In bidding adieu to Shotover and
Geheimniss there is little or nothing to be added to
what has already been said about their respective
qualities. They were both gifted with fine speed,
but neither was a stayer. In the year 1882 the
stable managed to pick up stakes amounting to
22,117/.
G 2
84 KINGSCLERE
There were some good ones at Kingsclere in
the succeeding year (1883). They included the
two-year-olds Sandiway, Duke of Richmond, and
Reprieve (the last-named the property of Lord
Grosvenor, who had purchased her of Matthew
Dawson). St. Blaise, who naturally absorbed a
good deal of the trainer's attention, had wintered
into a big gross horse, who, it was feared, could
not be got sufficiently fit for the Two Thousand.
To add to Porter's difficulty, for the greater part
of the time available the training ground was wet
and heavy. Nevertheless, as far as the limits of
prudence permitted, the colt was sent along in his
work, and on April 1 2 he was tried over the appointed
course, with the following result :
ONE MILE
Whipper In, 4 yrs., 7 st. 13 lb. . . .1
St. Blaise, 3 yrs., 8 st. 13 lb 2
Incendiary, 6 yrs., 8 st 13 lb. . . .3
Won by a length and a half ; six lengths between second
and third.
This trial, which, if it testified to nothing else,
proved how backward the horse was yet in condition,
was naturally thought 'not good enough.' It is,
however, a record, and in relation to subsequent
proceedings can scarcely be regarded as uninstructive.
However, as to trials, there was another, which took
place on April 29, which is eminently deserving of
an independent place in the present chronicle, mas-
?!Fi
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H.R.H. WITNESSES A TRIAL 85
much as it proved how true the previous running of
Geheimniss had been.
ONE MILE AND A QUARTER
Geheimniss, 4 yrs., 9 st. 7 lb. . , . t
Shotover, 4 yrs., 8 st. 1 2 lb t
Locksley, 4 yrs., 6 st. 1 2 lb 3
A dead heat between the two mares ! Locksley finished
three lengths behind.
The Derby trial of St. Blaise, who had mean-
while put in a lot of strong work and had begun to
shape himself for business to the increasing satis-
faction of his trainer, was memorable, inasmuch as it
was the occasion of the first visit of H.R.H. the
Prince of Wales to Kingsclere. It is appalling to
conceive what might have been made of that Royal
visit if the touts on the one hand, and the New
Journalists (female as well as male) on the other,
had got scent of the Prince's simple undertaking !
As it fortunately happened, His Royal Highness
was enabled to run down into Hampshire and
invade the Kingsclere Downs with just as much
privacy, as he would have enjoyed in making an
informal morning call. He took the 9 a.m. train from
Waterloo, like any ordinary passenger, to Overton,
at which station Porter had a fly waiting, and was
forthwith driven on to the Downs. The Prince was
received, according to previous arrangement, by Lord
Alington, Sir Frederick Johnstone, and Porter, who
were waiting with the horses, and hacks upon which
to mount the witnesses of the trial. No time was
86
KINGSCLERE
lost in getting the field of five to the post, and the
foreshadowing race came off with the following
result :
ONE MILE AND A HALF
St. Blaise, 3 yrs., 8 st. 6 lb. . . . .1
Incendiary, 6 yrs., 8 st. 2 lb. . . . .2
Shotover, 4 yrs., 8 st. 12 lb 3
Geheimniss, 4 yrs., 9 st. 5 lb. . . . .4
Energy, 3 yrs., 8 st. 5 lb . . . .5
Won by two lengths ; four lengths between second and
third, and a head between fourth and fifth.
The sportsmanlike friendliness, the camaraderie
of the trial, was not its least interesting feature.
There is an etiquette in such matters which is not
seldom enforced when a number of owners share
the services of a single trainer. It will be observed
that * all went in,' irrespective of exclusive owner-
ship, in order that the investigation might be as
thorough as was possible under the circumstances.
After the trial H.R.H. the Prince of Wales lunched
at Park House, and was then conducted by Porter
over the stables. He made an exhaustive inspec-
tion — as is his wont — of the establishment, and
expressed the warmest admiration of what he saw.
That admiration was destined to bear practical
proof of a nature Mattering to the creator of
Kingsclere later on.
It was said when St. Blaise won the Derby,
which he did by a neck from Highland Chief —
Galliard, the favourite, being half a length behind,
third—that he was ' a lucky horse.' Well, that
x£
ST. BLAISE 87
might be. Every winner of the Derby is lucky
to win. But Porter's contention is — and who that
has intelligently considered the subject can deny its
force ? — that such a trial as we have recited pointed
to the winner's pulling off nine Derbys out of ten.
Without dwelling on any other feature, it may be
pointed out that St. Blaise was a good bit in front
of the winners respectively of the previous Derby
and Oaks, and was beating them, they carrying
less than weight for age. Men who had lost their
money, and others whose reputation for foresight
was impaired by the result, scrupled not to declare
that certain of the horses behind the winner did
not try. 'It was ever thus!' And what is the
character of a jockey after all — to the base coiners
of such reckless aspersions ? One wonders what
such persons would have said if they had been
familiar with the ins and outs of the preliminary
' Kingsclere Derby.' Of one thing we may assure
ourselves, and that is, assuming their intelligence,
they would have been on the winner to a man !
No horse could have been ridden more admirably
than St. Blaise was by Charles Wood. He took
skilful and courageous advantage of 'just an opening '
at Tattenham Corner, and that advantage he never
relinquished. It was a splendid race, and a disp^y of
masterly horsemanship to be remembered. St. Blaise
was taken to France and lost the Grand Prix by
1 half a neck,' Frontin lowering his colours. He was
not at his best on that day. He had 'a Derby in
him,' and he was not, like The Ranger, as fit after as
88 KINGSCLERE
before his journey across the Channel, or as ready for
his corn. The French horses engaged in the Grand
Prix have their English rivals at a disadvantage to
begin with. They are 'native, and to the manner
born.' All they have to do is to walk from their
training quarters on to the course — a course with
which they are familiar (another point in their favour)
— and do their best, perfectly conditioned for the task.
It was rather too bad to bring St. Blaise back to
Ascot to run him over one of the severest courses
(the Swinley) in England. Under the circum-
stances he was asked to perform an impossibility,
and the effort settled him. He never recovered
from the effects of his race with Ladislas (the Leger
winner, Ossian, second), to whom he was conceding
10 lb. He severely sprained the muscles of his fore-
arm and permanently impaired his action. To dismiss
St. Blaise as a moderate horse, as many have done,
is sheer nonsense. Without going the length of
calling him great, on his best form and day it would
have taken a very great horse indeed to stretch his
neck.
Whipper In was very useful in 1883. He won
the Great Cheshire Handicap, the Kempton Park
July Handicap, and the Manchester July Handicap.
Neither was Geheimniss idle, as she picked up
stakes to the amount of 1,837/. The two-year-olds
were Sandiway (by Doncaster out of Cl^mence),
Duke of Richmond (originally Bushey, by Hampton
out of Preference), and Reprieve (by Queen's
Messenger out of Prowess), the last named of which
A HIGHLY TRIED TWO-YEAR-OLD 89
belonged to Lord Grosvenor, who bought her cheap
at 2,000/. The ' moving accidents ' by rail and road
to which the travelling thoroughbred in training
is liable was illustrated in the case of Reprieve.
While on the way from the railway station to the
course at Four Oaks she was knocked down by a
cab and a good deal shaken, though happily not
seriously injured. She was compelled, however,
to miss her afternoon's engagement. Next day she
came out and won the big race, the Great Midland
Foal Plate. She afterwards won the National
Breeders' at Sandown, and the South of England
Great Breeders' Two-year-old race at Lewes,
winning altogether that season stakes of the value of
5,168/. Sandiway, a real good filly, won the Acorn
Stakes at Epsom, the Findon and Nursery at
Goodwood, and the Prendergast and Troy at
Newmarket. The sum of 3,737/. represented her
victories. Duke of Richmond (who supplied coin-
cidence collectors with an apt instance by securing
the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood) was a clinker.
He ranks with the highest tried two-year-olds
that have passed through John Porter's hands. As
an example of what he did at home, the following
trial, which took place on July 25, is given :
THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE
Duke of Richmond, 2 yrs., 8 st. 1 1 lb. . . 1
Whipper In, 3 yrs., 9 st. 4 lb 2
Sandiway, 2 yrs., 8 st. o lb 3
Won by a neck ; three lengths between second and third.
90 KINGSCLERE
A noteworthy performance of the Duke of
Richmond's was his match for 500/. with St. Simon
at Newmarket over the Bretby Stakes Course.
St. Simon and 'the Duke' were carrying equal
weights, and the former won by three-quarters of a
length. ' It opened my eyes to the qualities of St.
Simon,' was Porter's comment on a performance
which, in consideration of Duke of Richmond's
ascertained form at home, was extraordinary. In
stakes that season the Kingsclere stable amassed
21,742/.
Cambusmore (by Doncaster out of Strathfleet),
who arrests attention in opening a review of the
results of 1884, was a most useful three-year-old,
who won a lot of money. The St. James's Palace
Stakes at Ascot, the Great Foal Stakes at New-
market, the Thirty-sixth Triennial Stakes at New-
market comprised the sum of his winning account,
which amounted to 3,856/. Sandiway trained on
right enough, and did fairly well ; but in the one
1 classic race ' (the One Thousand Guineas), which
had read to the stable a certainty for the mare, she
was unlucky. She won the Coronation Stakes at
Ascot, the Nassau at Goodwood, and the New-
market Oaks, but she had to lower her colours to
Lambkin in the Doncaster St. Leger. There were,
however, manifest causes for the defeat. She was
knocked about and ' disappointed ' in the race, or
the result might have been the other way. Her
winnings amounted to 3,26*7/. Duke of Richmond
'MORAL VICTORIES' 91
had to put up with what, comparing racing with
election returns, the defeated party at the polls
call 'moral victories.' He accomplished prodigious
things, but they did not count. He was not en-
gaged in the Derby, and therefore had to take his
chance in certain of the leading handicaps. In
one of these, the Royal Hunt Cup, he put in a
remarkably fine performance, running second to
Acrostic (4 yrs.), 6 st. 4 lb., with 8 st. on his back.
He (carrying 7 st. 11 lb.) was in the same place in
relation to Energy (8 st. 9 lb.), who was tremen-
dously fast — at the time perhaps the speediest horse
in training. He ran another second (8 st. 10 lb.) to
Sweetbread (9 st. 3 lb.) in the Stewards' Cup at
Goodwood. Whether or not his severe seconds
under heavy burthens ruined his temper, Duke of
Richmond became an arrant rogue. Whipper In
did wonderfully well in 1884, as a reference to the
record shows — the Kempton Park Easter Handi-
cap, the Babraham Stakes at Newmarket, the
Combermere Handicap at Chester, the Beaufort
Handicap at Newmarket July, and the September
Handicap at Manchester, amounting to 2,203/.,
being placed to his credit. This, too, was the
most brilliant year in the running career of the
fleet Geheimniss. She passed the post, it is true,
second for the Crawford Plate at the Newmarket
Craven, which prize was won by The Prince,
but it was the fastest finish many old stagers,
John Porter himself included, had ever witnessed in
92 KINGSCLERE
all their experience of great racing. The pair raced
together, at a tremendous pace, every inch of the
last quarter of a mile. Geheimniss won the West-
minster Cup at Kempton, carrying iost. 3 lb., and
defeating Lowland Chief, 9 st. 3 lb., by half a length.
This was one of the mare's most magnificent vic-
tories. The pair waited on each other until just
within a quarter of a mile of home, and then set
themselves going in a manner which those who
witnessed the struggle for mastery can never forget.
The All Aged Stakes and Queen's Stand Plate
at Ascot, and the Stockbridge Cup, in which she
gave 5 lb. to Energy and defeated him by three
lengths, were notable achievements, and, with her
other winnings, made the amount in stakes gained
by Geheimniss 2,470/.
Mr. Brodrick-Cloete, who had meanwhile
joined the stable, made his mark with Cherry (by
Sterling out of Merry Duchess), whom he had pur-
chased of Mr. R. S. Evans for 2,000/. With her he
won the Kempton Grand Prize, the Epsom Grand
Prize, and walked over for the Knowsley Dinner
Stakes at Liverpool, representing a round sum of
4,779/. Match Girl, remarkable afterwards as the
dam of Match Box, did moderately well in 1884,
and the same season the stable boasted a fast two-
year-old in a colt by Nuneham out of Rebecca, the
property of Mr. John Gretton. The colt was very
fast indeed at five furlongs. A couple of un-
commonly good two-year-olds, namely Luminary
PARADOX 93
(by Beauclerc oat of Stella, by High Treason) and
Paradox (by Sterling out of Casuistry) next claim
attention. The former was the property of Lord
Alington. The year before (1883), the late Captain
Bowling, a very dear friend of John Porter's, was
with him attending the sale of the Yardley year-
lings. In the course of their joint inspection of the
young things, they were both impressed by the
good looks of a son of Sterling and Casuistry, and
they resolved, if he went for anything like a
monkey, to buy him. The colt was knocked down
to Captain Bowling's bid of 450 guineas, and was
taken to Kingsclere to be trained. It had not
escaped the careful and comprehensive notice of
Porter that, for all his good looks, this strong
sturdy colt with his longish pasterns had coarse
curby hocks, and might be troublesome to train.
But there was capital stuff and the undeniable
breeding to work upon, therefore the partnership
venture and responsible task of making the colt
ready for his engagements were cheerfully under-
taken. As Porter had apprehended, the youngster
gave him a lot of trouble. In point of fact, he found
it impossible to enter regularly on the anxious and
difficult business of training Paradox — as he was
afterwards happily named — until the autumn of his
two-year-old period, when he was put into regular
work with the object of starting him for the Middle
Park Plate. He was tried on October 3, with the
following result :
94 KINGSCLERE
SIX FURLONGS
Casuistry colt, 2 yrs., 8 st 7 lb.
Rebecca colt, 2 yrs., 8 st. o lb. . . .2
Whipper In, 5 yrs., 9 st. o lb. . . .3
Reprieve, 3 yrs., 8 st. 7 lb 4
Siren, 5 yrs., 8 st. o lb 5
Won by half a length ; two lengths between second and
third, three lengths between third and fourth, and two
lengths between fourth and fifth.
This being a singularly high trial, the Duke of
Westminster expressed a desire to purchase the
colt, and a bargain was struck, his grace becoming
the owner. The price was 6,000/. The Middle Park
Plate (for which the Casuistry colt and Cora were
equally first favourites) was won by Melton by half
a length, Xaintrailles and the Casuistry colt making
a dead heat of it for third. Being a bit ' calfish,'
the Kingsclere champion whipped round at start
and never quite got up again. His next race was the
Dewhurst Plate, which he won in a canter by three
lengths, Cora being second and Xaintrailles, four
lengths behind, third. He was showing immense
improvement every time he ran, and abundantly
confirming the high opinion which Porter had
formed of his capacity, even before the revelation
afforded by the trial. But he was a horse with a
wearying propensity to develop infirmities, and he
presently gave his trainer additional trouble. When
he came home after the Newmarket Meeting, Porter
discovered that splints had formed close under the
knee, which prevented him from bending his leg.
TROUBLESOME TO TRAIN 95
Ossidine, a blister which had been applied to many
another cripple with almost miraculous results, was
tried upon Paradox, and effected a cure. After
running in the Middle Park Plate the colt was sold
to Mr. Cloete, in whose name he subsequently ran.
In order to complete the Paradox chapter it will be
convenient to pass from 1884 — in which year, by
the way, the stable winnings amounted to 29,531/.
— to the following year, pausing at April 30, 1885,
when there occurred a Two Thousand and Derby
trial which ranks amongst the most remarkable
preserved in the chronicles of Park House. It was
as follows :
ONE MILE
Paradox, 3 yrs., 9 st. 7 lb.
Whipper In, 6 yrs., 9 st. 7 lb.
Cambusmore, 4 yrs., 9 st. o lb.
Farewell, 3 yrs., 8 st. o lb.
Metal, 3 yrs., 8 st. 7 lb. .
Won easily by half a length ; a head between second and
third, two lengths between third and fourth, and four
lengths between fourth and fifth.
This was a good, and the judges thereof con-
sidered a thoroughly conclusive, trial. Farewell
subsequently won the One Thousand, beating a
large field. Well, in the foregoing effort Paradox
gave her 2 1 lb. and defeated her by three lengths.
It ought to be mentioned here that Paradox, on whom
they laid three to one for the Two Thousand, only
succeeded in defeating Crafton by a head. This and
the victory of Farewell in the Ladies' Guineas (to
96 KINGSCLERE
take another dip into the future) went to show, with
the light cast upon the Two Thousand by the home
trial, that it could not be Paradox's running. The
fact was the horse did not really run the race for
more than a quarter of a mile, if he ran it as much.
And this is the explanation of the apparent mystery.
All the circumstances of that sensational battle
proved how easily calculations based upon a carefully
set and accurately run trial may be overthrown by a
false run race. The bare result proved satisfactory,
but the squeak was too narrow to be pleasant.
Paradox ought to have been driven along for much
more than a quarter of a mile. Proof up to the
hilt that the jockey did wrong in waiting with the
horse was afterwards supplied. Not to unduly
anticipate matters, let us come to the Derby, for
which, by-the-bye, there was no further trial.
The Blue Riband was lost by the adoption on the
part of the jockey of the very tactics which had
nearly lost the Two Thousand. It was to all in-
tents and purposes Archer's Derby. He had a
good horse under him, it is true, but there was
one better in the race, and it was The Tinman's
' head ' that won. That same head of his landed
him victor in many a hard-fought fray, but never
more brilliantly than on that memorable occasion.
He was familiar with Paradox ; knew the horse's
peculiarities down to the ground, no one better,
and he rode, by keeping away, to beat him.
On the other hand, this was one of Webb's 'fine
rode ' races. There is not, and never could be, a
ARCHER'S METEOR RUSH 97
syllable breathed against Webb, who is a skilled
artist ; but, in the race in question, Archer came at
the right moment with one of his meteor rushes,
and caught him napping. Paradox was a slug and
wanted sending along, and sending along almost
from start to finish. Had this been done, the
jockey keeping at it, he would probably have won
by three or four lengths. These, at any rate, are
John Porter's maturely considered views, and such
is his unalterable opinion. Paradox then went to
France, and won the Grand Prix very easily by a
length. He afterwards won the Sussex Stakes at
Goodwood, giving that good horse, Royal Hampton,
who had been third in the Derby, 10 lb. ; also the
Champion Stakes at the Newmarket Second October;
and the Free Handicap Sweepstakes at the Houghton
meeting. The last named was an extraordinary
performance, seeing that he gave King Monmouth
— the same age — a stone and beat him in a canter
by a length.
Paradox was entered for the Cambridgeshire.
and was handicapped at 8 st. 12 lb., the top weight,
which Porter was persuaded the horse could have
carried to victory. However, the policy of the
owner does not always agree with that of his trainer,
and there was a disagreement in this instance. It
will be remembered, first, that he was made a
favourite for the race, and secondly that he was
scratched. As to the withdrawal of the horse — con-
cerning which the racing public and their organs,
the sporting journals, freely expressed strong dis-
11
9 8 KINGSCLERE
approval — the trainer of Paradox is disposed to say
very little. It is, however, part of 'a plain, un-
varnished tale ' that Paradox was uninterruptedly
doing regular ' Cambridgeshire ' work, and was
never better or fitter to run than he was during the
latter part of his preparation for the last great
handicap of the season. The earliest intimation
which the trainer had of the scratching of Paradox
he received from Mr. Cloete himself. That gentle-
man, w T ho had been absent in Mexico, called at
Weatherby's office immediately on his arrival in
London, scratched the horse, and journeyed by the
next ensuing train to Kingsclere, where he informed
Porter of what he had done. In plain, emphatic,
and forcible terms the trainer pointed out the grave
mistake which Mr. Cloete had made. The horse
had been backed by other patrons of the stable ; he
was a public favourite — although all along there had
been plenty of ' laying money ' in the market — and
he was well and fit to run. The explanation which
Mr. Cloete gave in reply to this straightforward
remonstrance was to the effect that he had not seen
the weights until he reached New York. There
and then he formed the opinion that the horse had
no chance. Porter ceased to train for Mr. Cloete
at the end of that season, and the horses were sent
to Marsh. Paradox died at Mr. Cloete' s stud-farm
of inflammation of the bowels. A horse that was
last in the trial on April 30, 1885, mav be referred
to by way of rounding off the narrative. Metal, the
animal in question, was afterwards sold to go to
India, where he won the Viceroy's Cup.
99
CHAPTER VII
The greatest horse of the century — Ormonde stripped for the first and
only time in a trial — Kendal, Whipper In, and Whitefriar in ' the
question' — Ormonde's races his trials — Minting and Ormonde
meet for the first time — John Porter and Matthew Dawson at
Newmarket — The confidence of Minting's trainer — Viney's in-
subordination at the post — Had 'to make running for Ormonde'
— Ormonde's wonderful performance in the Free Handicap — A
more interesting match than The Dutchman's with Voltigeur
declared off— Ormonde's winning balance — ' Useful ' Candlemas
compared with Ormonde — The Prince of Wales joins the stable —
John Porter and Matthew Dawson at Ascot — Porter far from
sanguine — Ormonde a roarer, and yet a mightier victor than
ever — Ormonde summoned to a Jubilee Reception at Grosvenor
House— The cabman's unbelief — Ormonde goes to the stud —
Departs for Argentina — His return, reception of his old trainer,
and final departure for America.
1 The greatest horse of the century.' This has
been said of a number of equine heroes of the hour,
and will be repeated of great horses in the future as
long as racing shall be the national sport of England.
And with equal truth, because an exact comparison
of the predominant flyer and stayer of one period
with the champion of another period is impossible.
They may talk of Flying Childers, or the speed of
Harkaway,
Till your fancy it bewilders, as you list to what they say.
But let the boast of the songster occur where it may,
disputants will always be ready to question any such
H 2
ioo KINGSCLERE
supremacy, and brag in turn of their hero of the
Turf. How many of ' the greatest horses of the
century ' have been glorified in the pages of ' The
Druid' ? How many more have taken their place
in the annals since death withdrew the pen from his
fingers and left the chronicle unfinished ? The king
dies and the king reigns. One thing, however,
may be said, and will safely challenge denial, and it
is that of all the horses that have for the past thirty
or forty years attracted the world's attention,
Ormonde was the most wonderful. They never
knew how good he was at home, while his extra-
ordinary achievements abroad were unexampled.
And yet the story of Ormonde's magnificent career
may be written in two simple sentences. He won
all his engagements. And he ran practically untried.
From the moment Ormonde came into Porter's
hands the trainer was convinced that the son of
Bend Or and Lily Agnes was a great horse. He
was a fine, free, tireless mover, he went to work in
his gallops as though he liked it, he was gentle to
handle, and he did unfailing justice to the contents
of the manger. In short, although he was allowed
to come on in his own natural way, not being forced
or hurried in the least, he gave the trainer no trouble
whatever. As to his being tried — well, a few words
in reference to a stable companion, while disposing
of him, will throw some light on that question. The
stable companion referred to was Kendal, 2 yrs.,
by Bend Or out of Windermere, and he had, as
Mr. Joseph Osborne remarks in 'The Horse-
SHIPPED FOR THE FIRST TIME 101
breeders Handbook,' 'a short but brilliant Turf
career/ which commenced at Chester in 1885 with
his winning the Mostyn Plate. He was second to
Saraband in the New Stakes at Ascot, with some
capable ' company ' behind him. At Stockbridge he
won the Post Sweepstakes of 700 sovs., beating
Mephisto and Volta ; and he followed up this
victory by winning the July Stakes at Newmarket,
beating Mephisto, St. Alvere, St. Mirin, and others.
At Goodwood he won the Ham Stakes, and at
York the Great Breeders' Convivial, very easily.
He went off a bit in the autumn, and therefore
failed to secure the Rous Memorial at the First
October Meeting, which prize must have been his
if he had been fit and well. He came home on the
following Tuesday, and on October 7 there was a
trial which resulted as follows :
SIX FURLONGS
Kendal, 2 yrs., 8 st. 7 lb 1
Ormonde, 2 yrs., 8 st. 8 lb. . . .2
Whipper In, 6 yrs., 9 st. 6 lb. . . .3
Whitefriar, 2 yrs., 9 st. 6 lb. . . . .4
Won by a length ; a length between second and third, and
two lengths between third and fourth.
Ormonde was stripped for the first time on this
occasion, and he was not very fit. On the basis of
this rudimentary rough-up, he was started in the
Post Sweepstakes (Bretby Stakes course) in pre-
ference to the Middle Park Plate, and he won. No
doubt the spin at home, such as it was, had woke
102 KINGSCLERE
him up a bit. There were but three runners, and
one of them, Warbler, did not count for anything at
all. This was significantly disclosed by the betting.
The other, however, Modwena, a daughter of Galo-
pin (also a Derby winner), and Mowerina came to
the fray with a somewhat brilliant record. She had
won the Breeders' Plate at the Newmarket Second
Spring, the first time of asking, the Home-bred
Sweepstakes at Stockbridge, the Chesterfield at
the Newmarket July, the Champion Breeders' Foal
Stakes at Derby, and the Buckenham Post (Produce)
Stakes at headquarters at the First October. Small
wonder, therefore, that they laid n to 10 on
Modwena. Ormonde's price was 5 to 4 ' against'
Archer, whose destiny it was to ride the great horse
in nearly all his engagements — kings together ! —
landed him easily a length in front of the favourite.
There was established ' class ' enough, as far as it
went, in the two previous victories of Mephisto,
who, at a difference of a point in the betting, disputed
second favouriteship with Oberon — ' dark,' but with
the best of the weights — when Ormonde was stripped
again for the Criterion, but the favourite, on whom
this time they laid 6 to 4 freely, had a way of making
all 'class' of that description look foolish. He
galloped home an easy victor, three lengths in front
of Oberon, while Mephisto passed the post a bad
third. The fame of a flyer on the Turf rolls up and
increases like the proverbial snowball. It was
evident to judges who saw the race for the Criterion
that Ormonde was a horse in a thousand. His next
A HORSE IN A THOUSAND 103
and only remaining performance as a two-year-old
was still more extraordinary. This was his victory
in the Dewhurst Plate. It was, perhaps, only
natural, considering that Ormonde was already
challenging another public favourite for the place of
popular idol, that they should lay 11 to 4 on him ;
but he met a strong field, and in taking 100 to 14
about Miss Jummy (thrice a winner, and with the
Clearwell to her credit) and 100 to 9 about Gay
Hermit (who had beaten Modwena) backers had
reason on their side. Johnny Whimple, too, who
had won the Great Midland Foal Plate at Four
Oaks, was also in attendance, and had some sup-
porters who took $2) to l about him. In attendance,
indeed ! Ormonde treated them all alike, the three
penalised winners which have been mentioned as
well as the others, and cantered home a winner by
four lengths, the stable taking second money with
Whitefriar. Perhaps it was as well he ran but thrice
in his two-year-old period, and yet he accomplished
all he was asked to do with such splendid ease —
was on every occasion that he ran so much within
himself — one can forgive those who think it almost
a pity he did not run oftener, for he could not have
well failed to clear the board. His wintering at
Kingsclere gave the purveyors of reports from that
particular training quarter a long holiday. Similarly,
he set the most carefully analytical writers of winter
articles on the Derby a comparatively easy task. If
the pair who had won all their engagements had
only met, that task would have been simpler. Not
104 KINGSCLERE
that there was not a fertile field left for speculation.
The manner in which Ormonde had won his races
counted on the one hand ; the fact that the rival he
had yet to meet had carried off the ' classic ' two-
year-old prizes demanded more than respectful
attention on the other. Ormonde went on at
Kingsclere as heretofore, never giving his trainer
cause for a moment's anxiety, and with the dis-
appearance of winter the approaching race for the
Two Thousand Guineas excited increasing interest
in the sporting world. In that race Ormonde and
Minting had to meet for the first time.
With the Two Thousand Guineas impending,
Porter, in accordance with his regular custom, went
to Newmarket the Saturday before the race. At
exercise next morning he came across Matthew
Dawson, who, in the course of their friendly conver-
sation, gave unstinted expression to the confidence
which he felt in Minting. He said he thought the
son of Lord Lyon was a horse distinctly beyond the
average. It was only natural that Minting's trainer
should extol his charge, and, considering the distin-
guished horses which Matthew Dawson had had
through his hands and his extensive professional
knowledge and experience, his opinion was entitled
to the highest respect. As to Ormonde there was
a circumstance which was not referred to, and that
was his not having been tried. He was never tried
as a three-year-old at all. They knew at home
that he was all right — 'was galloping like a lion
over everything' — and that was sufficient. The
° z
H 5
ORMONDE'S TWO THOUSAND 105
Minting stable were not singular in their confidence.
The Saraband party were equally flattered by their
estimate of the outlook. Such a race as Ormonde's
Two Thousand admits of little description. It was
essentially an Eclipse exploit. He won the whole
of the way in a manner which scattered all the
stable tactics, all the trainers' orders which had
been issued for the direction of his rivals in the
field, to the winds. To ensure a strong-run race
for the Kingsclere flyer, Viney, who was on
Ormonde's stable companion, Coracle, was ad-
jured ' to come on as fast as ever he could.' As
it chanced, that exemplary jockey never had so
much as ' a look in.' He showed no alacrity
in getting down to his horses, and when he was
within about fifty yards of the starting post
he stopped, to the extreme annoyance of Lord
Marcus Beresford, who sternly commanded him to
make haste and take his proper place with the rest
of the field. ' What is the use of me coming down
there,' exclaimed Viney, ' if I have to make running
for Ormonde? 1 If this act of temporary insubordi-
nation was culpable, there was reason in it from the
mutineer's point of view, as the sequel proved. In
point of fact, he never made any of the running,
and he was certainly done with before he had gone
fifty yards. Ormonde took despotic command of the
situation, sped forward — ' galloped over everything '
— on his own independent account, and won in a
canter by a couple of lengths.
Ormonde won the Derby, as the Two Thousand
io6 KINGSCLERE
had foreshadowed, but how ? There was no thought
of a trial after the Newmarket exploit ; in fact, the
idea of seriously trying Ormonde at home never
crossed the mind of his trainer from the time the
horse set himself going in public. The great,
grand, illimitable creature was always ready ! The
story of the Derby, like that of every one of his
victories, admits of brief recital. He won by a
length and a half, disposing of The Bard (a good
game, little horse, but out-classed, who was second)
as he had shaken off Minting at Newmarket. The
unbounded volume of ' the Yorkshire cheer ' was
discharged with a vengeance when Archer flashed in
first for the St. Leger, with St. Mirin, four lengths
off, second. The Yorkshiremen love a great horse,
naturally in their heart of hearts rejoicing in the
triumph of a home-bred one, but they fairly wor-
shipped Ormonde. They laid 7 to 1 on him for
the St. Leger. There is a monotony of monarchy
in the chronicle of his subsequent deeds. They
laid 25 to 1 on him for the Great Foal stakes at
Newmarket, and he more than justified the immense
confidence of his backers by cantering in a winner
by three lengths : Mephisto (40 to 1 against) being
second. Trainers and other equestrians are no
longer suffered to finish outside the cords parallel
with the field, but what is the use of a rule if it
cannot be broken and the infraction winked at ?
At all events, a rule was broken when John Porter,
mounted on his gallant grey, ■ good old Jack,'
galloped along in front of the flyer, as the latter
A GREAT MATCH DECLARED OFF 107
was ' walking over ' cheered by the crowd, who
cried 'Go on, John! You'll be beaten!' The
odds on him mounted by leaps and bounds as he
sped on his victorious way. It was no less than
100 to 1 for the Champion Stakes at the Second
October Meeting, for which Archer carried 3 lb.
over- weight. But what of that ? The pair,
Archer and Ormonde, obliged ' the gallery ' with
the semblance of a race with Oberon and by only
winning by a length. At the Houghton Meeting
he put in a great performance, giving no less than
28 lb. to Mephisto in the Free Handicap Sweep-
stakes, and winning by eight lengths. They only
laid 7 to 1 on him on that occasion ; the difference
in the weights was so crushing. But what did he
care for any such disparity ? Weight or distance
was all the same to Ormonde. It was not in
human — that is to say, not in sporting — nature to
permit this phenomenon to pursue his invincible
course unchallenged. A number of matches were
discussed, in the old fashion, 'across the walnuts
and the wine,' at Newmarket and elsewhere, but
chiefly at headquarters, where matches are mostly
made. The Duke of Westminster was nothing
loth, and Porter, like Barkis, ' was willin'.' The
nearest approach to a meeting designed, if that
were possible, to lower the colours of Ormonde
assumed the shape of a sweepstakes of a thousand
sovereigns each, half-forfeit, Across the Flat. This
course, it may be explained in passing, is one mile
two furlongs and seventy-three yards in length.
108 KINGSCLERE
Ormonde (3 yrs.), 8 st. 10 lb. ; Melton (4 yrs.) 8 st.
10 lb., and The Bard (3 yrs.) 8 st. Ormonde was
undertaking to give the winner of the previous
Derby a year, and the second in his own Derby
10 lb. This, one conceives, could not have failed
to prove the most sporting event in the great horse's
superb career. It would have recalled the most
splendid exploits of the old Corinthian days. Lord
Hastings and Robert Peck, however, thought
discretion the better part of valour and paid forfeit,
and the sporting world were prevented from
witnessing another * Dutchman ' and Voltigeur
scene of excitement — another ' Dutchman ' victory,
but not, it is confidently believed, by the older
horse. Ormonde then, bearing his blushing honours
thick upon him — and they were thick ! — went into
winter quarters. In pausing for a moment at this,
the close of his three-year-old period, it may be
noted that at two years of age he won 3,008/., and
at three 21,552/.
Candlemas (by Hermit out of Fusee, a member
of Lord Alington's aptly named stud) was very
useful, and deserves honourable mention in these
recollections. He won the Epsom Grand Prize (in
1886), beating Sir Hamo and St. Mirin ; and the
Zetland Biennial at the Newmarket First October,
beating Button Park by a couple of lengths. His
balance at the bankers amounted to three thousand
odd. Then there was Whitefriar (by Hermit out of
Lady Blanche), who was a good horse, but cursed
with a vile temper. Reverting for a moment to
THE PRINCE'S KINGSCLERE STUD 109
Candlemas, it may be mentioned that he was second
in the Eclipse Stakes to Bendigo, St. Gatien
being third. Now Ormonde could have given
Candlemas 21 lb. and won. It was Whitefriar's
temper that delayed the start so long.
It was in 1886 that his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales joined the stable. The Prince, how-
ever, had hitherto been no stranger to Kingsclere,
having paid several visits to Porter's and made him-
self familiar with the schooling and management
pursued at Park House. His Royal Highness's
first visit, an event of unusual sporting interest, has
been described elsewhere in these pages. Sir James
Mackenzie attached himself to Kingsclere about the
same time. Counterpane (by Hermit out of Patch-
work) and Lady Peggy (by Hermit out of Belle
Agnes), a couple of two-year-olds, were his Royal
Highness's representatives. They both won.
Counterpane secured a Maiden Plate at Sandown,
Lindisfarne, three lengths off, second. Her next
appearance in public ended her brief life. After
passing the post unplaced in the Stockbridge Cup
she fell down dead, stricken with heart disease.
Lady Peggy won a Maiden Plate at the Newmarket
Houghton Meeting. Sir James Mackenzie had a
rather useful horse in Upset (3 yrs., by See Saw
out of Fair Vestal), who, in addition to other
races, w T on the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood. In the
autumn of that year (1886) the Duke of Westminster
purchased St. Mirin of Mr. Stirling Crawfurd.
The stable won in stakes in 1886 the sum of
30,425/.
no KINGSCLERE
We have now arrived at 1887, which proved
another great season for the Kingsclere Association.
Amongst the more distinguished of the horses in
training were Ormonde, Orbit, Ossory, Savile, Friar's
Balsam, and Mon Droit. Before touching on the
two-year-olds at Kingsclere — quite a remarkable lot,
with one or two that were top sawyers — let the
King's head re-appear in the memorial. In spite of
all rivalry, and some of that was both powerful and
brilliant, Ormonde retained the allegiance of an
idolatrous public as 'the horse of the century.' He
won the Rous Memorial at Ascot, over a course
whose severity is proverbial, in a canter by six
lengths, giving no less than a stone and eleven
pounds to Kilwarlin (Kilwarlin subsequently won
the St. Leger, after being left at the post). It was
alleged before the race that there was not a horse in
England who could concede Kilwarlin the weight
and stretch his neck, let alone win. But Ormonde
had a habit of ruining calculations of that descrip-
tion. A more popular idol than ever because of
that ' impossible ' victory, he maintained the pride of
place by his next achievement. This was in the
sensational Hardwicke Stakes at the same meeting,
undoubtedly one of the most exciting races ever
witnessed. Porter was not over and above sanguine
before the race. To tell the truth, he was troubled
with the fear, of the infirmity whose unmistakable
symptoms he had observed about the time of the
St. Leger the year before. In speaking of it
to-day, he declares that it was the most grievous dis-
PORTER'S DISAPPOINTMENT in
appointment in racing he had ever experienced.
' If the horse had broken down I should not have
cared, for we might have patched him up again : but
a roarer — Ormonde a roarer ! All his prospects
of a great future at the stud destroyed ! It was too
sad for words.' Well, a short time before the
horses were saddled for the Hardwicke, Porter met
Matthew Dawson, who said, ' I shall beat you to-day.'
There had been occasions when such a cheerily
confident prediction would have provoked a corre-
sponding retort, but the foreboding mind of the trainer
of Ormonde kept him silent. It seemed no fitting
occasion for an interchange of good-humoured badi-
nage. The impending issue was too grave. In his
heart of hearts he feared that his friend Matthew
Dawson was likely to turn out a true prophet. ' How
could Ormonde, handicapped as the horse was by his
growing infirmity, beat Minting over that course ?
The feat appeared impossible. Ormonde won ! Won,
too, in despite of his being hampered by Phil, who
struck into him at the turn and cut his leg severely,
and after almost carrying the horse for a long way.
The excitement caused by that prodigious perform-
ance will never be forgotten by those who were
present, and who, as it were, shared in it — and who
could help but cheer ? It was a proud moment for the
Duke of Westminster, who led the horse back into the
paddock after his victory, and who seemed reluctant
to part with him. Proud, too, with a feeling of
unspeakable sadness, was Ormonde's trainer, John
Porter, for he of all men best knew what a oreat
ii2 KINGSCLERE
thing the horse had done. It is noteworthy that
Tom Cannon rode Ormonde in all his three final
engagements. At Ascot John Osborne fought it
out in that tremendous finish on Minting.
That was the year of Jubilee, the fiftieth of
the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen
Victoria ; and Ormonde, as was becoming on the
part of such an equine monarch, figured in the cele-
bration. In sober seriousness, when the Duke of
Westminster desired Ormonde to be dispatched
from Kingsclere to a reception — a Jubilee function
in London, at Grosvenor House, Porter ventured
to advise his grace to ride him in the Royal Proces-
sion ! The notion, daring as it seemed, was not
dismissed in a word, the more especially as the
trainer assured the Duke that the horse ' would go
as quiet as a sheep,' but eventually an 'at home'
at a garden party in Mayfair was preferred. The
trainer's son, George, was charged with the con-
veyance of the illustrious visitor, and the morning
of the reception day he and Ormonde left Kings-
clere for Waterloo. The horse was quietly un-
boxed at the railway station, walked deliberately
across Westminster Bridge, and (the requisite
permission having been previously obtained from
the authorities, street and other traffic being stopped),
1 passed ' through the parks to his destination
without an adventure. Yes, there was one. A
cabman of an inquiring turn of mind and with
an eye for a grand horse, discerning something
uncommon under the clothing, put the usual
THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER K.G.
ORMONDE 113
question : ' Hullo, guv' nor, what have you got
there ? ' The matter-of-fact reply ' Ormonde ' was
too much for cabby. He was nonplussed for
want of a crushing objurgation. All he said was,
1 Garn ! Who are you a-gettin' at? ' Conjecture is
left to busy itself with the nature of the reception
of Ormonde by the distinguished party of guests
who had been invited to meet him in the gardens
of Grosvenor House. He was fed with sugar
and flowers (orchids probably), and otherwise re-
galed with the daintiest of inequine viands ; he
made himself agreeable to everybody ; and then,
the reception over, he went back to Kingsclere as
contentedly as he had left. His last race was a
holiday gallop for the Imperial Gold Cup at the
Newmarket July Meeting, when they laid 100 to
3 on him. He won it by a couple of lengths, with
his stable companion Whitefriar second, and Lord
Hastings's Lovegold, in remotish attendance, third.
As the fact falls in conveniently here, it may be
stated that at that time Ormonde was under regular
treatment for roaring. The well-known sporting
writer, signing himself Nathaniel Gubbins, in describ-
ing a visit which he paid to Kingsclere, after crediting
Porter with the mild assurance that Ormonde had
' as much electricity in him as would light a town,'
says, ' Anon we return to our Ormonde, to see the
process of galvanizing the horse of the century.
Two applications, each of five minutes' duration, are
given daily, and the force is increased or diminished
as needs be. It takes five human beings to conduct
ii 4 KINGSCLERE
the important operation. Little " Nipper" holds the
machine, Viney twitches the horse's nose, Mr. Porter
junior (" my son George "), and Gallantry apply the
current, and Marlow holds the charge's head. He
stands it like a lamb, and to judge from the expres-
sion of his eyes, seems to like it rather than other-
wise. I am told, however, that on occasion he
will resent the operation, and only last Friday, the
day before his " reception" at Grosvenor House, in
the absence of the " twitch" — not applied that day
as an experiment — he " went for " Cartwright, whom
he seized by the arm, without doing material damage,
however.'
Ormonde in training was a magnificent horse,
possessing all the most striking features of symmetry
and strength. 1 He had splendid limbs and immense
power. In disposition and temper he was faultless,
being generous and gentle. But for his unfortu-
nate malady he might ' have gone on for ever.'
Alas ! that deplorable disease made all the difference
in the world. On the subject of the ' remedies ' and
palliatives applied to Ormonde, Porter is emphatic
indeed. ' Electricity ? — yes, everything within and
I might almost say without the range of veterinary
practice was tried, but none of it was of the least
use. I have no faith whatever in any form of treat-
1 'It is in his middle piece that he is so much the superior of
Ormonde, and he has not the long back and somewhat flat-sided
appearance of that horse, which detract no little from his good looks,
and which caused a famous Yorkshire trainer to say in our hearing,
when the horse was being saddled for the Leger, " He looks like a
d great coach horse," adding to himself, as Archer mounted, " I
wish I had one like him." '— In the North Conntree.
SALE OF ORMONDE 115
ment. All the so-called cures are failures. Once a
roarer, always a roarer. Let the horse alone ! I
have never known a single instance in all my expe-
rience of an animal afflicted as Ormonde unhappily
was, being either cured or substantially relieved.'
Ormonde went to the stud at Eaton in November
1887, and in his first year he became the sire of
Orme and Goldfinch, two first-class horses. He
was let to Lord Gerard the second year, but was so
ill as to be incapable of service. He was then sold
to Captain England, who represented Count Beau-
coup in the transaction, for 12,000/. The Count
subsequently parted with the horse for 30,000/., for
such a purchase an amazing sum of money ! The sale
of Ormonde by the Duke of Westminster caused, as
Porter remarks, a good deal of talk, but he does not
think that any of the commentators on the transac-
tion gave the noble owner sufficient credit for the
high principles which actuated him in reluctantly
permitting himself to relinquish possession. ' The
Duke was dead against breeding happy-go-lucky
from roarers. If he had kept Ormonde at the stud
some of the best mares in England would have been
sent to him, with every prospect, judging from
common experience, of his offspring spreading the
disease.'
On another view of the subject it is quite an open
question with Porter whether a horse afflicted with
the disease which unfitted Ormonde for the stud
in England can be cured by permanent removal
to another climate. Then, the further and more
1 2
1 16 KINGSCLERE
important point arises — Will a roarer, assuming that
emigration shall have cured him of his infirmity,
beget roarers ? When Ormonde was brought from
Argentina to England his old friend and school-
master made a pilgrimage to Netley, and interviewed
him in his box. The meeting afforded lively satis-
faction to the visitor, who found his former comrade
apparently perfectly well and certainly well-looking.
Evidently the climate of Argentina had agreed with
him. One of the many accounts of the re-meeting
of Porter and Ormonde, which went the rounds of
the press, has probably by this time taken an im-
perishable place in collections of anecdotes compiled
to illustrate the docility and intelligence and grati-
tude, and so forth, of the noble animal who is so
very useful to man. It is a pity to have to knock
down a pretty piece of fiction with a hard fact, but
let truth prevail. Ormonde's reception of his former
trainer and constant friend was the reverse of con-
ciliatory. If the climate of the Argentine had pre-
served his good looks, his sojourn in that summer
land had somewhat soured his naturally sweet
temper. In short, he received his old trainer as if he
owed him a grudge, and was resolved to lose no
time in wiping out the debt. He 'went for' Porter
as soon as the latter entered the box. They met for
the last time at Goodwood, where Ormonde, at the
Duke of Richmond's stables, held a levde prior to
his deoarture, under new ownership (having been
re-sold to a syndicate) to his final exile in America.
ii7
CHAPTER VIII
A trial of Friar's Balsam — A great week for Kingsclere at Goodwood
— Why and how the Portsmouth barber followed the stable — The
accident to Friar's Balsam — What really occurred — Orbit— Ormuz,
the stable slave — Purchase of the son of Springfield and Sanda —
He (Sainfoin) sold to Sir James Miller with contingencies — Sain-
foin's Derby no fluke — Two unlucky horses — The Baron de
Hirsch's horses at Kingsclere — A neglected sire — ' Do we want
stayers?' — The slow coming of Common — He 'wanted time' —
The trial for the Guineas — The oracular opinion of Newmarket —
Common's races — Views on taking such slowly maturing horses
out of the trainer's hands at the end of their three-year-old career.
Of Orbit, 'who was only moderate,' Ossory, and
one or two others in the stable, a few words presently.
It will be convenient here, by way of preface to
another important chapter in the annals of Kingsclere,
to mention a couple of trials which took place in
1887. Each of them was designed to test the
capabilities of Friar's Balsam (by Hermit out of
Flower of Dorset). The first occurred on May 21,
and was as follows :
SIX FURLONGS
Friar's Balsam, 2 yrs., 9 st. 7 lb. . . .1
Mon Droit, 2 yrs., 8 st. 7 lb 2
The Rose, 2 yrs., 7 st. 4 lb 3
Won by a length ; four lengths between second and third.
i iS
KINGSCLERE
Again on October 6, before the Middle Plate, there
was a trial which resulted as under :
SIX FURLONGS
Orbit, 2 yrs., 7 st 1
Spot, 3 yrs., 8 st. 4 lb. . . . . .2
Friar's Balsam, 2 yrs., 9 st. 4 lb. . . .3
Mon Droit, 2 yrs., 9 st. 1 1 lb. . . .4
Ossory, 2 yrs., 8 st. 1 1 lb 5
Won by a length ; half a length between second and third,
and the same between third, fourth, and fifth.
Here Friar's Balsam was giving Orbit (who after-
wards won the Eclipse Stakes) 2 st. 4 lb., and Spot
(who had previously won the Chesterfield Cup) his
year and 14 lb. ' In my opinion,' to quote the trainer's
words, ' a very high trial indeed.' Friar's Balsam,
who was a really great two-year-old, won all his
engagements at that age. They included the New
Stakes at Ascot, where he beat Seabreeze (penalised)
— who afterwards won the Oaks and St. Leger —
the Hurstbourne Stakes at Stockbridge, the July
Stakes at Newmarket (again beating Seabreeze),
the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, and the Middle
Park and Dewhurst, both of which, it may be
said, brought out uncommonly small fields. In the
Middle Park, Hazlehatch was second, beaten a
length and a half, and Seabreeze, two lengths off,
third. Mon Droit, a daughter of Isonomy and In
Bounds, the property of the trainer, won races in
all sorts of company, his two most distinguished
successes being in the Rous Memorial at Goodwood,
'FOLLOW KINGSCLERE' 119
and the Great Breeders' Convivial Stakes at York.
Orbit, one of the ' Ors ' bred by the Duke of
Westminster, a son of Bend Or and Fair Alice, won
a couple of nursery handicaps, and the Doveridge
Stakes at Derby. This last was his most note-
worthy performance, although the company was not
very gay. Ossory, a brother of Ormonde, ran once
and won. That solitary performance was, however,
the Criterion Stakes at the Newmarket Houghton
Meeting. His home reputation and the prestige of
the stable combined to make him a hot favourite —
they laid 2 to 1 on him — which position he justified
by beating the French filly by three-quarters of a
length, Johnny Morgan finishing an indifferent
third. The best performance of Spot (by Springfield
out of Dot) has been mentioned in relation to the
trial prior to the Middle Park Plate.
Savile (3 yrs., by Hampton out of Lilian), one of
the Duke of Westminster's, won the Dee Stakes at
Chester, the Knowsley Dinner Stakes at Liverpool,
and the Goodwood Cup, after a dead-heat with
St. Michael. In the deciding heat, when they laid
6 to 5 on Savile, the latter won by three-quarters
of a length. ' Follow Kingsclere ' would not have
been a bad tip for the ducal meeting of 1887, when
the stable was in wonderful form, as the following
list will show : Stewards' Cup, Upset ; Richmond
Stakes, Friar's Balsam ; Chesterfield Cup, Spot ;
Rous Memorial, Mon Droit ; Goodwood Cup,
Savile ; and the Molecomb, Friar's Balsam (w.o.).
The three cups, and the three biggest two-year-old
120 KINGSCLERE
races. Almost a clean sweep of the board, and all
the events useful to backers.
Porter recalls with a smile a circumstance con-
nected with the Goodwood meeting in question.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales invited
him to join the party on board the Royal yacht for
the purpose of witnessing the naval review. Rooms
being difficult, not to say impossible, to obtain in
Portsmouth, John was put up for the night at the
shore quarters of Captain Curzon-Howe, which
were over a hairdresser's shop. The enterprising
perruquier made himself acquainted with the name
and profession of the Captain's guest, and was
profoundly impressed therewith. ' Mr. John Porter,
the Kingsclere trainer ! ' If that was not ' a straight
tip,' ' a moral,' 'a cert,' what more could a confiding
backer of Fortune's omens desire ? At any rate,
the hairdresser determined to follow the guidance of
the finger of fate and have something on every one
of the Kingsclere horses at Goodwood. He did,
cumulatively. Porter met one of the officers of the
Royal yacht at Goodwood, who informed him that
the hairdresser's rapture, and so forth, in conse-
quence of his prosperous speculation, had reached
such a pitch, he had become temporarily incapacitated
from pursuing his habitual calling. When last heard
of he had abandoned shaving — for a time — to his
customers' intense relief.
To follow the advice of the circus manager in
the well-known story, and get to the horses, we find
that in 1887 Candlemas wen the Royal Stakes
FRIAR'S BALSAM 121
(Handicap) at Sandown Park Second Summer, and
the Autumn Cup at the succeeding meeting of the
same Club. The Shrew (2 years, by Springfield
out of Vex) was a busy winner that year. The
Maiden Plate at Ascot (' a favourite race of mine,'
is Porter's complacent comment), the Stockbridge
Foal Stakes, the Princess of Wales's Cup at the
Newmarket July, the Brighton Jubilee Cup, and
the Rangemore Stakes at Derby. Kingsclere won
that season 26,434/.
The year 1888 proved very eventful, and was
not devoid of a Kingsclere 'sensation.' Some
time before the Two Thousand Friar's Balsam
became, from no apparent cause, exceedingly irri-
table, and difficult to clean and dress in the stable.
A bridle was therefore put on to dress him, the boy
holding the rein in his hand while he rubbed the
horse down. On one occasion, while this operation
was being performed, the youngster, instead of
throwing the rein upon the horse's neck when he
turned him over, allowed it to trail along the ground.
The horse trod upon it, plunged violently, and
splintered the bone of his under jaw. The injury
was caused by the bit's coming with the jerk right
on to the bone. An abscess formed, and the horse
began to waste. Thanks to the palliatives which
had been applied, Friar's Balsam was partially re-
stored on the day of the race (for which he started
at the odds of 3 to 1 on), but he was not free from
pain, and he was afraid to face his bridle. Many
theories, more or less wide of the truth, were ad-
122 KINGSCLERE
vanced to account for the running of Friar's Balsam
— he finished fifth — but these are the facts. The
horse was operated upon, and a piece of diseased
bone removed from the splintered jaw, but it was
not until the autumn that he recovered. He was
nearly ' himself again ' when he won the Champion
Stakes at Newmarket, defeating Minting by half a
length.
Orbit won the Craven Stakes at Newmarket,
and the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, beating his
stable companion Ossory. They finished first and
second, the winner taking 10,000/. and Ossory 500/.
The Duke of Westminster happened to be paying a
quiet visit to Kingsclere when his trainer arrived
home with the news. Orbit also won the Zetland
Biennial at the Newmarket First October Meeting.
Ossory's successes comprised the Prince of Wales's
Stakes at Ascot, a ' divide ' for the St. James's
Palace Stakes at the same meeting, after a dead
heat with Galere, the Great Yorkshire Stakes at
York, and the Royal Stakes at Newmarket. These
two moderate animals — not within a stone of the
top class — had wonderful luck. Their winnings
together amounted to 15,538/. A couple of two-
year-olds belonging to Mr. John Gretton, namely,
Melior and Apollo, were amongst the best of the
coming-on division. The stable won that season in
stakes the sum of 24,476/
In looking back to the period of 1888-89, com-
paring notes and refreshing his memory, Porter is
impelled to refer to Ormuz (by Bend Or out of
NOTABLE YOUNGSTERS 123
Douranee). He considers him one of the most
useful horses he ever had. He was the slave of the
stable for five years, leading the horses in their
gallops, trying them — in short, doing everything
within the capacity of a never-ending, still-begin-
ning, willing horse of all work. In 1889 he beat
Amphion in the Free Handicap Stakes at the
Newmarket Houghton Meeting, on whom they laid
odds. There was a very useful sort of horse named
Kingfisher, albeit he had a stain in his pedigree, in
the stable at the same time. At 5 years old he
won the Esher Stakes (handicap) carrying 8 st. 12 lb.
Of the notable two-year-olds at Kingsclere in 1889,
Blue Green, Sainfoin, Rightaway, Gay Hampton,
and The Saint were the pick. The last-named (by
Peter out of Miss Mannering) showed what sound
stuff he was made of by keeping on his legs in
training well on to the ' aged ' period of his
existence. But this is ' heading the fox.' Blue
Green (by Cceruleus out of Angelica) won twice,
the Criterion and ' a divide ' with Vermillion after
a dead-heat for the Houghton Stakes falling to his
share at the last meeting at headquarters. Right-
away (by Wisdom out of Vanish) was the property
of Mr. W. M. Low, who had joined the stable
about this time. The colt won several races, the
most important being the Great Breeders' Convivial
Produce Stakes at York, and the Clearwell at
Newmarket. Gay Hampton (by Hampton out of
Rosy Morn), another of Mr. Low's, won the
Craven Stakes at Newmarket. The stout and
i2 4 KINGSCLERE
sturdy Saint, to whom allusion has been made,
carried off the Kempton Park International
Breeders' Two-Year-Old Stakes and the Abbey-
Stakes at Sandown.
Sainfoin (by Springfield, out of Sanda), a horse
that subsequently made a distinguished name in
the Turf World, was one of the Hampton Court
yearlings. Porter attended the sale, and after a
look round, met Sir Robert Jardine, who said,
'Have you seen anything you like, John?' In
reply Porter said he rather fancied the Springfield-
Sanda colt. They repaired to the box together,
and agreed 'that he was a good-looking one.' Sir
Robert thereupon said he thought he should buy
him. ' Well,' observed Porter, ' I rather thought of
buying him for myself, but it would be no use my
bidding against you, Sir Robert.' ' Very well,' was
the rejoinder, ' you buy him, John, and we'll have
him together, and you shall take him to Kingsclere
to train.' In the result the colt was knocked down
to Porter's bid of 550 guineas, and taken home.
He only ran once as a two-year-old, and that was
for the Astley Stakes at Lewes, which he won
easily by a length. He started at the outside price
of 8 to 1. Commencing his three-year-old career,
which was brief, and for a horse not by any means
in either the Ormonde or the Common class, rather
brilliant, he won the Esher Stakes in a common
canter. This, albeit a handicap, came out in the
calculation as a rather big performance. At any
rate it attracted attention, and Sir James Miller,
SAINFOIN 125
who had at that time just commenced racing,
showed unusual judgment by expressing a wish to
purchase Sainfoin. As Porter could do nothing in
the matter without consulting his partner, he re-
quested Sir James Miller, in the meantime, to make
an offer for the horse, pointing out at the same time
that Sainfoin was engaged in the Dee Stakes at
Chester, the Derby, and other races. The in-
tending purchaser said he was willing to give
6,000/. for Sainfoin, and half the value of the
Derby if he won. On conferring with Sir Robert
Jardine, the latter left the matter entirely at
Porter's disposal, and the horse thereupon changed
hands. Sainfoin, it may be remarked, resembled
Ormonde in so far as he was never tried for the
Derby. His races were his trials. He ran in Sir
James Miller's colours in the Dee Stakes, reduced
to a match between him and the Duke of Beaufort's
Bull's Eye, to whom, under the conditions, he was
giving 1 st. 2 lb., and won by half a length. As to
the Kingsclere outlook in the Derby that year, well,
Porter was the reverse of sanguine. He thought,
on the rough doctrine of Derby chances, that Sain-
foin had a good fair 'look in,' but no more. The
unexpected occurs often enough in the experience
of a trainer, but, like the majority of those who had
weighed up the race, he was persuaded that Sure-
foot could not lose. As to backing Sainfoin, well,
he took six ponies about him, once. They laid 95
to 40 on Mr. Merry's colt, and took 100 to 15 about
Sainfoin, who won the Derby by three-quarters of a
126 KINGSCLERE
length, Le Nord, who had been second to Surefoot
in the Two Thousand, being again in that place,
Orwell and Surefoot (who was fourth) finishing
together 'in a bunch.' Le Nord afterwards finished
1 nowhere ' in the Grand Prix. To pursue the
thread of the story so far as it concerns Sainfoin, it
may be pointed out that Derby form has a way of
vindicating itself, which is often more surprising to
even the average observer than it ought to be. No
doubt many of the backers of Surefoot and others
regarded Sainfoin's defeat of Mr. Merry's champion
as a sort of fluke. Well, the pair met again at
Ascot in the Hardwicke Stakes, over the Swinley
course, perhaps the most severe mile and a half in
England. On that occasion they backed Sainfoin
against the field, and took 2 to 1 about Surefoot.
Although that grand horse, Amphion, conceding
16 lb. for his year, won the race by a length,
Sainfoin was second, four lengths in front of the
favourite for the Derby, thereby proving, as far
as repeated public running can prove anything at
all, that the finish for the Blue Riband of 1890
was no fluke. As to the character of his com-
petitors, measured through him or otherwise,
according to the taste or fancy of the appraiser,
Porter has nothing to say. About Sainfoin this.
He was good, honest, and useful, but about 10 lb.
beneath the highest class.
Going back to 1889, and taking up one or two
dropped threads in the narrative, it may be mentioned
that Gay Hampton had been done with after he
UNLUCKY HORSES 127
carried off the Craven. It was a case of Hobson's
choice, for he turned out a terrible ' thief,' and a
savage. The name of Bena (by Petrarch out of
Siren) occurs in the winning chronicle, and demands
more than mere citation. This filly, the property of
Lord Alington, won the Excelsior Breeders' Foal
Stakes at Leicester, and the Lavant Stakes at Good-
wood — that is to say, she ran a dead heat with the
late Lord Calthorpe's Cushat and divided the stakes.
The winnings of the stable in 1889 amounted to
17,238/.
Sainfoin, Blue Green, and Gonsalvowere the most
prominent three-year-olds at Kingsclere in 1890.
Sainfoin has been dealt with. Blue Green and
Gonsalvo were unlucky horses. Rightaway, 3 yrs.
(by Wisdom out of Vanish) was the speediest of the
lot, but he was unfortunately unsound. They laid
2 to 1 on him for the Bickerstaffe Stakes at the Liver-
pool Spring Meeting, and he won the race in a canter
by a couple of lengths. Blue Green (was there ever
a more unlucky customer ?) was out nine times in
1890, and was victorious but once. He was second
to Alloway in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at
Ascot, when he was giving the winner 10 lb. This,
after his third in the Two Thousand to Surefoot and
Le Nord, and second, beaten a head by Memoir, in
the Newmarket Stakes, ' the Frenchman ' a bad
third. His solitary victory was brilliant. He de-
feated Grand Prior by a short head in the 37th
Triennial at Ascot, the winner carrying 9 st. 1 lb.,
and the second 8 st. 3 lb. A loyal believer in the
i2S KINGSCLERE
horse, who had never permitted him to run without
his ' fiver ' on, was heard to say on this occasion that
1 Blue Green had only one fault ; his head was not
big enough.' Then came the St. Leger, in which
he was again second (to Memoir), followed by the
Great Foal Stakes, wherein he again suffered defeat
by a head. He completed the seasons performance
by placing a couple of thirds to his credit.
The late Baron de Hirsch, who had joined the
stable in May 1889, was comprised among the
winning owners of 1890. Except Vasistas (by Idus
out of Veranda), who had won thrice in France, his
successes including the Grand Prix, the Baron sent
nothing of importance to Kingsclere. Merry Go
Round II. and Erica were little, if anything, above
plating form. They both failed, the latter making-
no fewer than seven ineffectual attempts ' to catch
the judge's eye.' Vasistas in 1889 had fallen short
of justifying his French reputation. He figured with
varying encouragement and unvarying failure in the
Cesarewitch, the Liverpool Autumn Cup, and the
Manchester November Handicap. To bring him,
however, within the season under immediate notice
it may be observed that, out of nine appearances in
public as a four-year-old, the most remarkable was
when he finished second to Tyrant (5 yrs., 7 st.) in
the Chester Cup, he carrying 8 st. 7 lb. ; four lengths
between them. To finish with Vasistas, once for all,
it is worthy of record that he won the Chester Cup
the following year (1891) when carrying 8 st. 3 lb.,
defeating Tommy Tittlemouse by a couple of lengths.
COMMON 129
He won three handicaps in 1892. Vasistas was a
moderate horse, slow but sure. He had but one
pace, which he maintained from end to end. In
fact he could keep at it for a week. Although 1890
was not one of the great years for the stable, the
winnings amounted to 23,727/.
Having, for the purpose of completing the
account of a horse to which no further reference is
necessary, leapt over a year or two, we recur to 1891,
and pause at the name of Gonsalvo, now four years
old. This stoutly bred son of Fernandez and
Cherie was entitled to the epithet ' a pretty fair
horse,' in a year of extraordinary flyers, but he was
perhaps more than that. He ran third to Morion
and Queen's Birthday in the Gold Cup at Ascot,
but at the same meeting he rewarded Mr. John
Gretton by winning the Alexandra Plate (Barme-
cide second), and again defeated Barmecide for the
Goodwood Cup. How is it, Porter wonders, that
Fernandez has been so neglected at the stud ?
There is no stouter blood in the world, and his
offspring repeat the qualities of the sire. ' It may
be,' Mr. Porter suggests, with a touch of good-
humoured cynicism, in which there possibly lurks
a grain of truth, ' that breeders don't want stayers.'
The year 1891 was the year of the great horse
Common, not only at Kingsclere, but in the recol-
lection of every lover of the national sport, who
delights to dwell on the achievements of the
heroes of the Turf. He won the triple crown, yet,
unlike Lord Lyon and other similar victors, he
x
i 3 o KINGSCLERE
could boast of no two-year-old ' brackets.' The son
of Isonomy and Thistle was one of those great, big,
awkward, unfurnished youngsters, that cannot with
safety be trained for their two-year-old engagements.
If ever a colt 'wanted time,' as the expressive
phrase has it, he did. There was plenty of him —
rather too much of him perhaps — but he was
angular and overgrown, with weak-locking joints,
which to the superficial eye appeared as if they
would never stand work. Common was the stamp
of animal that, in view of his lineage and prospects,
his possibilities in fact, is a source of ceaseless
trouble to the trainer. Unremitting patience, the
gentlest treatment, and the slow development of
his latent qualities, gradually produced the desired
effect. Every difficulty was in turn surmounted,
and though as a trained three-year-old he appeared
light, all apprehension as to his ability to accomplish
the tasks which awaited him had disappeared by the
time he had to be despatched to Newmarket to fulfil
his first engagement. That, it is scarcely necessary
to observe, was in the Two Thousand. Before send-
ing him to headquarters he was tried with two very
moderate animals (as will be seen) as follows :
ONE MILE
Common, 3 yr$. (Webb), 9 st. 7 lb. . .1
Gay Minstrel, 3 yrs. (Griffiths), 8 st. o lb. .2
Gone Coon, 3 yrs. (G. Barrett) . . .3
Won by half a length ; two lengths between second and
third
NEWMARKET OPINION 131
Although he won in a canter, and was giving
the second twenty-one pounds, the trying tackle was
so moderate, that the opinion formed of his chance
of winning the Two Thousand was anything but
sanguine.
Newmarket is notorious for its reluctance to
admit that there can be anything good or good-
looking in 'the stranger.' On the other hand, all
the Newmarket geese are swans or swan-like. For
once in a while, however, the critics of a Two
Thousand candidate appeared to have good reason
for their opinion when they said, as they satirically
did, that Common was well named. That, however,
was before the race. Handsome is that handsome
does. The French colt, Gouverneur, whose private
reputation had preceded him, was made a hot
favourite at 5 to 4, Peter Flower was second in de-
mand at 3 to 1, 13 to 2 was taken about Orvieto,
while Common's price was 9 to 1. To the amaze-
ment of ' Newmarket,' Common won, as some of the
disappointed critics vowed with more bitterness
than truth, in a common canter by three .lengths,
the favourite finishing nowhere. He was not tried
again between the Newmarket and Epsom Summer
Meetings, but meanwhile Gouverneur had renewed
the confidence of his party by winning the Grande
Poule des Produits at the Paris Spring Meeting. It
rained drenchingly enough on the Derby day, both
before the race, when the horses were at the post,
and while they were running, to encourage a half-
expectant hope in the breasts of those who had
K 2
i 3 2 KINGSCLERE
abstained from standing the favourite that the
weather and the going would beat him. They were
disappointed. The dark Dorcas made no show
whatever, and as for Gouverneur, he got no nearer
than second, two lengths behind Common, who
proved himself as capable of going the pace in soft
ground as he had done upon hard. To borrow the
reporter's graphic phrase, 'the odds of n to 10
on were never in doubt.' They laid 40 to 1 on
him for the St. James's Palace Stakes at Ascot,
reduced to a match with Barbatello, and he won
just as he liked. As to the Eclipse Stakes, which
was won by Surefoot, Gouverneur second, and
Common third, there is this to be said. A worse
course for Common could not have been chosen.
As a matter of fact, he only raced for about five
furlongs, and then he was beaten for speed by both
Surefoot and Gouverneur. Put the three together
at the same weights on a fairly straight course,
affording Common the liberty which he required to
let himself out from the beginning in order to do
justice to his commanding stride and pace, and what
would have been the result ? Common won the
St. Leger easily by a length, and was sold im-
mediately after the race to Sir Blundell Maple, M.P.,
for 15,000/. It was a great price, and not easily
withstood. On Sir Blundell Maple's part, purchas-
ing the horse at that moment was, in view of
the stud career of the triple winner, sagacious.
Nevertheless, Porter thinks it a great pity that
Common was not allowed to run again another year.
COMMON'S RETIREMENT 133
He was perfectly sound, and, although he had rilled
out and ' furnished ' considerably, there was room
for further improvement. Porter has no doubt that
if he had been kept in training he would have
proved himself one of the greatest Cup horses of
modern times. He was above the average of Derby
and St. Leger winners. Generally it is to be
regretted that such horses are not trained on.
Owners should not be so keen on selling them,
instead of running them through their career. It
is scarcely fair to the trainer. At any rate, there is
not much encouragement for one who, after de-
veloping the good qualities of a horse, especially of
a horse which in the beginning has been most
difficult to train, to have the animal taken away
from his schoolmaster when he is in a condition to
be made fit to eclipse all his previous exploits. It
is admitted, of course, that, with the fees for service
so high, it is more surely profitable to put a horse
like Common to the stud at the end of his three-
year-old engagements than to keep him running
on. But, nevertheless, Common's incomplete racing
record is to be regretted. Porter anticipates a dis-
tinguished history for him at the stud, he is so
stoutly bred on both sides. His family will no
doubt both race and stay.
134
CHAPTER IX
A splendid quartette— La Fleche— A record price for a yearling—
The Prince of Wales's excellent judgment— Undefeated at two
years old— Ought to have won the Derby— A question of jockey-
ship— The mare's other races— Orme : a late blossom— Orme,
La Fleche, and Watercress 'together' — The poisoning of Orme—
Discovery of the symptoms — Veterinary and other opinions — The
voluminous horse-dentist— A vexed and heated controversy-
Offer of a reward for the apprehension of the poisoner— The Press,
serious and humorous, on Orme— The horse's restoration and
splendid victories— Orme' s place in the St. Leger accounted for —
The second Eclipse, ' the greatest race of his life'— Matchbox not
a tip-topper — The unfortunate Bullingdon.
There were four wonderfully fine two-year-olds at
Kingsclere in 1891, namely Goldfinch, Orme, La
Fleche, and Windgall. ' Pretty hot, weren't they ?'
remarks John, as he glances off the book of winnings
in which the quartette are credited with 17,222/.
in stakes. ' Pretty hot,' indeed ! Take Goldfinch
first. This happily named son of Ormonde and
Thistle began by winning the Kempton Park
Biennial. He followed up his initial success by
carrying off the New Stakes at Ascot, and then
suffered his only defeat, an honourable one, being
done by a head by Flyaway in the July Stakes at
Newmarket. ' Brilliant, but unsound.' When he
ran in the July he was virtually a broken-down
animal. To end with him, as he ended in the Two
< PRETTY HOT' 135
Thousand the following year, he was patched-up
when he started for ' the Guineas.' There was,
it may be mentioned parenthetically, another promis-
ing youngster in Watercress, albeit his solitary
appearance in the Rous Memorial at Newmarket,
for which he started first favourite, was a disappoint-
ment to the stable. Windgall, by Galliard out of
Windsor, was unable to get nearer than third on
his first appearance in the Althorp Park Stakes at
Northampton. Porter would reckon him compara-
tively about 12 lb. behind Orme and La Fleche.
Nevertheless, he won the Spring Two- Year-Old
Plate (value 2,684/.) at Kempton, beating the
favourite, The Smew, by a head, and the Breeders'
Plate at the Newmarket Second Spring. In 1892
he won the Newmarket October Handicap (3 yrs.,
8 st.) by a length from His Honour, 3 yrs., 6 st. 10
lb., Thessalian, 3 yrs., 8 st. 3 lb., being third. They
took 5 to 4 about him at the post. He also secured
the Liverpool Autumn Cup (8 st. 2 lb.), beating
Ermak (4 yrs., 8 st. 5 lb.) by a short head. George
Barrett rode the winner, and M. Cannon the second,
while Lady Rosebery, aged, 9 st. 1 lb. (J. Watts),
was third, a neck behind the pair. It was a fine
display of jockeyship all round. Here again Wind-
gall started first favourite. He was second to
Nunthorpe for the Liverpool Summer Cup, beaten
by a head, and second to Rusticus in the Leicester-
shire Royal Handicap, again defeated by a head,
when, in the opinion of his trainer, he ought to have
won in a canter. Unaccountable then, Porter has
136 KINGSCLERE
not had any cause to vary his view or mitigate his
surprise since. Windgall was fourth in the Duke
of York Stakes at Kempton, but at the Newmarket
Houghton Meeting he was second in the Old
Cambridgeshire Handicap, giving i st. 10 lb. to
Pensioner, and again only beaten by a head. Had
he not run in the October Handicap, he might have
pulled off the Cambridgeshire, and La Fleche could
have hardly lost the Cesarewitch, therefore the
double event was on the cards. This brings us to
La Fleche. The sum paid for this yearling, five
thousand five hundred guineas, at the time the record
price, was enormous, and to many shrewd judges
appeared out of all reason. The purchase of thousand
and even two thousand guinea yearlings appeared
quite ordinary occurrences of the sale ring in com-
parison. It should properly be mentioned that it was
solely on the judgment of his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales that Baron de Hirsch bid as high
for the prettily named daughter of St. Simon and
Quiver. Neither Lord Marcus Beresford nor John
Porter would have felt justified in advising the Baron
to go so far, although they were agreed that she
was a beautiful filly and the cream of the bowl.
It was a plucky thing on the part of Baron de
Hirsch to outbid the Duke of Portland, and the
magnificent career of the filly abundantly justi-
fied the judgment of the Prince of Wales. She cost
five thousand five hundred guineas, it is true, but
she won from first to last in stakes 31,153/. This
by the way. She ran unbeaten as a two-year-old,
LA FLECHE 137
winning the Chesterfield at the Newmarket Second
Spring, the Lavant and Molecomb at Goodwood,
and the Champagne at Doncaster, beating Sir
Hugo in the last-named race (he was third) by
about seven lengths, and in stakes (3,415/.) making
a great hole in the purchase money. Her success,
indeed, was measured by her engagements. She
was never put through a set trial as a three-year-
old, but, collaterally, through Massacre, who was
a sort of ' line,' she ranged up about the same as
Orme. She appeared nine times in public in 1892,
and only missed the brackets once. After winning
the One Thousand Guineas in a canter, they took
1 1 to 10 about her for the Derby, when Sir Hugo,
who started at the outside price — the extreme out-
side price so far as any weight of money was
concerned — of 40 to 1, defeated her by three-
quarters of a length. The result admitted of no
excuse whatever on the part of the mare. She had
fed well and done well, and she went to the post
perfectly fit. The cause assigned for La Fleche's
defeat was that Barrett allowed Sir Hugo and
Bucentaur to steal a march upon him at Tattenham
Corner, and when it came to the descent of the hill
he was not within ten lengths of the two leaders.
They had slipped him. He put forward his effort,
but it was too late. There was not sufficient time
then to make up the lost ground, and, although she
passed the French horse and was catching Sir
Hugo at every stride, the lucky and fortunately
ridden outsider won. The moderate form exhibited
138 KINGSCLERE
by La Fleche in the Oaks when The Smew ran her
to a short head is easily accounted for. She had
been ridden with great severity for the last five
furlongs in the Derby. She was asked to do an
impossible thing, and she nearly did it with that
unflinching gameness which was not the least
remarkable characteristic of the gallant little mare ;
but the strenuous endeavour took a lot out of her.
Between the Derby and the Oaks there was not
sufficient time for her to recover. Another day
between the two races would have made all the
difference in the world. Like all the St. Simon
progeny, La Fleche was of a highly nervous and
excitable temperament. Taken to Manchester to
run in the Lancashire Plate of 10,000 sovereigns,
the noise, the traffic, the crowd — in short, the
general tumult incidental to one of the greatest days
of that immense meeting — completely upset her.
When Porter went to get the mare ready for the
race he found her trembling all over, and sweating
so profusely she looked as if she had been dragged
through a pond. Nevertheless, she ran one of the
best races she ever ran in her life, beating Orvieto
(4 yrs., 9 st. 10 lb. ) by three lengths, while she, a three-
year-old, carried 9 st. 81b. Weight is weight anyhow,
and here she was conceding a year to the second
favourite — there was very little between them on
the market score, 6 to 4 against La Fleche and
2 to 1 against Orvieto — and receiving, as it were in
compensation, 2 lb. John Porter, dwelling upon it,
declares this to be one of her greatest achievements, if
A FALSE-RUN DERBY 139
not absolutely the very best, everything considered,
inasmuch as she was a mare that with her tempera-
ment called for the most careful training. And
now a word about the St. Leger. As if to show
how false the running in the Derby had been, when,
as we have pointed out, she was perfectly fit and
well, La Fleche beat Sir Hugo in a canter by a
couple of lengths. Next to him came her stable
companion, Watercress. Orme, who started first
favourite with 11 to 10 on, was unable to finish in
the first four. The Grand Duke Michael and the
Newmarket Oaks, which she won quite as a matter
of course, call for no special comment, but the
Cambridgeshire, her final achievement in 1892,
does. The mare won carrying 8 st. 10 lb., and
beating Pensioner (3 yrs., 6 st. 4 lb.). Windgall's
running in the Old Cambridgeshire Handicap, which
Pensioner (6 st. 4 lb.) won, beating Windgall (8 st.)
by a head, supplies a relative measurement of the
respective form of Baron de Hirsch's pair. The
mare was that much better than the colt, with
probably ' a bit over.'
It is deemed sufficient to say here of Watercress,
another of the Baron's string, that he was ' a brilliant
miler.' Indeed at that distance he was little, if
anything, inferior to La Fleche. The close of the
season of 1892 witnessed the withdrawal of the
horses respectively owned by the Prince of Wales
and the Baron de Hirsch from Kingsclere, in con-
sequence of a misunderstanding with the manager
of the united stud. The affair was destitute of any
i 4 o KINGSCLERE
sort of public interest, and is only referred to here,
as it were, historically. The severance was the
cause of sincere regret to Porter, who is honoured
with the assurance on the part of his Royal Highness
and also by that of the late Baron de Hirsch that
the regret was mutual. To sum up simply, owners
and trainer separated on the most friendly terms.
An extraordinary chapter in the history of
Kingsclere is embraced in the career of the son of
Ormonde and Angelica, the sensational Orme. He
ran half-a-dozen times as a two-year-old in 1891,
and was beaten but once. He blossomed rather
late, at Goodwood, at the end of July, when, his
reputation as a flyer having preceded him, odds of
5 to 4 were laid on him for the Richmond Stakes,
which he won from Flyaway by three parts of a
length. At the same meeting the already popular
son of his father won the rich Prince of Wales's
Stakes (85 to 40 on) with Dunure, a length off,
second. Then came a defeat, by Signorina (4 yrs.)
in the Lancashire Plate at Manchester. They
took 7 to 4 about him. The difference between him
and the victress was half a length, while Martagon,
another four-year-old, finished a head behind, third.
He won the Middle Park Plate by a couple of
lengths, from El Diablo ; and, roughly speaking,
repeated that performance in the Dewhurst Plate,
inasmuch as Colonel North's colt was again second.
Finally, at the Newmarket Houghton Meeting,
Orme wound up his two-year-old career by canter-
ing home winner of the Home-bred Foal Stakes,
POISONING OF ORME i 4I
with Esmond second. To show how close together
Orme, La Fleche, and Watercress were as two-year-
olds, the following trials are given.
JUNE 25, FIVE FURLONGS
La Fleche, 2 yrs., 8 st. 7 lb I
Massacre, 3 yrs., 9 st 7 lb 2
Rose Du Barri, 3 yrs., 9 st. o lb. . . .3
Won by a length ; three lengths between second and third.
JULY 13, FIVE FURLONGS
Orme, 2 yrs., 8 st. 7 lb 1
Massacre, 3 yrs., 9 st. 7 lb. . . . .2
Oran, 2 yrs., 8 st. o lb 3
Orville, 2 yrs., 8 st. 7 lb. . . . .4
Won by half a length ; two lengths between second and
third, and two lengths between third and fourth.
SEPTEMBER I 9, SIX FURLONGS
Watercress, 2 yrs., 8 st. 7 lb. . . . .1
Massacre, 3 yrs , 9 st. 7 lb. . . .2
Candahar, 2 yrs., 7 st. 12 lb 3
Won by a neck ; four lengths between second and third.
It should be recorded that ' the three ' were never
tried together actually.
We now come to one of the most interesting
chapters in the history of the stable, and one to
which the popular title, ' The Poisoning of Orme/
may here be given. The regular work for the
Two Thousand was in progress when his Serene
Highness Prince Adolphus of Teck, Lord Marcus
i 4 2 KINGSCLERE
Beresford, and Mr. Portal paid a visit to Kingsclere.
They saw the horses at five o'clock, or ' afternoon
stable.' Naturally, special interest attached to the
inspection of Orme. While looking him over
Porter noticed that saliva was oozing through the
muzzle which he always wore when he was being
dressed, owing to a habit he had of biting his chain.
After finishing with him, the trainer visited the
remainder of the horses accompanied by his dis-
tinguished guests, and then came back to Orme,
when he re-examined the horse and cross-examined
the boy. Had the latter noticed anything wrong
with his charge before ? The youngster replied in
the negative. Porter removed the muzzle, and
made as searching an inspection of the horse's
mouth as was possible under the circumstances.
As it was the period of teeth-shedding, the trainer
thought that Orme had accidentally parted with a
tooth. Thereupon he wired to Leoffler, the horse
dentist at Newmarket, to come to Kingsclere and
look at Orme. He arrived and extracted an incisor,
which, however, would have come away in the
natural course of shedding. Leoffler, nevertheless,
stoutly declared that the tooth was diseased. That
declaration, however, Porter takes leave to think
was sheer nonsense. The tooth was sound enough.
As to the odour which the operator detected, it
simply arose from the decomposed food which clung
to it. But poor Leoffler was at the time evidently
suffering from mental excitement. It will be re-
membered that the diseased tooth theory was taken
CONFLICTING OPINIONS 143
up by the Press, and a great deal of rubbish written
to support it. Orme got worse after the opera-
tion, and accordingly Porter telegraphed for Mr.
Williams, the well-known veterinary professor, and
in response to the summons, both he and his
son at once came down to Kingsclere. On care-
fully examining the horse, they declared that Orme
had been poisoned. Porter himself has not the
least doubt whatever that such was the case. Every
symptom pointed to that conclusion. Mr. Williams's
opinion was that the poison was mercurial. In fact,
the animal exhibited all the most ordinary signs
of salivation. The tongue protruded, the teeth
had loosened, there was sloughing, and the poor
creature was unable to swallow naturally either
liquid or solid food. In the course of a fortnight
the hair came off in patches, and for a period of
ten days the horse's life was despaired of. He was
so weak he could scarcely stand without assist-
ance. Every possible remedy was employed, and
but for unremitting attention night and day, in
which Mr. Williams, Jun., the trainer himself, and a
trustworthy servant of the stable took part — the
horse never being left alone for a single moment —
Orme must have died. It was the animal's naturally
fine constitution which pulled him through. As
might have been expected, Kingsclere was besieged
by special commissioners, Turf reporters, and pur-
veyors of ' the latest from Kingsclere ' for the public
Press. Nor was the detective absent from the scene.
Indeed, when the matter was placed in the hands of
i 4 4 KINGSCLERE
Sir George Lewis to investigate, Inspector Bucket
became a necessity. On May 2 the following notice
was issued :
1 £1,000 Reward. — Poisoning of Orme. — Whereas on
the 2 1st of April last, at Kingsclere Stable, in the county
of Hants, the racehorse Orme, the property of his Grace
the Duke of Westminster, was wilfully poisoned, the
above reward will be paid by the Duke of Westminster to
any person who shall, within one month from this date,
furnish such information as shall lead to the apprehension
and conviction of the person or persons guilty of the said
crime. Information to be furnished to Messrs. Lewis &
Lewis, Ely Place, Holborn, E.C
The conflict of opinion over the afflicted body
of Orme was, fortunately for some of the fiercer
antagonists, confined to paper warfare. One shudders
at the idea of what might have happened if the con-
troversialists had met, in the flesh, over a Round
Table. While there were veterinary authorities
who had a good word to say for the voluminous,
not to say inflated, views of the horse dentist,
there was at least one veterinary surgeon who
declared that Leoffler's theory was no less absurd
than the allegation that the horse had been poisoned.
Even Mr. (Sir) George Lewis did not escape
calumny in the course of that fiercely heated
controversy. ' Mr. George Lewis,' wrote one
belligerent, rising scathingly to the occasion, ' who
is reported to have ridiculed Professor Leoffler's
views on the subject of Orme's decayed tooth, may
or not be an eminent horse dentist. I always
THE 'WITS' 145
understood him to be a lawyer, but, of course, I may
be mistaken. Possibly in the confusion of this case
we shall presently find Professor Leoffler ridiculing
Mr. George Lewis on a point of law.'
The small humourists and witlings of the
periodical Press found in the poisoning of Orme
congenial employment for their free and easy pens.
One comic gentleman spread himself out on a
burlesque play, entitled ' The Duchess of Pimlico's
Cat; or, the Poison Proved.' This was described
as ' A Society Dramalette,' and was divided as
follows : 'Scene I., The Kitchen at Pimlico House.
Scene II., The Duchess' Boudoir. Scene III., The
Kitchen. Scene IV., The same. Scene V., The
Duchess' Boudoir.' The merriment of another
funny person took the shape of ' Diversified Private
Opinions by Our Special Experts.' In 'a letter
from the Duke of Westminster ' the complaint is,
for the fun of the thing, made political, to wit : ' I
have trustworthy information that that utterly
unscrupulous person, Mr. Sch — dh — st, disguised
as a racing tout, was seen hanging about the stable
on several occasions lately.' ■ The editor of the
" Globule " declares that the spirit of Anarchism is
abroad, and it is therefore highly probable that
some Ravachol of the racecourse has been at his
fiendish work in the stables of his Grace the Duke
of Westminster.' Then ' Professor Ruffler, horse
dentist,' writes : ' It is a mere matter of teeth.
Everything's a mere matter of teeth. The colt
wasn't hocussed, and those who assert that he was
146 KINGSCLERE
are simply making a mountain out of a molar 'ill.'
4 Punch ' was, of course, ' on the job ' more than
once. The following, however, was the hunchback's
champion (Cockney) effort. 'Orme! sweet Orme !
Orme is still off solid food, and is kept alive entirely
by Porter. It is the opinion of the best informed
that " Porter with a head on " will pull him through.
Smoking is not permitted in the stable, but there
is evidence of there being several " strong backers "
about.'
Orme for days displaced Home Rule, the Eastern
and all other Questions, the latest murder, the leading
divorce case, and so forth, as the paramount topic.
The Duke of Westminster was bombarded with
telegrams, pursued on the railway from Eaton to
Grosvenor House, and mercilessly interviewed. The
newspapers, especially the sporting journals, bristled
with letters from veterinary and other authorities,
no two agreeing, on what was called ' The Poisoning
Theory.' To sum up, while there was from the first
discovery of the horse's illness at Kingsclere strong
and well-grounded suspicions as to the culprit —
suspicions which subsequent investigation tended
to confirm — in default of the right description of
incriminatory evidence, the poisoner escaped.
The period from April to July in the year 1892
marked the illness and restoration of Orme to
running form, when he came out under remarkable
circumstances at Sandown, on the first day of the
meeting, and won the Eclipse Stakes of 10,000 sovs.,
beating Orvieto, St. Damien, Certosa, ' the French-
ORME'S FIRST 'ECLIPSE' 147
man ' Gouverneur, Llanthony, and Rouge Dragon.
It might be called a picked field. That day Orme
was truly ' a sensational horse ' and ' an equine
hero.' Notwithstanding the reports which were
current about his yet impaired condition, and the
trainer's alleged failure to bring the horse to the
post fit and well, he was backed with loyal spirit,
and started first favourite, 5 to 4 being taken about
him. Otherwise there were thousands of persons
interested in the race, both spectators and waiters
for the verdict of the wire all over the world, who
wanted Orme to win. He, ridden by George
Barrett, defeated Orvieto handsomely by a neck —
the wagering foreshadowed first and second — St.
Damien finishing three-quarters of a length off,
third, and Certosa (who was placed) a length
behind, fourth. The crowd was enormous, and the
cheering which greeted the victory of ' Orme the
martyr ' something to remember. For exciting
circumstances the same Eclipse Stakes * eclipsed '
(as a chronicler of the race was pleased to observe)
1 any Derby or St. Leger within the memory of
man.' He also won the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood
(New Mile). He only missed obtaining the brackets
once during the season, but it was a mighty loss,
being no less than his defeat in the St. Leger.
There was perhaps no horse in the world that could
have stood up against Baron de Hirsch's wonder
that day ; but, nevertheless, Orme had no business
to be where he was, behind the other placed ones,
Sir Hugo, Watercress, and May Duke. The fact
1 4 8 KINGSCLERE
was, Orme was ridden contrary to orders. Barrett
made all the running, and rode him to a standstill.
He was next brought out in the Great Foal Stakes at
Newmarket, which he won, beating his stable com-
panion, H. R. H. the Prince of Wales's Versailles, by a
length and a half. The winner carried 9 st. 8 lb., and
the second 8 st. 12 lb. The Champion Stakes, over
the same course, placed him and Orvieto on weight
for age conditions in the position which they had
held in the Eclipse. Orme won by two lengths.
The Limekiln Stakes he won by three lengths, Sir
Hugo (who was in front of him in the St. Leger),
carrying the same weight, being a length and a half
behind the second. He carried off the Subscription
Stakes (Bretby Stakes Course), beating some of the
speediest horses in training, and then, next day,
was defeated by El Diablo in the Free Handicap
Sweepstakes. He had run three days in suc-
cession, which was a little too hard on him. That
finished Orme's three-year-old career.
He came out like a giant refreshed with new
wine as a four-year-old at Ascot, when he galloped
away from Lady Lena in the Rous Memorial,
winning without being seriously called upon by a
couple of lengths. Then followed the greatest race
of his life, the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, the
second time of asking. Prestige, lineage — the
great son of Ormonde — ' the poisoned horse,' the
tremendous weight he was called upon to carry, and
the fact that he was meeting the incomparable La
Fleche, combined to make Orme's second Eclipse
ORME'S SECOND ' ECLIPSE' 149
even more interesting, certainly to racing men, than
his first. He was ridden on that memorable occa-
sion by Mornington Cannon, who had of course to
put up some pounds of dead weight to scale
10 st. 2 lb., which was Orme's ' freightage.' La
Fleche carried 9 st. 13 lb., and Orme's former
jockey, George Barrett. The course, it should be
remembered, is about one mile and a quarter. The
public backed La Fleche against the field, and took
2 to 1 about Orme. Orme, amid another scene of
immense excitement, won by half a length, Baron
de Rothschild's Medicis, 3 yrs. old, 8 st. 12 lb.,
being second, and La Fleche, three lengths off,
third. The excuse made for the mare (after the
race) was that she was suffering from sexual
causes. It was a pity the stable and its followers
did not find that out before. The pair met again in
the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood (Craven Course),
the same distance, Orme giving La Fleche 7 lb.,
when the result substantially confirmed the Eclipse
running. At all events, Orme won by a neck, and
nothing was said about ' sexual causes.' The
stoutest of horses are not like Tennyson's brook,
they cannot run on for ever. Orme partially broke
down in the autumn, and such, his trainer is per-
suaded, was the cause of his defeat by Childwick in
the Limekiln Stakes, when he was giving Sir J.
Blundell Maple's three-year-old 2 st. 5 lb. In that,
his final race, his suspensory ligament had given
way. Orme, if not such a wonder as his sire, was
an extraordinary horse, with a wonderful constitu-
ISO KINGSCLERE
tion to have lived through his wasting illness and
done the amount of big work which he accomplished.
He was much better at four than he had been
at three years old, and that no doubt led the talent
astray in their calculations, when they put him and
La Fleche together. In spite of his disasters and
the time he lost through illness, Orme's winnings
in Stakes amounted to 32,726/.
Without going into particulars, it may be men-
tioned that Watercress won 4,106/. as a three-year-
old. And to complete this part of the running
record, Whipper In, a most useful horse in his way,
together with Ormuz, proved trustworthy servants
at Kingsclere for their period, especially in trials.
The gross stable winnings in 1892 amounted to
52,245^
Of the two-year olds in 1893 tne on ly P a i r worth
naming are Matchbox and Bullingdon. Matchbox
(by St. Simon out of Match Girl) ran in the
National Breeders' Produce Stakes at Sandown, the
day after Orme had won the Eclipse, when of course
the stable filled the popular imagination. Although
he was backward in condition, and the ' want of
work ' was obvious enough, they made him second
favourite. The race was of little account any way,
as Delphos won by six lengths, and there were three
lengths between Glare, who was second, and Match-
box. He brought off a big thing at the Kempton
Park October meeting when he beat Son o' Mine
by a neck in the Great Breeders' Produce Stakes of
5,000 sovs., Silver finishing a bad third. Then he
MATCHBOX 151
won the Criterion at Newmarket, easily defeating a
moderate lot of opponents, finishing his two-year-
old career by an equally easy victory under very
similar conditions, in the Dewhurst Plate at the
same meeting. To conclude with Matchbox, he was
second to Ladas in the Two Thousand, and was
similarly in attendance on Lord Rosebery's colt
when the latter won the Derby. Again, he was
second in the Grand Prix to Dolma Baghtche ;
then he won the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, ran
third to Throstle and Ladas in the St. Leger, won
the Triennial Produce Stakes at Newmarket (beat-
ing Speed and Hornbeam), and also the Lowther
Stakes at ' headquarters,' overcoming Ravensbury
and Grey Leg. In that race he was running
Ravensbury (4 years old) at 3 lb., and he left him
behind four lengths. After the Derby Matchbox
was sold to Baron de Hirsch for 15,000/., who after-
wards re-sold the horse to the Austrians. Matchbox
was well sold twice over, for he was never within
10 lbs. of ' a real good un.'
Now we come to the unfortunate Bullingdon (by
Melton out of Shotover). As a two-year old he was
second to Ladas in the Coventry Stakes at Ascot,
beaten a length and a half, and fourth and last in the
Hurstbourne Stakes at Stockbridge, which was won
by Sempronius. Then he won the Ham Stakes,
and the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Goodwood.
Finally, as a two-year-old he was defeated in the
Buckenham Stakes at the Newmarket First October
Meeting by Glare (whom he had beaten at Good-
i 5 2 KINGSCLERE
wood), the race being reduced to a match between
them. As a three-year old his was a brief but
chequered career, and for the greater part of it most
unlucky. He began coughing at Epsom, and was
amiss in the Derby. Restored, if not perfectly well
at the Royal Meeting, he ran second to None the
Wiser in the Ascot Derby, giving her 16 lb. Then
he was second to Isinglass, beaten a short head in
the Princess of Wales Stakes, Ladas being third.
And he won the Midsummer Plate. Bullingdon, his
trainer had long ere this discovered, was a horse of a
peculiar temperament and a delicate constitution.
In both respects he resembled his mother, Shotover.
When he was taken to Liverpool to run for the St.
George's Stakes he became so excited in his box, at
the moment of effecting his removal to the stable at
Aintree, they could do nothing with him. The boy
was turning him to tie him up when he whipped
round and kicked out with such violence (fortunately
missing the lad) it was found, on final removal, that
he had sustained a compound fracture of the thigh.
Mortification ensued, and this fine colt died. It was
a serious loss to the Turf, since, from his breeding
— the offspring of two Derby winners, Melton and
Shotover — Bullingdon would no doubt have proved
invaluable at the stud. During this season (1893)
the Kingsclere stable won 20,395/.
153
CHAPTER X
Throstle — Her two-year-old career — The Coronation and the sensa-
tional St. Leger — Parallel cases — Caller Ou and Dutch Oven — A
story of Caller Ou's St. Leger — Throstle's trainer on the wrong
one — Throstle, when she liked, 'the best filly of her year' — Her
final ' bolt ' — The season following remarkable for Kingsclere
seconds — An excuse for Garter Queen — The disappointing Le Var
— Always slightly unsound— Only a tolerable trial — Porter's advice
to Lady Stamford — Omladina — Good, game Matchmaker —
Analysis of stakes won by horses trained by John Porter.
Throstle (by Petrarch out of Thistle) was second
as a two-year-old, in 1893, f° r tne Chesterfield
Stakes, beaten a head by Speed, and again second,
defeated a length and a half, to La Nievre, in the
Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, the race being
reduced to a match with the pair. She ran un-
placed in the Kempton Park Great Breeders'
Stakes, which, as we have already observed, was
won by Matchbox. At three years old (in 1894)
she was ■ nowhere ' in the One Thousand. She,
however, won the Coronation Stakes at Ascot,
beating Royal Victoria by a head. Three lengths
behind Jocasta and Amiable finished a dead-heat
for third. On returning to weigh in Mornington
Cannon drew 3 lb. overweight, owing to mud and
rain, but was passed by order of the stewards,
Throstle was fourth to Isinglass in the Eclipse
154 KINGSCLERE
(Ladas second, and Ravensbury third) ; she easily
won the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood (defeating
Maundy Money and La Nievre), and, to every
one's astonishment, not excluding that of the stable,
she won the Doncaster St. Leger. ' T' Leger '
has more than once provided a sensation in the
shape of an upset of a public favourite by an out-
sider ' dropped from the clouds.' Commentators
on Throstle's race compared it, as a surprise, to
the victory of Dutch Oven over Geheimniss and
Shotover in 1882, and Caller Ou's defeat of the
Derby winner Kettledrum, in 1861. They were
nearer the mark in the latter than in the former
comparison. The defeat of Geheimniss has been
somewhat accounted for in these pages. With
regard to Kettledrum's overthrow by Caller Ou,
although the sight of her old-fashioned head in
front no doubt astonished the backers of the
favourite, and also those of Kildonan and Lady
Ripon, and other participators in that remarkable
field of eighteen, the daughter of Stockwell and
Haricot had a few backers from the wolds, and
Teesdale, and thereabouts. Mr. William Scarth
Dixon, in his admirable book, ' In the North
Countree,' thus speaks of one : — ' A party of
sporting farmers went from the North of Yorkshire
to see the race, and the majority of them were very
sweet on the favourite, whilst one or two of the
party were loud in their praises of Lady Ripon,
whom they entrusted with their money, but whose
public performances scarcely justified her position
THROSTLE 155
as third favourite. One of the party who had liked
the look of Caller Ou at Stockton, and who could
not fancy any of the favourites, quietly took 500
to 5 about her chance. That he was mercilessly
chaffed goes without saying, and amongst other
things he was told that if he had lighted his pipe
with his 5/. note he would have known the end of
it. His turn came, however, for his friends en-
deavoured to get back their losses on the Leger by
backing Bivouac for the Queen's Plate, and when
he was beaten they had a big plunge on Brilliant
for the Corporation Plate. Brilliant went down
also, and then these gentlemen, whilom so full of
chaff, had to apply to the backer of Caller Ou for
money to get them home.'
In a field of eight Throstle's price was returned
at 50 to 1. Lord Alington and Sir Frederick
Johnstone took forty ponies between them in order
that she might not run unbacked, while the trainer
had ' fifty ' on Matchbox. Throstle defeated the
favourite, Lord Rosebery's Ladas, by three-quarters
of a length, while Matchbox finished two lengths
off, third. She subsequently ran in the Jockey
Club Stakes at Newmarket, and, not at all to the
surprise of the stable, bolted. Then she was fourth in
the Duke of York's Stakes to Florian at Sandown,
carrying 8 st. 9 lb. to Florian's 7 st. 3 lb. There
are 'rogues,' 'savages,' 'jades,' and 'fools' (we
have been reminded in passing that Custance pro-
nounced D'Estournel more fool than knave) and
other eccentrics in the horse tribe. Throstle was
156 KINGSCLERE
simply an erratic lady with a mind or will of her
own. She was generous enough, and generally
tractable, but if she took it into her head to whip
round in the middle of a gallop, and tear along
with possibly the best intentions in the world in
the opposite direction, there was no stopping her.
Her trainer, however, has no doubt that over a
distance of ground she was the best filly of her year.
They knew at home how she could gallop when
she liked, and there was some hope cherished
towards the close of the season of 1894 tnat tne
following Ascot might see her out again in the
St. Leger mood, and alongside one of the stoutest
and fleetest horses in training. ■ Sweet was the
vision, but, alas!' that meeting with Isinglass was
not to be. The stable winnings in 1894 amounted
to 22,672/.
The season of 1895 w ^^ always be remembered
at Kinorsclere for the number of seconds which the
stable had to put up with. They won 36 races,
were second on 32 occasions, and 18 times third,
while there were 39 unplaced positions in the record.
Nevertheless, the sum gained in stakes amounted to
over 28,446/. To begin with Baddiley — by Sheen
out of Farewell, own brother to Regret — who gave
his trainer trouble from the outset, as he was always
a bit of a cripple. He had done nothing during the
two-year-old stage of his career, for obvious reasons,
but the trainer persevered with him at three, and
succeeded in winning one good stake, namely the
Royal (Post) Sweepstakes at the Newmarket Second
A SEASON OF 'SECONDS' 157
October Meeting, when he defeated Spur Royal, the
favourite, by a head. He afterwards ran in the
Trial Plate (a selling race) at the Houghton Meeting,
when beaten by the aged Houndsditch, he (again
with a head difference, but the wrong way) added to
the number of the Kingsclere seconds. Chinkara, a
two-year-old filly by Galopin out of Raker, the joint
property of Lord Henry Grosvenor and Porter, was
sold to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales after
winning the Plantation Stakes at the Newmarket
July. Her next appearance, when she carried the
Royal colours, was as it proved in somewhat different
company. Not that the wagering foreshadowed
the quality of one of the dead-heaters in the Lavant
Stakes at Goodwood. It was the outsider, Flitters,
who made a dead heat of it with Omladina, about
whom they took 5 to 4, Chinkara (5 to 2 against)
finishing half a length off, next. The Stakes were
divided. We shall have occasion to refer to
Omladina again. Chinkara ran four times sub-
sequently, but without getting a place. There had
been some encouragement to the owner, Mr. W.
Low, and an apparent prospect of a brilliant future
for the mare, in one of the efforts of Garter Queen
(by Bend Or out of Braw Lass) as a two-year old,
albeit her second public appearance was disappoint-
ing. One might, taking Mr. Low's place, have
regarded her with ' one auspicious and one drooping
eye.' She won the Inauguration Plate for two-year-
olds at Lingfield by a length and a half. On the
strength of this promising achievement she was made
158 KINGSCLERE
very nearly first favourite for the Kempton Park
Two-year-old Plate, but finished nowhere. When
she came to be put through for her three-year-old
engagements, she, always unsound and a jade, was
found to be 'jadier' than ever, and consequently
more difficult to train. Fourth in the Oaks, second
in the Coronation Stakes, and again second in the
Nassau Stakes to Butterfly (reduced to a match), in
which she failed to take ' book ' advantage of the
best of the weights, and third in a handicap at
Lingneld, comprised the performances of the mare
prior to her death, which took place shortly after her
last public appearance. It was found, at the post-
mortem examination, that it was a case of ulcerated
bowels. ' So,' as Porter remarks, ' the disappointing
running of Garter Queen may not have been
entirely in consequence of her cowardice.' Le Var
by Isonomy out of St. Marguerite, three years, was
the Kingsclere horse in 1895. This own brother
to Seabreeze and Riviera, and half-brother to
Roquebrune, was 'dark.' His splendid breeding,
his orood looks, and the fact that he went well in his
work, proved remarkably attractive to a public ever
on the alert for a Derby sensation. Who knew
but what this was the best horse in England ? The
winter of 1894-95 was exceptionally severe, and
nearly all the work which could be accomplished had
to be done on the straw beds. Le Var was always a
bit backward in condition do what the trainer would.
Besides which he was a trifle unsound. The flaw
was of a minor character — one that could in nowise
A FAIRLY GOOD TRIAL 159
affect his after career at the stud — but still it was
one which interrupted a straightforward and success-
ful preparation. There was a trial with a view to
the Derby on the 25th of April, which resulted as
follows :
ONE MILE
Le Var, 3 yrs., 9 st. 7 lb.
Royal Corrie, 3 yrs., 8 st. 4 lb.
Matchmaker, 3 yrs., 9 st. 3 lb.
Kenney, 3 yrs., 9 st. o lb.
Church Parade, 3 yrs., 9 st. 7 lb.
Won by a head ; four lengths between second and third,
and the others beaten off.
This trial was accounted no more than ' fairly
good.' Le Var was unable to get home in the front
group in the Derby, and as to his subsequent career
in training, brief but not inglorious, there is little to
be added. He, carrying 8 st. 3 lb. (a pound over the
regulation weight), won the Princess of Wales's
Stakes of 10,000 sovs., worth to the victor 8,995/.,
at the Newmarket First July Meeting, by a length
from Mr. Leopold de Rothschild's Utica, 3 yrs., 8 st.
7 lb., Lord Ellesmere's None the Wiser, 4 yrs., 9st.
81b., a neck behind, third ; Sir Visto, with 9 st. 5 lb.
on his back, was in the race, but left off ' nowhere/
Le Var broke down in the Eclipse Stakes at
Sandown Park (won by Le Justicier), and was after-
wards sold to go to the stud.
Unusual interest attaches to Omladina, by Royal
Hampton out of Geheimniss, ' the best two-year-old
•filly of her year.' Her dam, as we have had occasion
160 KINGSCLERE
to relate in a possibly inadequate reference to the
leading incidents of her career, was a wonder for
speed and style of galloping. As the passage has
some bearing on the distinctive characteristics of her
flying daughter, we cannot resist quoting what an
observer said about one of her most brilliant achieve-
ments. ' When Geheimniss and Lowland Chief
met in the Westminster Cup at Kempton Park, they
ran the race — a mile and a quarter — for speed,
coming the last two or three hundred yards at a tre-
mendous pace. Geheimniss laid herself down to the
task in such a way that, as Mr. Porter remarked,
" she did not look more than twelve hands high
when passing the post." On the withdrawal of
Geheimniss from training, Porter advised Lady
Stamford to mate the mare with Hampton or with
one of Hampton's sons. It was found impossible
to obtain a subscription for Hampton, and the
mare was therefore sent to Royal Hampton. The
foal, Omladina, was purchased by Porter for the
Duke of Westminster. This beautiful filly bears a
striking resemblance to the dam, and has her style
of going. She came out in the Lavant Stakes, at
Goodwood, and ran a winning dead heat with
Flitters, as already stated. Her next outing was in
the Champagne Stakes, resulting in a victory by two
lengths over Mimic, Santa Maura, the favourite, failing
to get a place. Omladina won the Hopeful Stakes, at
the Newmarket First October, Flitters being three
lengths off, third. This was more like the form.
There were three flyers in the Middle Park Plate, but
MATCH MAKER 161
the betting was not indicative of the result. Backers
loyally crowded on to the Prince of Wales's cham-
pion, Persimmon, while at half a point more in the
wagering Omladina was strongly supported and St.
Frusquin started at 4 to 1. St. Frusquin won by
half a length. The respective weights were : St.
Frusquin 9 st. 31b., Omladina 9 St., and Persimmon
9 st. 3 lb. A forecast of the Derby (in which
Omladina was not engaged) and the Oaks.
Of the other horses at Kingsclere in 1895 there
was the good, honest, game Match Maker, who was
also a stayer. This three-year-old son of Donovan
and Match Girl was a winner the majority of the
times — seven — he was stripped for business. On
the first occasion he won the Prince of Wales's
Stakes at Ascot in a canter by three lengths ; he
followed this up by securing the Ascot Derby at the
same meeting. Pulled out the same day to carry
9 st. in the St. James's Palace Stakes was asking
him to do too much. It was hard lines on a gene-
rous animal. Nevertheless, they took an equal price
about him and Prince Simon. Troon, with 7 lb.,
the best of the weights, won. Match Maker won
and also was beaten at Goodwood on two following
days, and then, backed against the field, experienced
no difficulty in carrying off the valuable City of
London Breeders' Foal Plate from that gay deceiver,
the p-eldinsr Curzon. He was the champion of the
stable in the Doncaster St. Leger, but that was
not one of Kingsclere's lucky days. Mornington
Cannon is convinced that he had won the race
M
i62 KINGSCLERE
when Match Maker unfortunately broke down at
the bend.
Grey Leg became rather uncertain in 1895.
Over his own distance he had been one of the fastest
horses in England the season before. But they do
not always run on true, and as a four-year-old his
character for trustworthiness was somewhat impaired.
He credited Kingsclere with three seconds and a
third, and yet in the interim picked up a couple of
races on one day at Ascot amounting in value to
1,070/. The two-year-olds, exclusive of Omladina,
which included Labrador, Campion, Attainment,
Rampion, Piety, Helm, and for a time Meli Melo,
turned out much better than had been anticipated,
and won (chiefly for the Duke of Westminster, the
owner of the best of them) a handsome sum in stakes.
Mr. W. Low, it is gratifying to have to state, had
a remarkably good two-year-old in the colt by
Galopin out of Hall Mark, who credited him with
several Nursery Handicaps, being one of those
useful members who keep on winning, penalties
notwithstanding. We mentioned the amount won
by the stable in stakes during 1895 at tne outset of
the review of the season.
It occurs to John Porter in this place, having
run through the record of the years, to say a deeply
grateful word about his patrons, of the pleasant
relations he has always had with them — with rare,
extremely rare, exceptions — and the many years they
have been connected with the stable. Off and on
he has trained for Sir Frederick Johnstone for
something like thirty years. Mr. John Gretton has
THE WINNING ACCOUNT
163
been with him for twenty-one ; Lord Alington for
fifteen ; and his Grace the Duke of Westminster for
fourteen years. It is the extremely rare exception
for an owner who has sent his horses to be trained
at Kingsclere to withdraw them, and he is proud
and happy to chronicle that fact and allow it speak,
as he thinks it does eloquently enough, for itself.
ANALYSIS OF STAKES WON BY HORSES TRAINED BY
JOHN PORTER
Owner
Year
Winners
Number
of races
Amount
Total amount
won
won
of winnings
£
s.
£ t.
Sir J. Hawley
1863
3
4
2,180
>> >>
1864
4
5
2,485
»» >>
1865
3
5
3,360
>> >>
1866
4
4
1,425
>> >»
1867
8
19
14,385
»i 1*
1868
7
23
20,605
>» >>
1869
11
32
17,707
»> , »
1870
8
19
3,855
>> i»
1871
4
5
3,810
II 5»
1872
4
6
1,925
>l >> •
1873
3
4
970
72,707 0;
59
126
T. E. Walker, Esq. .
1873
4
5
510
11 11 •
1874
2
6
i,575
11 11 •
1879
2
5
1,402
3,487
8
16
=
=
F. Gretton, Esq. .
1873
1
1
65
1874
3
4
379
1875
7
10
1,452
1876
11
20
2,366
1877
16
28
7,662
1878
20
38
10,233
1879
10
25
7,630
1880
8
9
7,305
l88l
1
2
382
1882
1
1
167
—
—
37,641 '
78
138
—
—
M 2
1 64
KINGSCLERE
Owner
Year
Winners
Number
of races
Amount
Total amount
of winnings
won
won
£
s.
£ '■
John Gretton, Esq.
1876
I
I
210
i) >,
1878
I
3
430
»> »>
1879
4
5
1,281
j> ,,
1880
9
13
2,083
», ,»
1881
5
5
534
,» ,,
1S82
4
5
627
,» »>
1883
2
3
729
,, ,,
1S84
3
5
1,263
,» »>
1885
3
3
1,172
», ,,
1886
1
147
O
,5 »»
1887
», >>
1888
2
3
707
O
,» ,»
1889
>» ,,
1890
1
2
605
»» »»
1891
3
4
1,662
>> »»
1892
2
200
O
,, ) >
1894
2
2
995
»> »»
1895
1
1
100
—
—
12,745
43
58
=
=
Lord Stamford .
1880
1
2
439
,, ,,
1881
8
19
7,33^
,» >> ...
1882
8
11
5,i3 2
12,927
17
32
=
=
II.R.H. the Prince of Wales
1886
2
2
322
>» >> >»
18S9
2
2
204
jj >> >>
1S90
2
4
694
j> >> >>
1891
4
7
4,148
>> >i >>
1892
2
3
1,424
6,792
12
18
=
=
Sir J. Mackenzie
i885
1
2
727
j> >>
1887
1
2
872
>j >»
18S8
1
1
650
»> >>
1889
3
5
2,522
»i >»
1890
2
2
3,320
—
—
8,091
8
12
=
=
B. Cloete, Esq. .
1884
2
4
6,336
>>
1S85
1
4
12,856
19,192
—
3
8
—
=
THE WINNING ACCOUNT
165
Owner
Year
'Number
Winners: of races
Amount
Total
amount of
won
winnings
^
s.
£ *•
Lord Alington and Sir F.
Johnstone
l88l
I
I
IOO
>i j> >
1882
2
5
2,985
,, », >
18S3
3
8
7,329
»> >» >
1884
4
15
7,856
>> ,, >
1885
3
3
476
>> »» »
1886
4
6
3,918
»> >» »
1887
7
19
12,611
»> »> >
1888
5
6
2,626
>» »> 1
1889
5
5
5,418
>» », »
1890
4
4
2,147
>> >> >
189I
1892
4
8
19,311
»> »» >
1893
1
3
5,958
»! 11 >
1894
3
6
8,843
>> >> J
1895
4
8
14,697
94,275
50
97
Duke of Westminster .
1882
6
11
13,486
,, >»
1883
6
15
8,288
» » >
1884
9
22
11,769
» > »
1885
8
19
14,^75
>> j
1886
7
18
24,433
>> >
! 1887
5
12
8,98s
j» >
! 18S8
6
15
18,345
»» »
1889
5
9
3,723
>> >
1890
5
9
5,570
>» »
1891
4
8
10,724
,, ,
1892
5
10
14,613
>> >
1893
2
5
13,879
»» >
1894
5
9
7,234
10
>» »
1895
10
16
10,758
—
—
166,685 10
83
178
Lord Portsmouth
1885
j
1
152
>» >> •
1889
1
1
IOO
»» >i •
1890
1
_2
147
399
3
3
Capt. Bowling .
1886
2
3
491
>> >> • • •
1887
1
1
910
>> >»
1888
1
2
850
2,251
4
6
—
1
1 66
KINGSCLERE
Owner
Year
|
Winners
Number;
of races
won
Amounl
won
Total
amount of
winnings
^
s.
£ *.
Lord Grosvenor .
I88 3
I
5
5,168
5,168
Lord Spencer .
1886
I
102
102
Lord Downe
1884
I
989
989
C. Alexander, Esq. .
1884
I
217
217
Colonel Paget .
1892
I
136
136
Lord M. Beresford
1892
I
436
436
Marcus Daly, Esq.
1890
I
594
594
Y. R. Graham, Esq. .
1889
I
112
112
Capt. Bayley
1883
I
228
228
Lord B. Paget .
l88l
I
254
254
Sir J. Miller
1890
I
2
6,490
6,490
Lord W. Beresford
1892
1
1
180
180
F. Alexander, Esq.
1890
2
2
550
,, ,, •
1891
I
2
282
»» »» •
1892
I
1
100
», >»
1894
I
2
2,000
2 ,93 2 °
5
7
W. M. Low, Esq.
1887
1
1
102
>» ) >
1888
3
4
2,148
,» ,,
1889
5
4,128
», ,,
1890
3
4
1,769
J, >,
1892
4
9
1,873
>, 5,
i 1893
3
3
558
,, J >
! 1894
2
2
1,292
>5 »,
j 1895
7
2,240
14,110
22
41
Mr. J. Porter .
1883
1
!
102
» » > >
1884
1
I
102
»,
>
1887
2
6
2,95i
5
1889
2
2
1,031
5,
I
1890
1
1
460
»»
>
1891
2
5
956
>»
>J
1894
2
3
681
>»
>
1895
2
3
2,029
8,312
13
22
—
=
Baron de Hirsch
1890
2
4
1,381
, » 5, * '
1891
4
10
7,809
>, >» * *
1892
8
22
33,383
>> >> •
1894
1
3
1,656
10
| 44,229 10
15
39
THE WINNING ACCOUNT
167
SUMMARY
Owner
Horses
in
training
Number
. of
winners
Number
of races
won
Amount of
winnings
Average
per horse
£ s.
£ s. d.
Sir T. Hawley .
84
38
126
72,707
T. E. Walker, Esq. .
17
8
16
3^487
F. Gretton, Esq.
65
56
138
37,641
J. Gretton, Esq.
III
33
58
12,745
Lord Stamford .
39
13
32
12,927
Lord B. Paget .
1
I
254
Lord Alington and Sir F.
Johnstone
131
38
97
94,275
Duke of Westminster .
161
57
178
166,685 10
Capt. Bayley
1
1
1
228
Mr. J. Porter .
15
12
22
8,312
Lord Downe
2
1
1
989
B. Cloete, Esq. .
11
2
8
19,192
Lord Portsmouth
12
3
3
399
Lord Spencer
2
1
1
102
H. R. H. the Prince of Wales
43
10
18
6,792
Capt. Bowling .
3
2
6
2,251
Sir J. Mackenzie
16
6
12
8,091
F. Alexander, Esq. .
15
4
7
2,932
M. Daly, Esq. .
3
1
1
594
W. M. Low, Esq.
58
16
41
14,110
Y. R. Graham, Esq. .
1
112
Baron de Hirsch
33
11
39
44,229 10
Sir J. Miller
1
2
6,490
Lord W. Beresford .
1
1
180
Colonel Paget .
2
136
Lord M. Beresford .
1
1
436
C. Alexander, Esq. .
5
1
217
Lord Grosvenor.
Totals .
2
5
5,168
836
321
818
521,682
624 1 10
1 68
CHAPTER XI
Porter's former views on Turf reform — Early foaling and its evils —
Injurious effects of ' sprint ' racing on both horse and jockey —
Porter's evidence before the Royal Commission on horse-breeding
— Principal points recapitulated— Curious case of a transmitted
defect — Racing in France — The French the better system — Con-
firmatory evidence respecting ' sprint ' racing and roaring given
by other witnesses — Matthew Dawson not amongst the reformers
— The great jockey question — Suggested change in the foaling
period — Fewer short races and an alteration in the running of
two-year-olds suggested— Letter from the secretary of the Royal
Commission to Porter — If a March half-bred foal, why not adopt
the principle with thoroughbreds ?
' As I wrote some years before, and as I certainly
think now, in dealing with Turf reform the first
consideration should be the horse itself. Having
got the best blood in the world, the question is,
How to produce the best class of animal for racing
purposes ? Is early foaling conducive to this result ?
I maintain that it is not, for the following amongst
other reasons. The three most unfavourable months
in the year in which foals can be born are January,
February, and March, inasmuch as the young things
have to contend with the very worst weather which
we experience during the whole course of the year.
Mares and foals must be housed, and can only be
turned out during rare intervals of sunshine, when
the foal naturally gallops about, becomes very hot,
EARLY FOALING 169
afterwards stands shivering by its mothers side,
gets a chill, and thereby sows the seeds of roaring
and other diseases which cling to the animal through
the rest of its life. Again, for the first three months
of the year the mares must be fed on dry food with
a linseed mash, and occasionally a few carrots for a
change. I doubt whether this kind of feeding admits
of the mare's nourishing her foal as she would if she
browsed on the natural grasses that spring up in
April and May. I do not believe that early foaling
occurs naturally amongst horses running wild, and I
maintain that in our endeavours to breed good early
foals we are fighting a battle with Nature and getting
the worst of it. In the whole of my experience I
doubt whether I have ever known a May foal that
was a roarer. Judge Clark, of Newmarket, who is
quite of my way of thinking in this matter, has for
some considerable time kept a record of May foals,
every one of which, as far as his observation of their
after-career enabled him to determine, was free from
the infirmity. How is it that, proportionately, private
breeders produce more winners than are turned out
by public breeders ? The answer is that the former
allows his yearlings to gallop about the paddock until
they pass into the trainer's hands, while the latter are,
by force of circumstances, obliged to pamper and feed
up their yearlings to show well in the sale ring. It
is also only natural for the breeder for sale to take
excessive care of his yearlings, which for a month
or more prior to their being sold are led about at a
walking pace an hour or two every day, and are
170 KINGSCLERE
seldom if ever permitted to go loose in a good
gallop ; consequently, they pass from the ring to the
trainer full of soft, unhealthy fat, instead of being
covered with hard muscle. Again, there are owners,
and trainers as well, who are anxious to discover
whether they have secured a gem ; or they want to
know something about the yearling before the first
Tuesday in January, when entries have to be made
or minor forfeits declared for stakes already closed.
Therefore, yearlings in the condition described —
with their long coats, and, in short, with every-
thing against them — are put into active work over
heavy ground. I believe that hundreds of horses
are permanently ruined by such pernicious premature
training. As to the time for the declaration of
minor forfeits, I consider it most ridiculous that
January and February should be selected for the
purpose. April would be a much more suitable
month. If we could gradually alter our dates, the
age of the horse from January i to March i, and
our two-year-old racing from March 25 to May 1,
we should, I feel sure, be taking an important step
in the right direction, and sounder, stouter, and
better animals would be the result. Far too much
encouragement is given to two-year-old racing by
adding such large sums of money to the stakes. It
would be better for the sport and more conducive to
the improvement of blood stock if a large proportion
of these enormous sums were given to competitions
for older horses, and therefore for races of greater
length than five or six furlongs. I do not, of course,
BUTCHER-BOY RIDING 171
suggest that such races as these should be done
away with altogether, but certainly they ought not
to preponderate as they do at present. I am con-
vinced that horses would last quite as long on the
Turf running races from one up to two miles as
they do now continually running five furlongs. The
strain on them would not be half as great as is the
pillar-to-post driving to which they are now subjected.
Poor horses ! How sick they must get of it ! One
cannot wonder that so many run "shifty," considering
they are kept in such a state of irritation from the
moment the jockeys are mounted until they have
passed the winning-post. And such races are
ruinous to the riding of the jockeys. Indeed, there is
no riding, properly speaking, in it. In their anxiety
to get a good start the jockeys keep the horses
dancing about on their toes, which frets and excites
the animals, and, when the flag falls, it is " get home
first " somehow ! Fine horsemanship is next to
impossible under such circumstances. At any rate,
we very seldom see it. So many butcher-boys
could do mostly what is required, and it is butcher-
boy riding for the greater part. When I a few
years ago first gave expression to some of the
foregoing views I remarked how much more sport
and how much more pleasure one has in watching
a long race ridden by such jockeys as Tom Cannon,
John Osborne, Webb, and Watts, who know the pace
they are going, and can nurse and get a horse home
even if they have a little the worst of it. The
observation, since it applies at any time to our
i;2 KINGSCLERE
best jockeys for long races — the masters of the art
and practice of riding — may stand as it was originally
made, although Tom Cannon and John Osborne
have retired and made way for younger men. I am,
however, quite as sure now as I was then — surer,
perhaps — that if we had later foals, less two-year-
old racing, and longer races, we should have better
horses, better trainers, and better jockeys. On the
foregoing and kindred matters I shall presently
have more to say. I have to some extent modified,
without essentially changing, my views on early
foaling since I first made my views public. Since,
however, those views were published, I felt it not
less due to myself than to others who took part
in the discussion some years ago that in re-stating
the case my former contention should be repeated.
It will be gathered more than once from these
pages that my alteration of opinion with regard to
the foaling period goes no further than the con-
cession of a month or so to those who were opposed
to both the letter and spirit of my original contention.
Meanwhile, I must be allowed to make in part
another recapitulation.
1 It seems to me that the gist of the evidence, so
far as it applies to matters discussed here, which
I gave before the Royal Commission on Horse
Breeding, on the 30th of October, 1889, may be
repeated. The Commissioners were collecting infor-
mation with a view to the expenditure of a sum of
money hitherto glvQn away (uselessly, I think) in
Queen's Plates for improving our breed of horses
CHIEF CAUSE OF ROARING 173
by means of radically sound sires placed at the dis-
posal of country breeders of half-bred stock at
nominal fees. My evidence referred exclusively to
blood stock. Taken in hand, as I was, first by one
Commissioner and then by another, it was not easy
to keep a straight course. However, as it happened,
I touched here and there on certain subjects that are
more exhaustively discussed in this volume, and part
at least of what I remarked appears appropriate.
I said I thought there were two kinds of roaring,
roaring from the lung and roaring from the larynx.
Also, that I did not think roaring was more frequently
found than formerly. I also gave it as my view that
the encouragement of short-distance races has a
tendency to affect the wind of horses. A number of
questions were put to me on this point, but one
general answer— namely, that short races are a bad
thing for the animal itself, and help to break him
down — comprehended the reply to them all. The
chief cause of roaring, I ventured to tell the Com-
mission, was, in my opinion, early foaling. With
regard to the selection of sires, taking stallions from
roaring strains of blood is to be avoided. There
are certain strains of blood which produce more
roarers than other strains, and you can trace a
good many sufferers from the infirmity to parti-
cular sires or dams — a greater proportion, that is
to say, come from the strains in question, while other
strains are comparatively free from it. Respecting
hereditary diseases they, in my opinion, included
paralysis, and I said that I would not breed from
i 7 4 KINGSCLERE
a horse that was paralysed. (I may remark here,
parenthetically, that it was a veterinary opinion,
expressed by a high authority, that paralysis of
the nerve was the cause of Ormonde's roaring.
May not the partial paralysis of that great horse
in some measure account for his impaired capacity
for service ?) As to stringhalt, we see little of
the blemish. It does not seem to affect horses
in racing at all ; I mean, it is no detriment to
them. I have seen some very good horses with
stringhalt, and I should say the fault does not
increase with age. To another question put to
me I replied that I would a great deal sooner
breed from a sound moderate thoroughbred horse
than from an infirm Derby winner. A stallion
should be limited to thirty mares ; thereby he
would beget stronger and better stock than in
alliance with a greater number. A horse should
not be put to the stud until he is four or five years
old. Bony enlargements are hereditary, I think,
with the exception of splints. These may be
caused by an accident ; but if you have got a mal-
formation of hock, or a club foot, or anything of
that description, from animals so impaired, we pass
them as sound. (I may again interpose with the
mention of a case of curious heredity which
came under my own notice. I owned a mare called
Booty, who was disfigured with a club foot. She
had five foals, and of these two had a club foot —
the same foot — precisely like the dam.) Although
according to my observation transmission of a club
HEREDITY 175
foot is more likely to be effected by the dam than the
sire, I would not breed from either if they had the
defect. The same objection applies to what are called
"contracted feet." I think generally that diseases
are oftener transmitted from the mare than from the
sire, and that therefore a roaring mare is likelier to
have roaring stock than stock will be that is got
by a roaring stallion. At the same time it is my
opinion that two-thirds of the stallions are roarers,
or more, three-fourths of them. This I attribute to
the treatment which they receive after they have gone
to the stud. They are fattened up and not kept in a
natural state. If the stallion were allowed to run
out in the field and kept in a good healthy condition,
he would get better and healthier stock. In reply
to another series of questions which also pointed to
heredity, I said that a split pastern is an accident, and
I would pass a horse as sound that had one. The
soundest horse living might have a split pastern, but
if a horse had a side-bone or ring-bone I should
not say he was right. Side- or ring-bone is not the
result of accident. In reply to Lord Ribblesdale, who
returned to the question of early foaling, I repeated
that I did not think you could find a thoroughbred
May foal that was ever a roarer. But the retro-
spect should in this place be exact. I therefore
quote the next two or three questions and answers.
' " As you know (observed his lordship), this Com-
mission is dealing with public money for the good
of the public. Do you think that in our rules we
ought to try to hit off some arrangement so that
176 KINGSCLERE
foals got from horses receiving Government money
should be foaled later ; in other words, that there
would be an attempt to secure that the Government
produce should be May foals ? "
' I replied that I should certainly not allow them
to cover before, so that the earliest foal you would
obtain would be an April foal. I should say that
you want your foal when you have natural food,
when you have natural grass, and you do not get
natural grass before the first of April.
1 The questions put to me by the Earl of Coventry
afforded another opportunity of repeating my in-
vincible objections to an excess of what his lordship
described as "cur system of sprint races of five
furlongs." In substance — and it may be added
to the remarks immediately preceding this brief
recapitulation of my evidence before the Royal
Commission — I said that it was bad for the horse
altogether ; it spoils the jockey, inasmuch as in such
races it is just a question of getting off early or not,
and not, as a rule, a question of the goodness of the
animal. The whole thing is bad. On another
point, and one of some interest — namely, racehorses
bred in France — I said I believed that the breed
is sounder in that country than it is in this. One
reason is that more particular attention is given to
soundness there than we give here. And this has
been the case for years. You could not sell an
unsound animal, mare or horse, to a Frenchman.
Then, they have selected their mares better. They
have not bred indiscriminately, as we have, from any-
MATTHEW DAWSON'S VIEWS 177
thing that could race. If we have anything that shows
speed, it is bred from. They don't do that. They
look to soundness first. I have had an opportunity
since the minutes of the evidence taken before the
Royal Commission were published in a Blue Book
of reading the testimony of other witnesses with
regard to the matters on which I was questioned,
Matthew Dawson and I are not in complete agree-
ment on certain points, but where the difference
does arise, it appears to me rather to take the
general form of satisfaction with things as they are
and have been during his long experience than the
advancement of any views opposed to my own.
' " He has not paid attention to late as contrasted
with early foals ; he does not know any reason why
an early foal should be a roarer any more than a
later one ; " and although, to quote his own words,
" we leave them exposed in bad weather and all
that," " we take all the care we can of them in bad
weather." On this point we are entirely agreed.
We do. I have referred to his evidence, first,
because he and I were the only trainers of race-
horses summoned before the Commission, and,
secondly, because I venture to think that what my
old friend said on my pet subject did not shake
my position in the least. Neither is my view as to
the injuriousness of short " sprint" races to horse
and jockey and everything affected in the least by
Matthew Dawson's approval of such violent bursts.
In his evidence before the Commission Professor
G. T. Brown, C.B., said in answer to Mr. Chaplin,
N
i 7 8 KINGSCLERE
who asked him, with regard to the increase of roar-
ing in this country, if he thought that such might be
due to the encouragement of short-distance races :
11 I think certainly it is likely to be an element. It
is worth consideration." On this same interesting
branch of the question Professor Brown said, in
reply to the Duke of Portland (the chairman), that
the great number of short races we have in which
the horse has to go through a great amount of
exertion in jumping off and running at the top of
his speed for five furlongs is quite likely to develop
any tendency which the animal had to roaring.
This, more than if he had to run for a long distance,
than if he were allowed time to settle down to his
work, and get the respiratory organs accustomed to
the extra exertion. I give the question and answer
which follow word for word.
4 u Therefore you think that short races have a
tendency to make roarers ?" " Yes, you might say
they certainly have that tendency, but the mischief
they do I think is still more pronounced in the
direction which I have suggested, namely, that they
render it less necessary to have horses of great
staying power, which is certainly one of the first
necessities for breeding a sound race."
1 Dr. George Fleming, C.B., principal veterinary
surgeon to the army, in reply to Sir Jacob Wilson,
said he thought the encouragement of two-year-old
stakes has tended very seriously to interfere with
the development of horses. They are raced too
young. He was of opinion that "" short-distance
'BEACON'S' VIEWS 179
races have had an effect upon the deterioration of
racehorses, inasmuch as it has allowed, or rather it
has encouraged, the breeding of a very faulty kind
of horse, of a very useless kind of horse. A fast
horse without staying power ; a very useless sort
of animal." In answer to Lord Ribblesdale, Dr.
Fleming said that he attributed the increase of
roaring within the last few years in part to short
races.
1 1 am further borne out in these views by the
weighty remarks of Mr. Joseph Osborne ("Beacon"),
in his day an observant breeder and an owner of
racehorses that distinguished themselves on the flat
and between the flags, who, in his " Horse-Breeders'
Handbook," says : "I regret that the innumerable
valuable opinions I have heard during my long
career recur to me in such a confused manner, as
regards their relative owners, that I cannot repro-
duce them with accuracy, for there was cer-
tainly a great divergence among them. My own
view, as formed upon them and independently, is
that the English thoroughbred has palpably de-
generated in stamina from several distinct causes.
Prominent among these (independently of the hap-
hazard manner they are now bred) is that which has
had direct effect upon their action and upon their
lungs — viz. the undue increase of ' sprint ' racing
and the style of training for it. The 'jumping off'
tactics which have come to be considered as an
important item in the training curriculum of a two-
year-old have, in my belief, had a disastrous effect
N 2
180 KINGSCLERE
upon the action of our modern racehorses. The
object is, of course, to set them off from the very
flag-fall with a bound and a rattle — but what is the
result ? The action becomes quick, cramped, and
unnatural, and quite distinct from the sweeping,
powerful stride necessary for success over long dis-
tances. The evolution which follows is antagonistic
to stamina and to the original nature of the horse.
It is quite possible to force a breed remarkable for
speed in this way, but it is probable that speed itself
would suffer in the long run ; for if the lungs are
narrowed by quick breathing, and the growth and
muscles otherwise deteriorated, the effect must be
injurious sooner or later. In regard to sprint
racing two-year-olds, it has, in fact, become a case
of demand and supply, and the most influential
encouragement is given in that direction which is
certainly the most dangerous. It seems, in any
case (and I am considering this matter quite apart
from the grave question of Turf economy), regret-
able that the encouragement through rich prizes
should not be distributed over a larger area or
greater variety of contests, so that the whole am-
bition and efforts of owners and trainers should not
be pressed into this one channel of excellence."
4 Before giving my finally matured views on the
questions of breeding and sprint racing touched
upon by me from time to time, and .now brought
together in the foregoing pages, I should like to
reproduce some observations on a subject which has
a bearing from another direction on Turf reform.
A QUESTION OF WEIGHTS 181
Some nine years ago a proposal was made to raise
the regulation racing weights. In the controversy
which arose out of the suggested " reform" I wrote
as follows : —
1 " In the year 1856 the weights for the Derby and
St. Leger were — for colts, 8 st. 7 lb., for fillies,
8 st. 2 lb. For the Oaks, fillies carried 8 st. 7 lb.
each. In most of the stakes for two-year-olds,
colts carried 8 st. 7 lb., fillies 8 st. 4 lb. In handi-
caps, the minimum weight was 4st, ranging up
to 9 st.
' " In the year 1886 the weights for the Derby
were — for colts, 9 St., for fillies, 8 st. 9 lb. For the
Oaks, fillies carried 8 st. 10 lb. each. For the St.
Leger, colts carried 9 st., fillies 8 st. 11 lb. In most
of the stakes for two-year-olds, colts carried 8st. 10 lb.,
fillies 8 st. 7 lb. In handicaps the minimum weight
was 5 st. 7 lb., ranging up to 10 st. 7 lb.
' " It has been suggested that the weights should
again be raised. If we go on raising the weights,
where are we to stop, and where are the next
generation of jockeys to come from ? I quite
agree with Matthew Dawson, who remarks that, if
the weights are raised to 10 St., 11 st. men will try
to ride that weight. For the sake of a good mount
jockeys will always be ready and willing to reduce
their weight. I own it is very hard on such men
as Webb, J. Osborne, and Watts to have to be
continually wasting, but it always has been and
always will be the case, raise the weights as you
will."
i82 KINGSCLERE
' In the year 1856, when the weights were low,
we had the following jockeys to choose from :
Alfred Day, J. Bartholomew, J. Marson, S. Rogers,
N. Flatman, J. Charlton, J. Osborne, J. Wells,
T. Ashmall, T. Aldcroft, T. Chaloner, G. Fordham,
A. Edwards, Custance, Luke Snowden, J. Snowden,
J. Mann, French, Kendall, J. Goater, J. Adams,
Quinton, Plumb, Bullock, Withington, Basham,
R. Sly, and T. Cliff.
'For the year 1896, now that the weights are
much higher, what jockeys shall we have ? Com-
pare them with the above. Have they (with some
exceptions) the same patience and judgment ? I
think emphatically, No! The cause is not far to
seek. It is the innumerable five-furlongs of the
present day that tend to spoil so many jockeys.
Instead of raising the weights, the reform I would
advocate is the lengthening of courses. We should
then see less of the butcher-boy style of riding
amongst the jockeys, and fewer rogues and cowards
amongst the horses.
4 To sum up and at the same time give expression
to my matured views of the questions discussed in
the foregoing pages, I may first of all frankly
acknowledge that since giving evidence before the
Royal Commission I have to some extent modified,
without essentially changing, my opinions with
regard to early foaling. I have in the meantime
threshed out the question with breeders, trainers,
owners, and others interested in the subject, and I
admit that possibly the change which I contended
A MARCH FOAL 183
for was too extreme. We live and learn, and
amongst the things which experience teaches us is
the practical wisdom of a compromise. I do not
retract a single word I have said about a May foal.
I shall always think that nature would be best
served if we could fix the foaling season no earlier
than April. Nevertheless, on the give-and-take
principle, I abandon April, and take my final stand
on the preceding month — the month that comes in
like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Let the age
of the foal, then, be taken from March 1. One
distinctly beneficial result of having your earliest
foal a March foal would be that the change
from the present system would make it easier
to stint the mares. And the same natural
law operating, the service of the sire would
prove less of a tax on his procreative powers. The
nearer you approach a perfectly natural state of
things, in " congress," the better for both parents
and offspring. The mare's milk in March, espe-
cially in a mild month which has advanced the
growth of the grass, will be of a more sustaining
quality than milk produced, as one might say, arti-
ficially, and it would also possess valuable medicinal
qualities. The March foal (I must say in an average
season the late March foal) fed by such mother's
milk as had been enriched by the tender spring
herbage would never present that hide-bound ap-
pearance we perceive so frequently in foals produced
under the present system. Then, for the sun is
daily acquiring increased power in the month in
1 84 KINGSCLERE
question, the young thing would have the inesti-
mable advantage of sunshine and warmth to make
him grow the right way. With regard to another
point, more than once touched upon in what has
already been written, I think the Jockey Club ought
to give less encouragement than they afford at
present to two-year-old racing. I would permit
half-mile selling races up to June i, in order to
give owners an opportunity of getting rid of
speedy but otherwise nearly worthless animals. I
would not, on the other hand, allow any two-
year-old to run more than six furlongs before
October i. At that period the horse is obviously
drawing near his three-year-old form. A race
of a mile might not be injurious to him, but still I
would not advocate too much of that sort of thing.
As to older horses I would extend the distance of
all races for three-year-olds and upwards. In
France they do not begin racing their two-year-
olds until the month of August, and a large pro-
portion of their three-year-old races are over a
mile or longer distances. I find, on referring to
the Calendar, more old horses ; that is to say,
more four-year-olds and upwards are running in
France than we have in training in this country.
This proves most conclusively to my mind that
their system of not running two-year-olds until
later in the season than the English period, and
adopting longer courses for three-year-olds and
upwards, does not break their horses down as
PORTER'S VIEWS CONFIRMED 185
much as our practice does. To revert, in a final
word, to my proposed alteration of the foaling
period. The change of the date of the age of
the horse from January 1 to March 1 could easily
be accomplished within a period of three years by
a mandate of the Jockey Club.
1 I feel some gratification in having to add a post-
script to the foregoing. After re-perusing the whole
of the evidence that was given before the Royal
Commission on Horse Breeding, I thought it desi-
rable to ascertain the nature of the final decision
arrived at by the Commissioners respecting the
service of the Premium stallions. I therefore wrote
to Mr. J. H. Taylor, the secretary, asking him to
be good enough to favour me with the neces-
sary information. In reply he wrote as follows :
" 22 Great George Street, Westminster, S. W.
March 17, 1896.
" Dear Sir, — With reference to your letter of
the 1 6th instant, which Mr. Clarke had forwarded
on to me, I beg to say that the season of service
commences on April 3 for the Queen's Premium
stallions, and I shall be pleased on hearing from
you to give any further information you require. I
am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
"J. Herbert Taylor, Secretary.
" J. Porter, Esq., Kingsclere, Hants."
' If, after mature consideration of the whole of the
evidence brought before them, the Commissioners
1 86 KINGSCLERE
have decided on a March foal, as they have done
by fixing the period of service for half-bred stock
on April 3, I would ask why not adopt the same
principle for thoroughbreds ? What is sauce for
the goose is sauce for the gander — or should be '
i8;
CHAPTER XII
Suitable site for a breeding establishment — Dressing the land-
Buildings and paddocks — Mr. Dollar's plan and description — The
sire and the dam — The Foal : feeding and treatment — Mr. Dollar
on training stables — The structures : their appointments, ap-
pliances, and fittings — The Park House stables — Education of the
yearling — First lessons — Step by step progress — The system of
Capt. M. H. Hayes — An experiment — Porter's verdict — 'The
trainer's anxious time ' — The forcing method denounced — The
race-horse leaves home — Risks of travel — The old and new system
contrasted — Anecdote of Sir Joseph Hawley — ' The fall of Wolsey '
— Arrival at the place of sport — End of the trainer's duties — The
race
' In selecting a site for laying out a breeding establish-
ment for thoroughbreds, the first thing to be con-
sidered is the nature of the soil. There is, in my
opinion, no hard and fast rule to be followed in
making your choice, but soft, spongy land should be
avoided. Old pasture, of sound quality, such as may
be found at Leybourne Grange and at Eaton, is the
kind of thing that is required. I believe the surface
and subsoil of the land at these well-known breeding
places are different, the one consisting of a fair
depth of loam on Kentish rag or limestone, and
the other of clay on sandstone. 1 Each, however,
1 ' My own observation tends to the conclusion that the finest bone
comes as a rule from the best grass, which, it is well known, is raised
on a limestone substratum, after which that of the red sandstone has
been reckoned the best.' — Mr. Joseph Osborne in Horse- Breeders'
Handbook,
188 KINGSCLERE
judging from long and uniform results, is equally
suitable for the purpose. In dressing your land
abstain altogether from the use of blood-manure, and,
indeed, have nothing to do with any other description
of artificial fertiliser. According to my own know-
ledge and experience, no better dressing can be
obtained than that which is composed of a mixture
of farm-yard manure, road scrapings, and chalk or
lime. Such a compost, made up into a heap some
twelve months before it is required to be applied
and turned over two or three times in the interval,
will answer every requirement of an efficient dressing
and be found perfectly safe. Your paddocks should
be planned out of different dimensions, the smaller
for mares and foals which are to be kept quiet, the
larger for yearlings that require plenty of space to
gallop and gambol in. The herbage in these
paddocks will necessarily spring up mixed with a
quantity of rough grass, the result of the deposits.
Where that is possible, let the grass in question be
fed off by cows. I find it a good plan to turn your
cows at night into the pasture which your mares or
yearlings may have occupied during the day. In
fencing there is nothing better for the purpose
than a thorn (quick-set) hedge, with post-and-
rails on each side. I would have no trees, which
are dangerous in thunderstorms. Let there be
erected an open shed in each paddock for the pur-
poses of shade and shelter. A constant supply of
pure water should of course be on hand in each of
the paddocks. With respect to the buildings, I may
THE ARCHITECT'S VIEWS 189
observe that the design which appears here has
been adopted from my own rough sketch and
carried out in the drawing by Mr. Peter Dollar,
whose plan it is.
1 In a breeding establishment for about twenty
mares there should be at least forty-five boxes ; but
various ideas are held as to how these should be
arranged, some authorities preferring them grouped
round, say, a couple of yards, the middle of the yard
being well fenced off for the mares and foals to
exercise in, as well as for the yearlings, but it seems
to me much better for the mares and foals to be
divided up into smaller lots. It is certainly safer in
the case of an infectious disease breaking out
amongst them. It may not be so easy to look
after them, but the system has many advantages,
and it must be healthier in every way. I know
that the Duke of Portland's agent, Mr. Marner
Turner, prefers this plan, and with his very con-
siderable experience his opinion is deserving of
great respect. In the drawings shown there are two
y^irds, enclosed on two sides by boxes for yearlings ;
these boxes are to be brick built, and covered with
tiles, with straw or reed filling between the rafters,
so as to equalise the heat ; the tiles being bad con-
ductors of heat, they, with the st»-aw, also a bad
conductor, form an excellent roof.
' The boxes are 14 ft. square in the clear, the
angles at the doors being protected by means of
rollers — in fact, all sharp angles and arrises must be
absolutely avoided. The doors should open in two
heights, so that the top portion can be left open for
the purpose of ventilation and to enable the yearling
to look out ; but in order to prevent him from jump-
ing out it is advisable to fix an iron grille over the
opening when the top door is opened. It is no
obstruction to either light or air, and of course pre-
i 9 o KINGSCLERE
vents the attempt to jump. The boxes are lighted
by glazing the space over the door, and are ven-
tilated by a window opening, filled with movable
louvre boarding. The foul air is extracted by means
of a tube at the ridge, and for economy there is no
reason why one ventilator should not serve two
boxes, and if the boxes are built back to back, one
ventilator can be made to serve four boxes, care
of course being taken that the ventilator is par-
titioned off by means of boarding, so that the tube
of one box does not in any way communicate with
the tube of another box. The current of air can
be regulated by means of a hinged flap, as described
for ventilators to stables.
1 A space about 8 ft. wide should be paved out-
side the building the entire length, but the yards
should be gravel ; the floors of the boxes should be
of grooved and channelled blue Staffordshire bricks ;
the yard enclosures should be of wood, about
8 ft. 6 in. high, constructed with close boarding.
There should be plenty of space about these boxes
so as to get an ample supply of fresh air ; the space
between the fronts of enclosures to boxes should be
about 50 ft., and a gravel path should be in front of
the fence, the middle space being covered with turf,
which may be made ornamental by introducing
flower-beds, dwarf planting, &c, to the taste of the
owner.
4 The " administrative " block — consisting of fod-
der house, tackle-room, messroom, engine-room, &c.
— should be placed as conveniently as possible for
access to the various portions of the establishment.
It will no doubt be found economical if a small oil
engine of, say, two or three-horse power is kept for
crushing the corn, and if a small electric plant were
provided in connection with this engine the whole
of the premises could be lighted with electricity at
a very small cost, and would practically render the
THE ARCHITECT'S VIEWS
191
buildings safe from fire. The first floor will be partly
devoted to living rooms for the men and partly as a
hay and corn loft. In regard to the men, I believe
the accommodation for them should be very much
better than is usually provided ; but I can here only
emphasise the remarks I have made on this subject
in regard to the stables.
1 The boxes for the mares and foals should be
arranged in blocks of six or eight, preferably six ;
and in connection with these boxes there should be
: '^T&^ \
GENERAL VIEW OF BREEDING ESTABLISHMENT
A, boxes for yearlings ; B, open yards enclosed by close boarded fences,
8 ft. 6 in. high; E, grass plots; F, administrative block, with men's
rooms and forage-room over ; G, foaling boxes ; H, pair of cottages ; J, stallion
box ; K, show yard ; L, private yard enclosed by close boarded fence 12 ft.
high; M, covering yard enclosed by close boarded fence 12 ft. high;
N, paddock, about one acre.
open yards, one for three boxes, and a block of
such boxes should have a paddock in connection
therewith, of about eight acres. These boxes will
be fitted in the same way as described for the
yearlings.
i 9 2 KINGSCLERE
The boxes for the foaling mares should be in
small blocks of, say, four boxes, with a man's room
in the middle. This room should be fitted with a
fireplace, and generally made as comfortable as
possible. In both the side walls there should be
two small glazed apertures, the sides towards the
boxes being splayed off at such an angle that the
attendant can see to every part of the box, so that
when the mare is foaling, or likely to foal, he can
keep a constant light shining through one of the
apertures. This will enable him to see through the
other how matters are progressing with the mare.
It is necessary that the light should be continually
burning, and be subdued so as not to frighten or
startle the mare by alternate light and dark. He
will, of course, have to go out of doors to attend to
the mares in the end boxes, but the groom will no
doubt arrange that the mares likely to require most
attention should be in the boxes next to his room ;
these boxes will be planned and enclosed in exactly
the same way as the boxes for yearlings.
1 A necessary adjunct to a small breeding establish-
ment such as this is a cottage — or, still better, a pair
of cottages — for two of the men, so as to give proper
accommodation for their wives and children ; the
other men might very well be single men, and
occupy the rooms in the administrative block.
4 In a small stud of, say, twenty mares it is quite
possible the owner would not care to keep his own
stallion ; but, on the other hand, it might be the wish
of the owner to keep one or, perhaps, two stallions,
in which case he would no doubt be receiving mares,
and this would entail a further number of boxes for
their reception. These could be built on the lines
before indicated. Each stallion requires a box for
himself about 18 ft. square, in addition to which
there should be a yard of about 50 by 70 ft. for the
horse to exercise himself in fine weather ; also, there
THE ARCHITECT'S VIEWS
193
should be a show yard, that he may be brought out
for inspection by visitors ; and, lastly, a covering
yard. This requires to be fitted with trying bars,
&c, but as to this detail various opinions exist. The
floor of this yard should be covered with a thick
layer of sand, so that if either the mare or horse
fall they will not injure themselves. Each stallion
should have the run of a paddock of about an acre ;
the yards and the paddocks ought to be well enclosed,
and the fences around the yards adjoining the boxes
VIEW OF PADDOCK BOXES FOR MARES AND FOALS
should not be less than 1 2 ft. high. The designs, as
shown on the accompanying drawings, have been
made on the before-mentioned lines, and would,
I am sure, be found to work well in practice ; but
regard must of course be paid to the different con-
ditions certain to be met with in each individual site.
With planting and flower-beds judiciously introduced,
a breeding establishment may be made attractive
and pretty, where the owner may take his friends
and revive former memories and associations in
triumphs won and anticipations and hopes frustrated.
i 9 4 KINGSCLERE
' It has been found that a man can very well look
after ten mares, so that the number of men necessary
to the proper working will be a multiple of ten ;
each stallion must, of course, have his own valet
' I ought to say that I speak as a private breeder,
and that my remarks are addressed to those who
desire simply to race the produce of their own stud.
Well, then, having provided yourself with paddocks
and buildings and all the appliances ready for a start,
you naturally set about laying the living foundation
of your breeding stud. I would not begin with
more than twenty mares, which number would give
the breeder an average of ten to a dozen foals, and
eventually some twenty or twenty-five horses in
training. If they are good it is enough, if they are
bad it is too many. In the primarily important step
of picking your brood mares let this rule be rigidly
observed — purchase none but dams that are abso-
lutely sound. In the second place, take care that
they come of proved strains of running blood. I do
not think it at all desirable for a private breeder to
keep a stallion. When he does this there is the
continual risk and danger of mating the horse with
unsuitable mares. That is a hazard on the one hand,
while on the other the presence of a stallion on the
premises necessitates an outlay in the purchase of
mares that would apparently be likely to make with
him a successful alliance. I may mention, by the
way, that Lord Alington — who never kept a stallion,
but who in every case has selected the sire most
suitable for his mares — has been more fortunate than
•CHANCE HORSES' 195
almost any other private breeder in producing win-
ners. And he has accomplished this fortunate result
with a stud that never exceeded more than seven
or eight mares. Always choose stallions that are
descended from the best " classic " winners. Chance
horses, however good in themselves — horses, for
example, like Robert the Devil and Bendigo, and
others that might easily be named — do not as a rule
transmit their own speedy and staying qualities.
There are exceptions, of course, but the rule is
as I have stated. With regard to the foals, I
would observe that generally speaking they cannot
be allowed too much liberty. The more they gallop
and romp about the better. Another point may be
mentioned. I have observed at various stud farms
which I have visited the use of moss-litter instead
of straw. In my opinion this is a serious mistake.
The moss-litter, it is true, is cheaper than straw, but
its use is likely to make it very costly indeed in the
end. Moss, employed as litter, has a tendency to
set up a spongy condition of the animals' feet, which
get clogged up, and are consequently kept in a moist
condition that is anything but conducive to their
future soundness.
' While entirely opposed to the fattening process
for yearlings so strongly denounced by William
Day in his book " The Race-horse in Training" —
and, for that matter, to any sort of pampering or
coddling — I would give the youngster the best of
crushed corn, with occasional mashes and carrots,
In sufficient quantities to keep him in a healthv
i 9 6 KINGSCLERE
condition. The feeding up of the yearlings
purchased at a public sale is not the only thing
which the trainer has to complain of. As a rule
they have none of them been sufficiently handled
before they come under his care. A foal should be
regularly accustomed to be tied up, and have its
legs and feet felt over by the hands of its attendant.
Gradually habituated to such treatment, the young
things learn to submit tranquilly as a matter of
course, and, in fact, their education is quietly ad-
vanced by use, which is second nature. You cannot,
in reason, be " about " your yearlings too early or too
often. Let the horse begin as soon as possible to
know and repose confidence in his master. It must
be evident enough that by taking them early and
firmly yet gently in hand, a great deal of trouble and
some after-risk are spared the trainer. They should
be allowed to gallop about together until they begin
to be troublesome, and then the sexes should be
separated. If this division be not effected in time,
they learn " calfish " ways which are sometimes
difficult to eradicate, I have no objection to any
number of yearlings of one sex associating in the
same paddock. It is their playground, and it does
them good. The bully, as is the case at a public
school, is sure to find his level. This rule applies
— with yearlings at any rate — indifferently to the
tyrants of both sexes.
' We are now done with the stud, and the yearling
passes into the hands of the trainer, and his serious
troubles begin. He has to be broken. I assume,
BREAKING 197
before making a real beginning with his education,
that he has for some time been led about. Very
well then ; we now commence by placing the break-
ing or first bit in his mouth, and the caveson and
caveson-rein on his head. He is then led for a
few days bearing this slight equipment, and, being
" lunged," is taught to go forwards under the guid-
ance of the lunging rein, and also to move under its
guidance the reverse way. The greatest care should
be exercised at this very early stage of the
youngster's schooling, not only to gradually persuade
him into complete confidence in himself and his
master, but also to prevent him from doing himself
an injury. For example, he should, as a pre-
cautionary measure, be provided with ankle boots —
since he is not kept going at an even gait round the
lunge — in order that he may be saved from hitting
his legs. A severe blow received on the leg at this
period might ultimately result in the formation of a
splint. The next thing to be done with him is to
place a roller, a crupper, and side reins upon him.
This triple operation should be accomplished at
once, whereby the roller may be preserved in its
proper position. Otherwise the latter would go
over his head or into his flank. We have now to
begin to accustom him to carry some kind of cloth-
ing, and this is effected by putting a rubber or any
light cloth upon his back. These successive opera-
tions should be performed with extreme gentleness,
patience, and care. We have by gradual steps
come to the saddle, which displaces the roller, the
i 9 8 KINGSCLERE
crupper and side-reins being attached to it instead
of to the roller. After a few days devoted to the
newly saddled colt to make him feel at home under
his light load, the process of mouthing commences.
This is performed by attaching a lunging rein to
each side of the bridle, and passing the reins through
the stirrup irons, which, while preventing the latter
from hanging about the animal's feet, puts an even
pressure on the bit. The exercise in question need
not be prolonged. A live jockey is far better than
any sort of mechanical substitute ; therefore, after
driving the youngster for a period of, say, a week,
he may then be backed. It is of the utmost
importance that no mistake be made at this point.
He should have a good man placed upon his back,
one who is capable of handling him with a firmness
that can be felt — for they know — and yet with even
and unfailing gentleness. In the course of another
week or so you will be able to turn him loose,
whereupon, led by some old stager, he takes his
place in the regular string. By-and-bye you lessen
the size of the bit, and finally you provide him with
the ordinary exercise bridle. It is surprising how
soon a young horse comes to hand, treated in the
manner I have described.
1 There is no royal road, no short cut, that I am
acquainted with of effecting the object desired by
the trainer of race-horses. The fairy tales which are
told of gipsy horse-whisperers, and the wonderful
achievements of horse-tamers like Rarey, may be
taken for just what they are worth. Taming a
'TAMING' 199
brute like Cruiser or Archimedes, or any other
savage, is an accomplishment, I venture to say,
which belongs properly to the circus. I have a
very great respect for men like Captain M. Horace
Hayes, F.R.C.V.S., who subdue a monster of a
horse, or who take an unbroken colt and in one
lesson bring him to hand and back him, but their
art is not mine. In his entertaining work " Among
Men and Horses," Captain Hayes gives an account
of a visit which he paid to Kingsclere, and of what
he did whilst he was there. He says : " Through
the kindness of that good sportsman, Lord Chesham,
whom I had the pleasure of knowing in India when
he belonged to the 10th Hussars, I obtained per-
mission from the Duke of Westminster to have
Ormonde, the horse of all time, photographed, as I
wanted his portrait for the book I was writing on
the ' make and shape ' of horses. With this object I
went to Mr. John Porter's place at Kingsclere, and,
besides getting the horse ' taken,' I gave the great
trainer and his people a practical demonstration of
how to break-in and mouth young thoroughbreds.
To experiment upon he gave me a high-priced
yearling which had never been mounted, and which
belonged to the Prince of Wales. In about half an
hour I made the youngster so quiet and handy that
he allowed himself to be quietly ridden about the
paddock, and answered the indications of the reins
with a fair amount of precision. Mr. Porter seemed
very pleased with the work, and asked me where he
could get the tackle I used, as he wished to put in
2oo KINGSCLERE
practice what he had seen me do that afternoon. I
was only too glad to present him with the gear
which I had brought with me, and which I hope
has proved useful to him. We had a long talk
about breaking-in young horses for racing, and he
thoroughly agreed with me that yearlings would be
greatly benefited by a course of modified school
work before being ridden in regular exercise." I
quite approve of the gentle treatment adopted by
Captain Hayes, and saw much to admire in his
method of handling the yearling. I am persuaded,
however, that a longer and more gradual course of
instruction is preferable. To me, this forcing pro-
cess is like cramming a schoolboy for an examination
— you may obtain immediate results, but they are
not lasting.
1 However, to resume. It is just after we have
arrived at the period which was being dealt with in
the early life of the thoroughbred when I digressed
to refer to Captain Hayes and our meeting at Kings-
clere that the trainer's anxious time begins. It is
then that his art and practice make themselves dis-
tinctly apparent. The work is never-ending, and
it cannot be successfully accomplished according to
any fixed set of rules. Race-horses differ in tem-
perament, in constitution, in soundness. Hence the
impossibility of dealing with them as a drill-sergeant
would lick a number of raw recruits into shape.
Horses are like human beings, there are no two
alike, and inasmuch as each has to do his best on his
own individual account, individual characteristics and
'TRIALS' OF YEARLINGS 201
peculiarities have to be separately studied. I am
no advocate for early forcing. A long and steady
course of gentle exercise to get rid of the superfluous
fat, which in many cases has been piled on by a
pernicious system of over-feeding, should be pursued.
This remark applies, of course, more especially to
yearlings purchased in a public sale-ring. Foals
bred and brought on in the manner I have described
are naturally readier to the hand of the trainer than
are the " prize" animals. A most injurious system
of trying yearlings has been adopted by many
members of my craft. At a time of the year when
the ground is heavy and the young things are
clothed in their first long coat, it is quite impossible
to do them justice, or give them anything like a fair
chance. By hurrying them while they are in such
an unfit state you may abate superfluous blubber,
but you have no time to replace it with good hard
muscle. I have had many young horses pass
through my hands who, had they been subjected to
this rushing kind of treatment, would never have
seen a racecourse at all — Ormonde and Common
for example, and I could name others. Such
"trials" of yearlings as arise out of the hurrying
system are enormously deceptive. There are
youngsters which appear to fly for a space of four
furlongs that in after-life can never get a yard
further than that distance.
1 We now take up the horse as he commences his
two-year-old career. Let your trainer, if he be a
master of his business, employ his judgment, first,
202 KINGSCLERE
as to whether the two-year-old is to be trained at all,
and secondly, if he is to run, as to the most suitable
time for him to face the starter. It goes without
saying that some horses come to running maturity
sooner than others. I once more repeat the warn-
ing, never on any consideration use the forcing
process. To steadfastly avoid it will pay in the long-
run, as in all probability the backward two-year-old
that has shown some rough promise will develop
into one of the best of the following year. On the
other hand, with regard to failures. If you have
got your horse thoroughly fit and find him " bad,"
get rid of him at once.
1 Having prepared the horse and got him ready
for his engagements, he has now to leave home to
fulfil the first of these, and new risks arise. To
begin with, he has to go through the novel ex-
perience of riding in a horse-box. In the old time
— long after the period of Lord George Bentinck's
road-vanning of Elis to Doncaster, there is no
occasion to go so far back as that — a thoroughbred
was vanned to the nearest railway station, and the
carriage placed upon a truck. I need not observe
that the present form of horse-box is far preferable
to that kind of conveyance. I recollect instances of
the van's being attached to the tail-end of the train,
when, owing to the oscillation, the horse was kept
swaying about, as bad as if he had been in a storm
at sea. Of course the horse is exposed to the perils
which attend all railway travelling, and is occasion-
ally a victim. This was illustrated in the case of
'TRAVELLING' A RACEHORSE 203
Klarikoff, who was literally roasted in his box. The
modern boxes, with their admirable interior fittings,
are such an improvement on the old " coaches " that
all the ordinary risks of travel are obviated, and the
horse gets through his journeys in comparative
comfort. Then there is another innovation which
we have reason to be thankful for. Many owners
retain their own private boxes. By using these an
owner is freed from the danger of travelling his
horses in boxes that may possibly have been
previously occupied by animals suffering from a
contagious disease. The risk is considerable on
railways employed in carrying horses from abroad.
Another serious risk has disappeared with the
establishment of the present system. We are
enabled now to pass through with our strings of
horses from railway station to railway station without
"transshipment." Discharging at one station and
re-boxing at another, which operation was formerly
necessary, was always risky and sometimes positively
dangerous. I remember on one occasion, when I
was going to Newmarket with a string of important
horses, Sir Joseph Hawley, who had been naturally
anxious that they should pass through London safely,
met me with them at Waterloo. Seated in his
brougham, he led the way at the head of the string,
I bringing up the rear, mounted on a hack, to
Shoreditch Station, which was then the London
terminus of the Eastern Counties Railway and the
station for Newmarket. We passed through the
crowded streets without an accident. Those who
204 KINGSCLERE
remember the station which preceded the present
magnificent terminus at Liverpool Street need not
be told that the accommodation provided for embark-
ing man and horse, and especially horse, was rather
cramped. Sir Joseph was quite proud of his having,
as it were, led his stud to victory, and congratulated
himself and me on our success. The space at our dis-
posal, near the parcels' office, for loading the boxes,
was exceedingly limited. While we were there,
taking turns to be boxed, a four-wheel cab drove up,
and in turning slightly touched the hock of Wolsey,
who immediately kicked in the side of " the growler"
and seated himself in it, fortunately without sustain-
ing any serious injury. As we steamed out of the
station the last thing I saw was Sir Joseph Hawley
engaged in an animated conversation with the cab
driver respecting the amount of damage which the
vehicle had received. I mention this circumstance
(I have elsewhere communicated other instances of
accidents more or less serious) to show how lucky you
are, even after you have got your horse fit to run, if
you convey him safely to his destination.
1 Very well, then, let us suppose that we have
arrived there, all well. I dare say the popular idea is
that we walk our string to the stables, dine com-
fortably, and, having locked the horses up for the
night, turn out next morning with the lark to inspect
them in their gallops, everything, as the saying is,
being over but shouting. The racing public know
better than that. The trainer cannot afford to relax
GIVEN UP TO THE JOCKEY 205
his attention for a single moment, and, so far from
his trouble being over with the disembarkation of
the horses under his care at the place of sport, that
only marks the beginning of another, if the final,
chapter of his cares. It is requisite, especially
when you happen to be in charge of a popular
favourite for a great race, to take extra precautions
for his safety. You have either to employ trust-
worthy watchmen for sentinel duty, or secure the
aid of the police. Sometimes both watchmen and
police are for good and sufficient reasons engaged.
Of course you arrive a day or two before the race.
On the morning after the arrival the horse is given
a gentle canter, to see that he is all right. He is
plated before the race, and on some occasions is
embellished with a plaited mane. But I am no
advocate for performing this operation, because it
gives the horse an idea that something unusual is
going to happen, and, after the plaiting process has
been repeated a few times, some horses become
nervous and excited by it. About an hour and a
half before the time the race is set to be run, he
leaves his stable for the course. Finally the jockey
is weighed out, but the many weeks' and months'
care of his charge ceases (to begin again after the
race), and, as I have remarked in another place, the
horse placed in the hands of "a pilot" — possibly an
utter stranger, who beholds the animal for the
first time. In the case of the Derby — well, what
with the immense and excited crowd, and the
2o6 KINGSCLERE
glory of it all, I think it should be one of the
proudest days of a gentleman's life when he leads
back, the winner of the Blue Riband, a horse that is
owned and bred by himself. I cannot conceive any-
thing more gratifying or inspiriting to a true sports
man.'
PORTION" OF PARK HOUSE, SOUTH VIEW
CHAPTER XIII
Stables —The Kingsclere establishment — Mr Dollar's views — The head
lad — His duties and responsibilities — The daily work — The 'feed'
— The litter — ' Throw physic to the dogs ' — The stable boy : his
indentures — His treatment and discipline at Kingsclere — Ad-
vantages of such training to the boy — Jockeys — 'Where are they?'
— The jockey's position and emolument compared with the
trainer's — A suggested and much-needed reform — Wells and Sir
Joseph Hawley — Wells's walk over — Wells's tailor — Trainers — John
Scott — Thomas Dawson — Matthew Dawson: 'a great trainer' —
Joseph Dawson — William Goater — 'The ten best horses' — Ted-
dington a weak foal — Birmingham another — Fisherman's stoutness
— Gladiateur's age — St. Simon
Mr. Dollar s detailed description — technical, since
he writes as an architect and deals with terms
current in the builders' trade, yet clear and com-
prehensible enough— of what training stables should
203
KINGSCLERE
be, and indeed what, I venture to say, my stables
at Kingsclere are, I may now quote. Mr. Dollar
was the architect, and personally superintended the
UBUIC ROAD
GROUND PLAN OF PARK HOUSE GROUNDS AND STABLES
A, house ; b, front yard ; c, stable ; d, mess-room ; E, back yard ; F,
stable ; G, boxes ; H, drying-room ; J, tackle-room ; K, saddle-room ; L, boys'
brushing-room ; M, baths and lavatory ; N, new yard ; O, stable ; P, engine-
room ; Q, museum ; R, weigh-bridge ; s, boxes with open yards ; T, hack
stables ; U, manure pit ; v, conservatories, &c. ; W, aviary ; x, tennis
pavilion ; Y, aviaries.
erection of the entire block, my own residence,
the habitations of the men and boys, the stables,
offices — everything. He, as he says, would no
AN EXTENSION
209
doubt have gone to work in more compact
fashion if in the beginning he had been commis-
sioned to provide an establishment for training as
many horses as can now be accommodated at Park
House. When it became necessary, in consequence
of my greatly increasing business, for me to con-
MODEL RACING ESTABLISHMENT
A, boxes ; B, business room ; c, dining-room ; D, fodder and engine room ;
E, tackle, cleaning, washing, drying rooms, &c. ; g, boys' living and sitting
rooms and dormitories, head men's rooms, &c. ; g, kitchens, &c.
siderably extend the premises, Mr. Dollar was again
called in, a design for an important extension was
made, and the " Park House " stables and appur-
tenances completed as they stand to-day. I doubt,
whatever Mr. Dollar's ideas of architecturally im-
proving upon himself may be, whether any visitor
p
2io KINGSCLERE
to Kingsclere was ever conscious where the original
structure ended and the annex commenced. Mr.
Dollar's views are as follow :
Position. — A stable must necessarily stand on a
dry sub-soil, which should consist either of gravel,
chalk, or stiff clay, but a loamy, spewey clay should
be accepted on no consideration whatever. The site
should be upon high ground, allowing a good
natural drainage, as well as an efficient fall for the
ordinary drains.
Aspect. — The usual form of stableyard is quad-
rangular, and it should open to the south, so that
each wing receives the sun's rays at some time of
the day. The highest part of the buildings should
be at the north-east corner, to protect it from the
cold north-east winds. Sun-shutters should be
fixed to the windows of the south and west blocks,
consisting of open louvre-boarding, so that in the
summer time the sun may be kept out and at the
same time the windows opened for the purpose of
ventilation.
Dimensions. — The most convenient width for a
stable is found to be 18 ft. ; this allows for a gang-
way about 6 ft. wide, and 1 2 ft. for the depth of the
stall or loose box. The height of the wall should
be from 10 to 12 ft., and the inside of the walls be
rendered with cement-stucco so as to prevent the
impregnation of foul air.
Roofs. — The roofs of all stable buildings ought
to be covered with a material that is a bad conductor
of heat. I do not approve of slate, even if that be
laid upon boards or felt. In my opinion it is im-
possible to surpass a roof that is covered with good
Broseley plain tiling. Such tiles are impervious to
moisture, are ■ everlasting,' and are bad conductors
of heat. These properties are absolutely necessary
to the formation of a proper roof, and if the tiles
ARCHITECT'S DESCRIPTION 211
are laid on a covering of boarding and felt, in my
opinion they form the perfection of a roof. In some
cases I have at the request of my clients filled in
the spaces between the rafters with straw, and, if it
were not for this becoming a harbour for rats and
mice and other vermin, I have no doubt would con
stitute an excellent roof, straw being an efficient
non-conductor of heat.
The cubical space for the habitation of a race-
horse should not be less than 1,300 ft. — indeed, the
more the better. Other classes of horses have to
do with considerably less. Boxes should not be less
than 12 x 10, and they are better 12x12 as at
Kingsclere. The stalls should be at least 6 ft. wide
in the clear, while the enclosure to loose boxes
should not be less than 8 ft. high, as horses often
stand on their hind legs and fight like pugilists.
The divisions separating the boxes ought to be
solid, while the front enclosure should be provided
with an open iron panel the entire height, com-
mencing 3 ft. 6 in. from the floor line. The door to
the loose boxes should not be less than 3 ft. 9 in.
wide ; and care should be taken that no bolt in the
fastenings project. In fact, there should be no pro-
jections or sharp arrises in any part of the stable
where a horse can possibly injure himself. He is
sure to do this if there is half a chance.
As to the manger and hay racks, let them be
constructed according to the sketch, fitting closely
into a corner, and with the under side enclosed by
boarding so that the horse cannot injure himself
when getting up. The inside of the manger should
be coated with a glazed enamel, so that it can be
easily and perfectly cleansed with a sponge. From
the size and shape of the front of the manger it
will be seen it is impossible for the horse to bite
and catch hold of it, and so contract the very
troublesome habit known as crib biting ; while the
p 2
212
KINGSCLERE
form of the manger makes it impossible, however
mischievous a horse may be, for him to throw his
food out of the manger.
At Kingsclere the enclosure to the loose boxes
is 2^ in. pitch-pine in narrow widths, and covered
with stout galvanised hoop-iron, spaced 3 in. apart
to prevent the horse from gnawing the wood. A
horse will eat every piece of wood he can get hold
of. Whatever number of horses the stable is in-
tended to accommodate, the block should be divided
into sections by cross-walls, each block containing
MANGER
SECTION OF MANGER
not more than four horses ; these blocks may, of
course, be connected by doors, but this system will
be found very useful in shutting off sick horses.
Ventilation. — After many experiments I have
found that the best plan for ventilating a stable is
by a ventilator (as sketch) in the outside wall to
admit fresh air. These ventilators should be about
18 in. by 9 in. They are my own invention, and
until I used them I was always in continual difficulty
through the cords and other contrivances getting
out of order. My ventilators are worked by a
toothed racket ; they are fixed about 9 ft. from the
ARCHITECT'S DESCRIPTION 213
floor line, and the groom can manipulate them with
his fork. The stable windows which I prefer are
the ordinary sash-windows, because they can best
be regulated for ventilation. I may add that I
always fix a brass hit-and-miss ventilator about 6 in.
from the floor line in the front wall of the stable ; so
that plenty of fresh air can be admitted by these
three means. The foul air I extract by a tube from
the ceiling through the roof, the end in the ceiling
VENTILATOR OPEN
VENTILATOR !»HUT
SECTION OF VENTILATOR
being fitted with a thin perforated iron plate about
3 ft. 6 in. square, attached to the tube by means of
a bell-mouthed aperture ; while the sides of the tube
above the ridge of the roof are fitted with fixed
louvre-boarding, and the current of air is thereby
regulated by a hinged flap hung in the tube and
worked by means of a cord and pulleys from the
floor of the stable, the natural tendency of the flap
being to remain open. By such means the tempera-
ture of the stable is under entire control, and can
2i 4 KINGSCLERE
be kept at any degree that may be required. From
experience, 60 degrees has been found to be the
proper temperature.
Drainage. — There are no drains at the stables
at Kingsclere except those for taking the rain-water
away ; but in my opinion this is a most extravagant
procedure, because it entails the use of so much
extra litter. But as economy is not studied at
Kingsclere, Mr. Porter thinks this matter of no
moment. I maintain, however, that there should be
drainage from each box, and the principle I always
work upon is this : a main drain should pass along
the entire length of each wing of the stable, under
a floor constructed of glazed stoneware pipes jointed
in cement so as to be perfectly watertight, with con-
necting branch drains from the boxes or stalls. The
end in the box should be connected by a properly
constructed trap so as to prevent any impure gases
from entering the stables. Further, the main drain
should be continued to the end of the stable, and
then up the wall with not less than a 4-in. iron pipe
as a ventilator, while the connection of the drain to
the cesspool should be cut off by means of an
interceptor trap, so as to sever the connection of the
drain and cesspool. There should also be a fresh
air inlet fixed in the main drain close to the inter-
ceptor trap, but on the stable side of it. By this
means a current of fresh air is kept constantly
passing through the drains. I cannot but think that,
if this system were properly carried out in all its
details, no horse could suffer from impure gases,
and I am sure the cost of the litter bill would be
considerably less than it is in a stable where there
are no drains. Of course I am assuming that straw
is used for litter, and not peat moss. If peat moss
be used, then there cannot be efficient drainage at
all ; for the drains will become choked, saturated
with urine, and a terrible source of mischief.
ARCHITECT'S DESCRIPTION 215
Paving. — In regard to the floors of the stable I
may remark that I have seen asphalte, concrete, and,
in fact, almost every kind of material tried, and I un-
hesitatingly declare that nothing can excel a good
blue brick for the boxes and stalls. Care should be
taken, however, that the bricks are blue throughout
as proof of their hardness ; blue throughout their
entire thickness and not skin deep — not, in fact, blue
outwardly and red inside, as is commonly the case.
That means a soft inside, whereas if the bricks are
blue they are just like iron. The brick I advise is
9 by 415, and the face of the brick divided into six
panels by means of chamfered grooves, so as to
prevent the horse from slipping, as the hard blue
brick soon wears very slippery and greasy. They
should be laid on a bed of concrete and jointed in
cement. I am of opinion that you get a perfect
floor by this means. For the passages, however,
I invariably use the adamantine clinker bricks.
These bricks are 6 by 1 \, and as hard as the blue
bricks ; but being of a warm yellow colour they have
a better appearance. They are much dearer than the
blue sort, but surely some regard should be had to
appearance.
The walls of the stable should be built of bricks,
stone, or other hard material to withstand the
moisture, and of sufficient thickness to keep the
inside of the stable dry and of an equal tem-
perature, and there should be a proper damp course
immediately above the floor line to prevent moisture
from rising from the ground. The inside of the
walls for a height of about 4 ft. ought to be lined
with glazed bricks, and these may be of any colour
or ornamentation desired. I strongly recommend
that bricks, and not tiles, should be used, as these
frequently come off. The heads of the stalls should
be constructed of glazed bricks — or tiles for this pur-
pose, if the latter be preferred — and also around the
216 KINGSCLERE
mangers and hay-racks, to prevent the breath of the
horse from impregnating a softer or more porous
substance, and so possibly preventing a new animal
contracting any disease from which the late occupant
may have been suffering.
In the working of a stable it is necessary that
every convenience should be handy for the grooms —
such, for instance, as hot water, to which there should
be ready access ; while the saddle and cleaning rooms
ought to be conveniently placed. The drying room
also is a most important adjunct. At Kingsclere
this has been constructed in such a manner that even
if the whole of the horses come in from exercise
with wet clothing, the latter can be completely dried
in two or three hours without building up roaring
fires — in fact, without going to any extra trouble
whatsoever.
Water. — In regard to water, it goes without
saying that there should be a plentiful supply. At
Kingsclere a deep well has been sunk (it had to be
mighty deep) and a powerful pump fixed. The
latter is worked by a gas engine to store the water in
a cistern containing 4,00x3 gallons. From this cistern
water has been laid on to the various draw-offs
and to hydrants dotted about the entire premises in
case of such a calamity as a fire. The boys are
taught the use of these hydrants, so that a powerful
stream of water can at all times be directed to any
portion of the buildings attacked.
Forage and manure. — The store should be placed
in a position to afford ready access, as the boys have
to fetch their allowance of forage for every meal.
In regard to the disposal of the manure, it is highly
requisite that the pit should not be near the stable.
At Kingsclere the manure is removed away from
the buildings. I may remark that the straw in the
condition it is taken away from the various standings
would be considered clean litter in many establish-
CARE OF THE BOYS
217
ments ; in order, however, that it may be converted
into manure Mr. Porter has a number of pigs,
who perform this operation in the manure pit.
4 Mr. Dollar — who, I need scarcely say, is familiar
with the everyday life of the men and boys employed
at Kingsclere — contends warmly that every racing
establishment should be provided with such means
boys' sitting-room, with dormitories over
for promoting their habitual health and comfort as
are to be found there. He is severe on certain
racing stables within his knowledge where the "boys
have to perform their ablutions in the stable bucket
with the aid of the sponge and cloths that have been
used for grooming the horses," and, after contrasting
that with the Kingsclere system of bath rooms and
lavatories, takes leave of the subject in these words :
218
KINGSCLERE
" If you were to drop into the boys' recreation room
after work was over for the day you would find
boxing, chess, draughts, and other diversions in full
swing, and the boys as happy as possible. When
the bell rings they troop off to their comfortable
dining-room close to the kitchen, where they
make their presence felt to the detriment of the
larder. Then, instead of having to sleep two or
three in a bed in a wretched garret with accommoda-
HEAD MEN'S ROOMS IN NEW YARD
tion no better than that afforded in a court in Drury
Lane, each boy at Kingsclere has his own bed in a
large, well-lighted dormitory, ventilated in a manner
that would more than meet the requirements of the
Local Government or Poor Law officials in regard
to the cubical contents per person, if either of
those bodies were to inspect them under the Act."
' A good head lad is most essential in stable
management, to carry out your instructions to the
THE HEAD LAD 219
letter, and be as watchful over your interests as you
would be yourself. His first duty is to see that the
boys are called in the morning at the proper hour,
and are all at work in the stables. Then he must
look round the mangers to see that the horses have
eaten up their food — or otherwise. Upon this inspec-
tion he must report to his master, who will thereby
know whether this or that horse requires special
dieting. The manger is a true index of condition
and progress. Then the head lad sees that the
boxes are thoroughly cleansed, the horses dressed
over, and the clothing, &c, placed behind them
ready for exercise. Saddle and clothing should not
be put on the horses before proceeding to breakfast,
otherwise they might get hold of the stirrup leather
or stirrup iron and injure themselves. I have known
instances of their doing so. They are then given a
light feed of corn. After breakfast the head lad
takes care that the horses are made ready, and, that
operation performed, they go out to exercise. There-
upon the master joins them and the troop proceed to
the downs. On returning to the stable after they
have done their work, it is the duty of the master's
representative to see that they are properly dressed.
To begin with, the hoods and bridles are removed,
and the boy proceeds to clean the horse, commenc-
ing with his head and neck. Having done this the
animal is tied up, and the boy takes out the hood and
bridle, together with his own coat and waistcoat, and
places them in the saddle-room. He then returns
with the horse's bucket of water. I may remark
220 KINGSCLERE
here that I find it laid down in William Days " Race-
horse in Training " — an excellent work, with much
of which I entirely agree — that "the water that is
given the horses to drink should have the chill taken
off to prevent griping, when it can be safely given
ad libittitn" I am opposed to this practice, because
I think that water of the natural temperature is better
for the animal than water artificially dealt with. The
boy gives the horse his water and afterwards a little
hay. He then washes the horse's feet, sponges down
his legs, and rubs the latter thoroughly dry. Saddle
and clothing are now removed, and he sets to work
to dress the body. When that operation is com-
pleted, the trainer is informed that the lot is ready
for his inspection, and he proceeds to carefully look
them over, one by one, to thoroughly examine them,
handling their legs and feet and otherwise ascertain-
ing by the minutest observation that no harm has
come to any of them from the morning's work. The
rug and roller are put on, and the horse is " set fair"
— that is to say, his bedding (which should consist of
the best wheat straw and plenty of it) is placed
under him. The stable is swept out, stalls and
boxes dusted down, and the mangers cleaned. The
horse is then fed, the feed consisting of oats of the
very best, a few beans or peas, with some cut hay as
chaff, this last-named ingredient being necessary to the
mixture to aid mastication. A small quantity of fresh
hay, which should be the very best upland meadow, is
also given to him. This part of his treatment should
be finished before twelve o'clock. The horse is
THE SYSTEM 221
then let loose in his box and allowed to rest, the
stable being thereupon locked until five o'clock in
the afternoon. In the meantime the boys dine, and
should there be a second string of horses to exercise
the same routine is pursued. At five o'clock we go
to stable again, to the morning horses, and a similar
process is carried out, the trainer examining every
horse as before. They are left standing until half-
past seven, when they are again fed and locked up
for the night. Persistent attention has to be paid to
ventilation, which, of course, is continually regulated
according to atmospheric conditions. If the system
I have sketched is maintained with proper diligence,
there will be little occasion to examine the manger.
The method will have to be slightly varied now and
then in the matter of feeding. For instance, the
horses should have a bran mash twice a week, with
occasional carrots and grass, according to the season
of the year. This change of diet keeps the animal
in a healthy condition. I am no advocate for physic
of any description. A dose of medicine in the
spring before commencing work is, in my opinion, all
that is necessary. The best tonic is fresh air, and
good food the best medicine.
1 Compared to what it used to be some forty or
fifty years ago, the life of a stable boy is one of
continual pleasure. Then he had a rough time of it,
and no mistake. It is no more than the simple
truth to say that every possible care is taken of the
boys in these days. When I take a youngster
provisionally he comes a month on trial. If at the end
222 KINGSCLERE
of that time I think he is likely to be of use, he is
apprenticed for a number of years according to the
indentures, the substance of which follows. The
form of the agreement was drawn up by my son-
in-law, Mr. George Gardener Leader, solicitor, with
a special regard to the requirements of the case.
' The form of indenture binds the boy as
apprentice "of his own free will and accord, and by
and with the consent and approbation of the father,"
" to the said John Porter to learn his art, trade, call-
ing or business of a groom and jockey." Father
and son covenant that during the period of appren-
ticeship " the said apprentice his master faithfully
shall serve, his secrets keep," &c. John Porter, on
his part, doth covenant with the said (the son) that
he will pay unto the said (the son) yearly and every
year the following sums. Here follows a statement
of the gradually cumulative fees until " the sixth and
seventh years thereof, together with one-half of
whatever the said may earn as a jockey." On
his part the said John Porter provides sufficient meat,
drink, and lodging during the term ; while the father
undertakes to provide the boy with all proper and
necessary clothing, medical attendance and medi-
cine. An important clause in the indenture runs
thus : " And it is hereby agreed between the
parties hereto, that, in the event of any accident or
injury happening to the said (the son) during the
said term, while engaged in the performance of his
duties as such apprentice, the same shall be taken to
be one of the ordinary risks incidental to and arising
THE JUVENILE JOCKEY 223
out of the nature of his occupation, and the said
John Porter shall not be held liable for any con-
sequences thereof or arising thereout." Then follows
a statement of what "it shall be lawful for the said
John Porter immediately thereupon, and without
any notice to the said or his father to do in the
event of the lad misbehaving himself." In point of
fact the master may under such a circumstance
" cancel and put an end to the said apprenticeship."
1 I may remark in explanation that some boys are
taken for short and some for long terms of service
according to their physical appearance, that is to say,
whether they look like growing rapidly into heavy
weights or promise to remain small. It is surpris-
ing how very few of them make really good horse-
men, although at the end of about two years in the
saddle there is not one of them who does not con-
sider himself equal to Archer or Cannon. At
Kingsclere I have a man whom they call "the
Captain," whose special duty it is to look after the
bed-rooms, bath-rooms, and lavatory devoted to the
boys' use. He carves for them at their meals. He
is provided with a book in which he enters a report
of the proceedings of the boys, and the account is
submitted to my inspection once a week. This
report includes a list of all breakages and damage
done. I have adopted what experience in the work-
ing shows to be an excellent rule with regard to
anything injured or destroyed. Each individual
case of damage is valued, and the amount charged
to the boys as a whole, therefore it is for them to
224 KINGSCLERE
find out the delinquent and make him pay. "The
Captain" must attend at the appointed hour nightly,
call over the roll of his troop, and keep their time.
He must also attend church with them once every
Sunday and report the absentees. The following
contains the substance of a code of rules, a copy
of which is supplied to every boy. I may add that
each rule is strictly enforced.
1 No smoking is allowed in the saddle-room before
6 o'clock p.m., and no smoking whatever allowed on
any other part of the premises. Board-wages men
infringing this regulation are liable to instant dis-
missal. Both here and in the cleaning-room, strict
tidiness is enforced, and in the latter apartment each
boy has a peg to himself for his jacket and cap.
The baths are opened from 8 till 9.30 p.m. on
Wednesdays and Saturdays, and are to be left in
their original clean condition. Each boy has a box
in a room provided for that purpose, and must clean
his boots exclusively in the place appointed for
boot polishing. The bed-rooms are opened at half-
past 9 and all boys must be in bed and the lights
out by 10 o'clock. Any boy absent without per-
mission at the time first named will be locked out
and fined — for the first offence, sixpence, for the
second, one shilling, and for the third summoned
before a magistrate or dismissed. Every boy must
be in his place in the mess-room within five minutes
of the bell ringing, or he will not be admitted.
4 No boy is allowed to run an account with a
tradesman in the village. Once a month a list of
OUTSIDE CORRUPTION OF BOYS 225
the boys' wants is brought in by the Captain, and
for such of them as are approved written orders are
given. The boys are paid extra for riding in trials,
and for every race won the boy who has had charge
of the horse receives a sovereign. On its merits,
and without giving a thought to what the boys in a
training stable formerly had to go through, I think
this is an agreeable kind of a life for a lad who
passes the prescribed course at Kingsclere. And
also I may add in other stables. His is not one
monotonous mill-horse round. He sees a great
many changes. For example, he goes out racing
with his horses, and is well taken care of while he
is abroad. If he behave himself during his appren-
ticeship, although he may not develop into a jockey
or trainer, there is always a chance of his obtaining
a situation as head lad, or, failing that, of getting a
place amongst horses in a gentleman's family. Then,
lads who have learnt their business in such a stable
as mine are in request elsewhere than in England.
As to the temptations which surround the occupa-
tion of stable-boy in a training stable, well, it some-
times happens that a boy is corrupted by outside
influences. There are unhappily always parasites
of the Turf to be found who are only too willing,
for the sake of "information," however worth-
less that may be, to suborn and bribe a stable-boy.
So much for the youth and the favourable condi-
tions under which he is enabled to learn his business
at an establishment like mine.
1 The following letters from a bookmaker to one
Q
226 KINGSCLERE
of the boys in my employment will tell their own
incriminating story : —
Sj r> — i n ow venture to ask you if you are agreable to
correspond with me the coming flat race season. You
may rest assured it will be quite safe, and it will be kept
quite a secret between us. If you should favour me by
answering you could name a place where you could get
your letters safe.
I am, yours truly,
P.S. — An answer would oblige.
Dear , — Your kind letter to hand. Was pleased
to hear your enjoying good health. I wish to thank you
for your kindness on my behalf in consenting to correspond
with me. I can assure you that you will find me quite
straight in my dealings with you, and also everything will
be quite safe on my part. I can assure you I may have the
pleasure of seeing you here Whit week do you come to
this meeting. If so will not forget to give you a show all
round. How I wrote to you was I noticed your name in
the sporting paper in a trial where Omladina won. So I
thought I may ask you which has proved successful. So
I beg to tender my thanks to ycu for your kind letter.
I am yours truly,
P.S. — Kindly excuse the writing in haste.
■ I now leave him to treat of another subject, one
already touched upon in a former chapter under a
different head, namely the subject of the jockey.
4 I contend that he is the embodiment of one of
the most important of all the problems that demand
solution in connection with the national sport.
Where are the jockeys ? Where will they be in
THE JOCKEY 227
the course of a few years ? They appear to be
diminishing annually. Compare them with the
skilled jockeys of some thirty to forty years ago.
Amongst that class we had Alfred Day, James
Bartholomew, Charlton, Wells, Job Marson, Sam
Rogers, Basham, John Osborne, T. Chaloner,
Daley, Aldcroft, Arthur Edwards, Custance, James
Goater, Luke and James Snowden, Fordham,
Ashmall, Maidment, French, Kendal, J. Adams,
H. and J. Grimshaw, Quinton, Plumb, Bullock,
Whittington, Cliff, Heartfield, Morris, Loates,
Hibberd, Cannon, Doyle, and numerous others.
What have we now ? The contrast is striking
indeed! In seeking for a reason for this great
change, I would ask, Is it because the minimum
weight has been raised ? Under the old system,
when the lowest regulation weight was four stone,
boys had several years' experience before they
reached the weight at which we now start. To say
that those "infants" could not ride is sheer nonsense.
"Weatherby" teems with abundant evidence to the
contrary. If gentlemen believed one half of the
reports flying about respecting the honesty of
jockeys they would give up racing. We are per-
petually hearing about what are called "jockey
rings." I myself do not believe that such combina-
tions exist. However, while it might be easy for a
few jockeys to combine in the formation of a "ring,"
it would be difficult for a large number to effect such
a combination. Having clearly proved a jockey guilty
of fraudulent practices, suspend him at once, and for
Q2
228 KINGSCLERE
ever. The idea of reinstating him should never be
taken into consideration. The poor clerk who has
embezzled his master's property pleads in extenua-
tion of his offence the smallness of his salary.
There is no excuse of that kind for a jockey
going wrong. He is paid so well he can afford to
be honest.
' Compare his remuneration with that of a trainer.
The latter has no retaining fee unless he is engaged
as a private trainer. Even in that case the sum
he receives is next to nothing in comparison to that
paid to a jockey, who, besides the fee in question,
is paid riding fees and travelling expenses. More-
over, when you have paid the jockey his retainer,
which may amount to thousands a year — to a sum
equalling the salary of a Cabinet Minister — you
have by no means secured an exclusive right to
his services. He has the right, of which he takes
prompt care to avail himself, to contract with other
owners for second, third, and fourth claim. You can
seldom or never get him to ride a trial, and, as to his
riding a gallop, and thereby acquiring some know-
ledge of the horse he may be called upon to mount
in public, that is quite out of the question. The
trainer, on accepting a retaining fee, is precluded
from entering into another contract. Another point,
and one of some importance, may be mentioned. I
say nothing about the trainer in relation to it, but —
the jockey makes no bad debts. He can claim his
retaining fee before the commencement of the racing
season and obtain payment of his riding fee from
JOCKEY v. TRAINER 229
Messrs. Weatherby as soon as he has ridden a race.
In no other profession or trade is similar protection
given.
Tf a jockey were only allowed to ride for the one
stable from which he has accepted a retainer, every
stable would have its exclusive jockey, and his interest
would be identical with the stable, and not divided,
as it now is, amongst a number. We should, if the
exclusive rule were established, have more jockeys
riding than we unfortunately possess at the present
time. There are plenty of boys who can ride, and
are only awaiting the opportunity. That, however,
seldom arrives. Indeed, it never will come so long
as we are compelled to keep fiddling on two or three
strings. Why should the jockey pose upon a more
exalted pedestal than the trainer ? Look at the
anxiety of a trainer's life compared with that of a
jockey. As I have maintained more than once in
these pages, in other terms and drawing conclusions
from other facts, he must, to be successful, devote all
his time and energy to the animals committed to his
charge. He can see nothing through other eyes.
He must make a separate study of each horse ; find
out his constitutional peculiarities ; watch daily, even
hourly, the progress he is making, so as to have his
charge in perfect condition on the day of his race.
He must not be a week too soon, or a week too late,
for that means defeat. Then, having accomplished
his task, and achieved a well-earned victory, who is
it that receives the applause and thanks of the public ?
Not the trainer, but the jockey. It is not said that
2 3 o KINGSCLERE
the victor is well trained, but that he was well ridden.
You hear the jockey praised on every side. The
trainer is not even handed down in the chronicles
of " Weatherby," since in no page of that most
useful and interesting history is the name of a single
member of his order once mentioned.
1 By-the-bye, I recall a circumstance which may
perhaps be referred to here in reference to the
practice of jockeys engaging themselves to other
owners, without the knowledge or consent of their
11 first master." Wells was the jockey, and his
master Sir Joseph Hawley. Other days other
fees. The sum paid by Sir Joseph to his jockey,
as a retainer, was nothing like the salary of a
Cabinet Minister. In fact, it amounted to the
enormous sum of one hundred pounds per annum.
Wells had, entirely on his own responsibility,
engaged himself to pilot Queen Bertha in the St.
Leger. His name had been paragraphed in the
sporting journals as the chosen jockey and
announced in the list of probable starters. Sir
Joseph Hawley had, however, not been consulted,
and he was not at all the sort of person to suffer
such a breach of etiquette to pass unrebuked. I
received a letter from Sir Joseph in which he re-
ferred to the matter and, at the same time, in-
structed me to take Woldga, who was engaged in
the Leger, to Doncaster. On my arrival there
Wells came to me at once, as was his usual
practice, and asked what horses I had brought
for him to ride. I mentioned several, and then
WELLS AND WOLDGA 231
added—" Woldga." He said : " Woldga, what is he
in ? " I replied : " The Leger only." " Why, he is
never going to run, is he ? " exclaimed Wells in
consternation. I rejoined, " You had better put
that question to Sir Joseph." He lost no time in
waiting on the Baronet, who, after giving him a
severe talking to for taking such a liberty, prolonged
the punishment by taking time to consider whether
he would forego the penitent jockey's services. In
the upshot the Baronet withdrew Woldga, and
Wells rode Queen Bertha, but the lesson was one
which the jockey never forgot.
1 1 may remark here that from the time I first
met " Tiny " W T ells, as he was then called, until he
(having meanwhile earned the name of " Brusher ")
died and was buried in Kingsclere churchyard, I
probably knew him better " inside out " than anybody
else. Besides being one of the finest horsemen
that ever sat in a saddle, with unerring judgment of
pace, fine hands, a matchless seat, and a splendid
finisher, he was quite " a character." Thirty-five
years ago a writer in " Baily " said in reference to
Sir Joseph Hawley, " Wells asserts that there is no
amount of flesh he would not take off his back for
him." The writer of the obituary notice of Sir
Joseph in the same magazine, in 1875, says: ''No
one else would have pardoned Wells his latter
extravagant eccentricities of dress and manner."
There is truth in both statements.
4 Wells was the very soul of honesty, his loyalty
to his master was unimpeachable, and his vanity
232 KINGSCLERE
enormous. I remember one Sunday afternoon, at
Newmarket, the Admiral and Mr. Payne coming to
see my horses at Wells's, where they were stabled.
He and I came out and received the visitors
together. On beholding " the Brusher," who was
resplendent in a new suit of clothes of extremely
fashionable cut, but not over-quiet in colour, Mr.
Payne exclaimed, " What a swell you are, Wells !
W T ho is your tailor ? " Wells replied, " A very
good sort of tailor, sir ; he finds me in clothes for
nothing. You see, sir, being such a good figure, I
am a walking advertisement for him." No wonder
his dress provoked remark. He once rode Blue
Gown in a walk over at Newmarket garbed in a
suit of extremely pronounced tartan " dittoes," wear-
ing a Tyrolese hat adorned with a tall curly feather,
and carrying a cane like a billiard cue. One of Sir
Joseph Hawley's friends remonstrated with him for
allowing such a grotesque exhibition, whereupon
the Baronet replied that his jockey was at liberty to
dress just as he pleased. Wells was engaged by
him to ride, and as long as he did that to his satis-
faction the contract was fulfilled. Some time in the
latter part of 1869 Sir Joseph came to Kingsclere
to see a trial, when he told us — Wells and myself —
that he had made a match with Blue Gown and
Friponnier over the Ditch Mile, even weights, for
500. The Baronet asked me if I would stand
any of it, and I said I should like to have a
pony with him. But he said, you had better have
a hundred, as it is a good thing. I agreed. He
WELLS'S ECCENTRICITIES 233
then asked Wells how much he would like. Wells
replied, " I should like to have the other four
hundred." Sir Joseph rejoined, " Then what am I
to have ? " Wells said, " You will have all the
honour and glory of winning, Sir Joseph." The
Match came off at the Second October Meeting,
and proved the soundness of the Baronet's judg-
ment. They laid 5 to 2 on Blue Gown, who was
giving Friponnier a year. The latter was beaten by
half a length. W T ells, of course, rode Blue Gown.
I never quite knew how the deal was squared
between owner and jockey, but I rather think that
Sir Joseph received as his share more than the
honour and glory of winning.
' Of trainers as a body I have naturally very
little to say. Theirs is an arduous, a trying, and a
highly responsible vocation, and if they perform
their duties conscientiously they have no occasion to
fear any kind of criticism, private or public. They
are sometimes rather roughly handled by the dis-
appointed backer, but that personage is always a
prejudiced witness, and, as a rule, an ignorant one.
At all events, the trainer knows more than he does.
I doubt whether I ever had an enemy amongst the
members of my brotherhood in all the years I have
been engaged in the work, and I number amongst
my " rivals," as I suppose I must call them, some
of my warmest and most cherished friends. The
trainer who stands out most prominently amongst
the earliest of those I knew is John Scott of White-
wall, the renowned Wizard of the North. His fame
234 KINGSCLERE
was so great in my younger days that I naturally
took a great interest in his horses when they came
South. Indeed, the Derby in those days had
resolved itself into a battle between North and
South, and everybody was especially curious to see
the rod in pickle for us which had been prepared on
Langton Wold. The impression which I retain of
John Scott's horses is that they always looked big
and well and full of muscle. In my pleasant
occasional chats with the veteran I invariably found
him genial and communicative, and I sincerely regret
that I was never at liberty to accept his repeated
invitations to pay a visit to Whitewall. The only
other North-country trainer of that period whom I
became acquainted with was Thomas Dawson, a
hearty companion and a master of his business.
My friendship with Matthew Dawson, a great
trainer of whom it is impossible to speak too highly,
extends over very many years. We have frequently
been opponents, as the chronicle in these pages
shows, but always, I am sure, in a sportsmanlike
and congenial spirit. I may remark that we have
always met, through our champions, on high ground ;
that is to say in the " classic" races, a handicap
never being the bone of contention. I hold Joseph
Dawson in my most grateful remembrance. From
the period of my earliest experience as a trainer down
to the day of his death I received the greatest
kindness at his hands. It was my regular custom
in attending the Newmarket meetings to dine with
him at least once a week. When death, all too
TRAINERS I HAVE KNOWN 235
soon, put an end to a worthy and honourable career,
Joseph Dawson was mourned by no one more
sincerely than myself. Mrs. Joseph Dawson, his
widow, a very dear old friend, would, I am sure,
consider herself slighted if on my visits to head-
quarters I did not keep up the long-continued
custom. But I have no desire or intention to omit
it. It is always pleasant to spend an evening with
Mrs. Dawson and talk over old times. It is also my
custom, though of more recent date, to dine one
evening, on the Wednesday generally, with Tom
Jennings ("the young governor") and his charming
young wife. I need not say how pleasant these
social evenings are after the day's toil on the race-
course. I am sorry to say that while this volume
was in preparation William Goater, my old colleague
at Findon, and trustworthy friend from first to last,
passed away. I had, however, already in these
pages given expression to my high opinion of his
professional capacity and his personal qualities. I
may add here as a farewell tribute that an abler
trainer or a worthier man than William Goater never
came within my knowledge.
' When Mr. Corlett requested me, with others,
to give him a list of the ten best horses I had met
with in the course of my experience, I sent him the
following list : Teddington, Virago, West Aus-
tralian, Fisherman, Gladiateur, Rosicrucian, Isonomy,
Robert the Devil, St. Simon, and Foxhall. As
" absolutely the best horse " I gave Isonomy, and
appended, by way of comment, " the above are
236 KINGSCLERE
within my own knowledge. I will add one more
after the Derby and Leger are over." The horse
I meant to add — and did — was, of course, Ormonde.
Teddington, who cantered home the winner of the
Derby in the Great Exhibition year, 1851, beating
the biggest field on record, had a remarkable history.
In " Scott and Sebright," " The Druid " says :
" Sir Joseph saw Teddington at three months old,
and was wonderfully struck with his action, and
bought him with the mare from a blacksmith at
Stamford for 250/., and a thousand contingency."
" The Druid " was misinformed. In the latest edition
of the delightful " Post and Paddock" series, the
editor, the Hon. Francis Lawley, adds a contra-
dictory note, which had been supplied to him by
the late Mr. Bromhead, and for the accuracy of
which he vouches. Mr. Bromhead writes : " Ted-
dineton was not born at Stamford. The dam of
Teddington, Miss Twickenham, by Rockingham,
was given by Colonel — afterwards General — Peel
to Jack Tomlinson, a blacksmith, who afterwards
gave up the shoeing business and took the God-
manchester toll-gate. Miss Twickenham was then
in foal to Orlando, and produced Teddington, who
was foaled in a barn at Great Stukeley, about two
miles from Huntingdon. He was such a weak foal
that he had to be held up for a fortnight to suck,
and they were afraid that they would be unable to
rear him. The mare was sent to Newmarket to
visit Orlando again, where Sir Joseph Hawley saw
them, and purchased them for 500/. and con-
TEDDINGTON AND BIRMINGHAM 237
tingencies — viz. 300/. if Teddington won the Ches-
terfield Stakes at Newmarket, which sum was paid
to Tomlinson, and 1,000/. if he won the Derby, the
whole of which was not paid, as through some
misunderstanding he only received 300/." There
are plenty of instances of puny, weakly foals that
were difficult to rear and apparently not worth the
trouble they cost, eventually doing well and be-
coming great horses. Although it was before my
time, and I must go to the records for the facts, I
am tempted to make a digression and mention one,
whose case was not at all unlike Teddington's. I
refer to Birmingham — dam, Miss Craigie, by Or-
ville. The owner, Mr. Beardsworth, says that " when
he was a foal, and soon after I purchased him, he
was taken ill, and was so much reduced that he
could not stand to feed. In this state I left him (on
a Friday), and was from home ten days. On my
return I was surprised to find him alive, and as I
have a great dislike to see a sick horse, I ordered
him to be destroyed before I went to the stables.
Mrs. Beardsworth, who was present, begged of me
not to have him destroyed, and said that if I would
have him brought into a private box near the house,
she would attend to him and nurse him. He was
carried by four men from the box he was then in to
the other, where he remained for a month, or more,
without any visible improvement, during the whole
of which time Mrs. Beardsworth was incessant in
her attendance upon him, seeing him always the
last thing before she went to bed, and frequently
2 ^8 KINGSCLERE
getting up in the night to him. I several times
requested that he might be destroyed, but Mrs. B.
always opposed it, and said she had a presentiment
that he would recover and win the Leger. It is a
singular circumstance that this is the only horse
Mrs. Beardsworth ever noticed. I never knew her
enter a stable except to see Birmingham." Well,
Birmingham won the Leger, beating Priam and
twenty-six others, the biggest field I fancy that ever
ran for that race. But to revert to Teddington. His
Derby was remarkable for more things than his easy
defeat of an enormous field. Last year (1895) we
saw a gelding finish three-quarters of a length
behind the winner. If Teddington had been out
of the way, the Blue Riband of 1851 would have
been won by a ' cocktail,' for there was a stain in
Marlborough Buck's pedigree. (Having been led
to mention the sexless second to Sir Visto, I
may as well say here, as elsewhere, since it is on
my mind, that I would not allow geldings to be
entered for the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby,
or St. Leger. I am strongly of opinion that they
should be barred for all the classic races.) My im-
pression of Teddington is that of a light-fleshed
horse who did not fill the eye which looked for gran-
deur when he was in repose ; but when he moved —
and he could move — his action was beautiful. He
gathered up his quarters and set them going like a
greyhound. West Australian, one of the idols of
the North, was a big, leathering horse, whose fitness
on the day of his victory was a credit to the trainer.
'GREAT HORSES' 239
As for old Fisherman, his name and deeds have
passed into a proverb, and with good reason. He
ran 136 races and won ninety-six, over long dis-
tances, most of the races being run at heavy weights
up to 10 St., and he suffered no more than the others
from doing so much work and carrying weights so
heavy. If I wanted a horse to prove that long
races and plenty of them do not break a good
animal down, Fisherman would prove my case.
Just as Leamington has left his mark on the
American stud, Fisherman has stamped himself on
the stud of Australia. As for Gladiateur, "the great
Frenchman," as he was called, he would have scored
in any year, but he happened to be a long way in
front of a moderate lot of horses. Look at the
three that were "placed" behind him when he
won the Derby — by two lengths — Christmas Carol,
Eltham, and Longdown. As to the horse I had
personal charge of, namely, Bedminster, he (as has
been mentioned in another place) had no legs under
him when he was stripped at Epsom. I am aware
that it was the opinion of some that Gladiateur was
more than three years of age in 1865. I know one
good judge who stoutly maintains to this day that
Gladiateur was " an old un " when he won the
Derby (refusing to limit himself to the notion
that he was only a four-year-old !) ; but that was
never my opinion. He was an old-fashioned horse,
and, by comparison, dwarfed a good many of his
adversaries, but I attach no importance to that as
an argument. We possess race-horses of all shapes
2 4 o KINGSCLERE
and sizes, and shall have such to the end of the
chapter. A good many people thought that it
might have been better perhaps if the stewards of
the Doncaster meeting had, on the application of
Mr. Graham, the owner of Regalia, permitted a
veterinary examination of Gladiateur's mouth — it
would have decided the question once and for all —
but it was impossible to withhold one's approval of
the motives which, no doubt, actuated the refusal.
The Stewards, while sheltering themselves tech-
nically, as, of course, was within their right, were no
doubt reluctant to cast a slur on Count de Lagrange.
Mr. Graham having no evidence to support the im-
plied charge, they very properly refused his applica-
tion. Gladiateur was a real good horse, and he
proved it by going on winning as long as he
was kept at work. Robert the Devil was another
clinker. He won the St. Leger by three lengths.
Running at even weights with Bend Or in the Foal
Stakes, he defeated him after a tremendous finish by
a head, and, carrying 8 st. 6 lb., won the Cesarewitch
by four lengths. Meeting Bend Or again on equal
terms in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket, he
beat him by ten lengths. I have said my say about
Virago, Rosicrucian, and Isonomy in former chapters.
Foxhall's Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire speak
for themselves, and Matthew Dawson (who ought
to know) declares St. Simon to be the best he has
ever had, and he has had some good ones.'
241
CHAPTER XIV
Touts, horse-watchers, ' training reporters ' — A highly respectable
vocation — The tout made amusing — Another side to the question —
Porter's protest in 'Bell's Life' — A stable-boy tampered with — 'A
backer of horses' retained for the defence — The tipsters of the
circulars the first employers of training reporters — Burlesque re-
ports from training quarters — A specimen — The cost of thrashing
a tout — ' Necessary evils ' — The serious side of the question.
1 On the subject of touts, horse-watchers, training
reporters, or whatever they may be called — although
touts, as they have been from the beginning, they
will remain to the end — my views may be guessed.
The trainer's opinion of the tout is similar to the
gamekeepers opinion of the poacher, and it can
never alter, let the methods of the spy or the
description of him and his work change as it may.
" A rose by any other name" (read contrariwise),
and so forth. A tout is a tout. Master tout, who
employs a staff of men, and who may one day, after
passing through the Parish Council and the County
Council, sit in Parliament and represent his precious
fraternity, is just the same to me as the meanest
member of his gang. In the old " Sporting Maga-
zine," hunting the tout is occasionally treated as a
sort of field sport, and once, if I recollect aright, an
R
242 KINGSCLERE
incident in his business was made the subject of a
steel plate. ''The Druid," who was not a trainer,
and who was therefore at liberty to study the tout
from a playfully humorous point of view, has some
good stories of touts in his " Post and Paddock."
He relates that when Bill Scott used to live near
Knavesmire, his motions were watched night and
day whenever a trial at Malton was about to come
off, and it was almost impossible for him to steal
away from York at any time of the night without
having touts on his track. The Flying Dutchman
was watched by a perfect squadron of them before
the Derby, and Fobert in fact counted sixteen heads,
looking like as many crows in file, watching the
horse from behind a wall near Spigot Lodge as he
came out for exercise. The widow of John Scott
used to say that she loved to see the touts, since
their presence argued that some good horses were
in training upon Langton Wold. Aleck Taylor has
been known to ride a tout dowm when he caught
him upon that portion of Fyfield Downs where he
was trespasser, and warm his jacket with a whip.
All this sort of thing is amusing to read and chat
about after dinner, but there is a serious side to the
question, and of that most trainers have had dis-
agreeable experience. It was some time after the
two sporting journals which had made reports from
training quarters a special feature that I felt impelled
to write the following letter of complaint to ' Bell's
Life.' On looking it over I am inclined to think
that, although touting has become an established
AN EARLY COMPLAINT OF TOUTS 243
institution, and the training reporter would appear
to occupy a position on the sporting press with the
other reporters, as a protest it is quite as much
needed now as it was then. One of my reasons for
holding this opinion will appear further on. How-
ever, this is what I wrote :
1 " No one could possibly have less objection to a
fair criticism of the condition, &c., of race-horses
while in training than myself, so long as such
criticism is founded on information obtained in an
honourable and legitimate manner. But I do object,
and that strongly, to the present underhand system
of tampering with stable-boys, and also to the
personal espionage to which the trainer is subjected.
If the touts endeavoured to pump the apprentices
we should, I think, have a remedy ; but those
persons are quite wide-awake enough to keep on
the 'windy side of the law,' and confine themselves
to tampering only with those about the stables who
are under no legal obligation ' to keep the secret of
their masters.' A recent case (not the first by many)
has just come under my personal observation. Dur-
ing a temporary absence from home one of my
horses met with a slight accident in the stable ; the
first I heard of it was from an account which appeared
in two of the sporting papers. I was very much
puzzled how such an account found its way into
print, but the mystery was soon cleared up. On
my return I found that two of my boys had been
spending a pleasant hour or two at the house of
the tout who is correspondent of the two papers in
r 2
244 KINGSCLERE
question. Now, it is quite certain he could not have
seen the horse himself, the horse never having left
the stable, therefore the report must have been
framed from information received from my lads.
Is it right that a trainer cannot leave home for a few
days without having his boys tampered with by a
resident tout ? Many a good supporter of the Turf
has left it in disgust through the systematic touting
of himself, his trainer, and his stable-boys. In my
opinion the gentlemen who spend large sums in
training race-horses, and thus cater for the amuse-
ment of the public, deserve protection from this
annoyance.
1 " It is all very well for the editors of sporting
papers publishing training intelligence to say that
they do not encourage or countenance such under-
hand proceedings. They cannot avoid it, as we all
know the class of men employed to send training
reports — men (with few exceptions) too lazy to work
for an honest livelihood."
' The Hon. Francis Lawley, who, I am grateful
to say, has often been a supporter of my views,
endorsed my opinion of the tout's tampering with
one of my stable-boys, and of course was denounced
for his pains. In a letter signed "A Backer of
Horses" (as the man says in "A Pair of Spec-
tacles," " Aw know that Backer of Horses — he
comes fra Sheffield!") it was set forth that the
"communications of trainers betray a degree of
selfishness and narrow-mindedness almost border-
ing on the ridiculous," and — of course the writer
TOUTING BURLESQUED 245
was bound to impute motives — "John Porter was
annoyed because the newspapers had forestalled
him with the information respecting the horse."
Then came the crushing question : "I, as a public
backer of horses, ask for what purpose Porter
wished the fact of Pageant's accident to be kept
secret ? " I doubt whether this transparent attempt
to draw a red-herring across the scent deceived any
of the "Backer of Horses'" readers. It certainly
did not humbug me. As to the insinuation, well,
one can cheerfully afford to treat such things with
contempt.
' Turning aside for the moment from my personal
experience of the obnoxious touting system, I, per-
haps, ought not to dismiss the subject without recalling
in this place a joke which one of the sporting journals
played off against a contemporary when the Reports
from Training Quarters were first established.
Until 1866 — I think that was the year, but it may
have been 1865 — tne published reports of the touts
had appeared as a regular piece of sporting news,
trustworthy or not, exclusively in the racing circulars
of "Judex," "Locket," and Paul Walmsley, three
Manchester tipsters. Then the " Sportsman "
adopted them. When the late Mr. Henry Feist,
the editor of the rival paper, the " Sporting Life,'
was rallied on the subject, he (I may say this,
speaking from personal recollection) made rather a
wry face over it, but at the same time said : "I don't
want to argue the point. I dare say your view is
the right one. But we cannot afford to stand out.
246 KINGSCLERE
If they do it, we shall have to follow suit." Which
the " Sporting Life" eventually did. To everybody's
amazement, the ''Sporting Gazette," which was
edited by Mr. W. H. Langley, came out with an
announcement to the effect that " Special Training
Notes" would thenceforward be given in that journal.
This was "real jam" to the "Sportsman," which
ironically acknowledged the compliment to its enter-
prise in an article headed "The Sincerest Flattery."
The writer, 1 however, little knew what a rod Mr.
Langley had in pickle. The " Special Training
Notes," compiled exclusively for the "Sporting
Gazette," amounting to an elaborate burlesque, were
introduced in the following terms : —
We have great pleasure in laying before our readers,
in accordance with our announcement last week, the first
instalment of those SPECIAL TRAINING NOTES which will
in future form one of, we hope, not the least attractive
features of this journal. It will be readily understood that
the difficulties in the way of carrying out such an under-
taking as that to which we have resolved, after mature
reflection, to devote our capital and enterprise, are very
great. The obstacles in the way of obtaining accurate
information, except by means . from which our unim-
peachable purity of purpose would shrink, are very
great ; and what with the difficulty of procuring trust-
worthy and talented agents, and the certainty of their being
either suborned or maltreated by the brutal myrmidons
of suspicious trainers, the enterprise is one involving
surpassing labour, anxiety, and expense to its projectors.
It was the late Mr. R. B. Wormald, and nobody laughed more
heartily than he did when he found how neatly he and the Sportsman
had been ' done.'
•REPORTING' RIDICULED 247
Still, we shall persevere. Conscious of the rectitude of our
motives, and solemnly impressed with the nature of that
• duty towards the public ' which forms, or should form, the
first half of a sporting journalist's creed, we shall, in the
face of revilings, envy, abuse, misconstruction, bribery,
intimidation, or any of the usual weapons employed by our
opponents, continue in the course we have marked out — a
course in which we shall, we believe, be upheld by the
suffrages of that high-minded, enlightened, incorruptible
portion of the British public which — agrees with ourselves.
'The "reports" from the various training
grounds followed. The extravagance of the jest
will be sufficiently gauged in this place by the
"report" from " Kingsclere," which I subjoin. I
confess that I am unable at this distance of time to
quite see the fun of it.
KINGSCLERE
The baronet's horses — need I say that I allude to the
team of the accomplished Sir Joseph Hawley ? full
particulars of whose title will be found in 'Tomkins's
Twopenny Baronetage' — have all arrived at their new
quarters here, and, as might be expected from a member of
the aristocracy who has won the Derby thrice (I refer to
Teddington, Beadsman, and Musjid, portraits of all of
which may be obtained at Daub's great Emporium,
1001, Strand), are in the pink, or rather ' cherry,' of health
and condition. Wolsey, our Derby nag (and curiously
enough Spouter's great part), is a remarkably good-looking
one, and has all that fine size and substance obtained by a
use of Beach's food (3^. ^d. per cwt, order direct). Xi is a
very much improved animal (which he need to be), for his
performances last year, every one knows, were (see report
in the ' Fiery Dragon ' racing journal) disgracefully bad.
Old Argonaut carries his years well, and does not look,
248 KINGSCLERE
with his false hair and artificial teeth (Mr. Wrench, Brooke
Street, sole inventor, where may be also obtained his
celebrated Arabian dentifrice), above eighteen months old.
Merry Wife (the mention of whom puts me in mind that
Mr. Tatters, the great Elizabethan critic, is about to publish
a new edition of Shakspere in halfpenny numbers) is also
extremely well ; and Vabalathus, formerly the property of
Lord Uxbridge — who was once heard to remark that
1 Christie started well, but Pipkins (Hat Repository,
496, Whitechapel, also a large assortment of children's
caps) stayed' — is in high feather. The two-year-olds, a
critical period either in man or horse, though the troubles
of the former at that interesting age have doubtless been
much alleviated by Mrs. Hagg's Soothing Syrup (Hagg
& Co., Kingsland-road, illustrated catalogues forwarded
on application) ; and Mr. Porter, who is in robust health,
mainly attributable to the constant use of the Syro-
Phcenician Hareskin (Cornelius Duffer, patentee), has
every reason to be satisfied with all the stock under his
care.
' In those rather troublous times for both trainer
and tout, before the institution of training reports
was accepted as a necessary evil — for that is what
it has become — charges of assault made by the
training reporters against trainers were more than
once brought before the local bench. The most
serious of all the cases was that of Bray v. Jennings,
which was tried by Mr. Justice Hannen and a
common jury in the Bail Court at Westminster.
The plaintiff, John Bray, described as a horse-
watcher, or tout, sought to recover damages from
Mr. Thomas Jennings, trainer to the French stable
at Newmarket, for an assault. Shortly, the man
called Jennings a fool, and Tom rode at him (full
YET A GRAVE GRIEVANCE 249
gallop, the tout said) and began beating him about
the head with a hunting whip. The jury, at the
direction of the judge, gave a verdict for the plaintiff
for 200/.
' As I have before observed, touting must now,
I suppose, be accepted as a necessary evil, so
anxious are the public to know how the horses in
the trainers' hands are progressing. Personally, I
have no objection to touts so long as they carry on
their business in a fair and legitimate manner. But
when it comes to touting your stable-boys — well, that
is a very different matter. Information so obtained
is not unfrequently ruin to the boy, and tends to
destroy that confidence which should exist between
employer and employed. That touts do obtain their
information from the boys, I am certain. In what
other way could it be obtained ? Take my own
case. On Sydmonton Downs there is a deep valley
where it is impossible for any one who is not actually
on the spot to see the horses gallop. I have varied
the work occasionally, but I have always found that
variation correctly reported by the sporting papers.
2:;0
CHAPTER XV
A native's opinion of the Downs — Other opinions — Gleanings from
their ancient history — Sporting from the beginning — The re-
searches of Messrs. W. Money and T. W. Shore — King John at
Freemantle Park — A royal sportsman and breeder of running
horses — The sporting Duke of Cumberland at Cannon Heath —
Eclipse — A font for a horse-block — Rescued by Porter — Burgh-
clere : William Cobbett — Steventon : Jane Austen — Laverstoke
mills — The robbery of bank-note paper.
The first day Porter was out with his horses on
the Downs, which have achieved fame in the racing
world chiefly in association with his name and work,
he met an old shepherd who was tending his flock.
After exchanging cheery ' good mornings ' with the
ancient native, Porter said, ' What sort of a country
is this I have come to live in?' 'Well, zur,' replied
the gnarled old shepherd, ' I can tell you that in a
very few words. It is too poor a country to live in,
and it is far too healthy to die in. We just hangs
on as long as we likes, and then we comes up here
and gets blowed away.' During the thirty-three
years that he has dwelt at Cannon Heath, and for
the main part of that period at what, in the language
of one enthusiastic admirer (everybody falls in love
with Kingsclere), is described as ' one of those dear
old spots which are about a thousand miles from any-
where, the metals of the nearest railway gleaming like
KINGSCLERE DOWNS 251
silver threads amongst the swelling chalk hills, at
distances respectively of seven and five miles,' John
Porter has fully proved the truth of one part of
the old shepherd's statements. It is the abode of
health. In satisfaction of every requirement of his
vocation it is matchless. ' The Druid ' regarded
Ilsley, which forms part of the adjoining county of
Berks, as the best down-land for training purposes
known to him. But the author of 'Silk and Scarlet'
had never explored Kingsclere. A later writer,
enthusiastic as all of them are, pays his tribute to
the domain over which Porter reigns in these
glowing words : ' Nowhere, perhaps, are the con-
ditions of perfect physical health for man or animals
so nearly attained as in these equine Temples of
/Esculapius or the Kingsclere Downs, where the
observance of the simple and primitive canons of
health are supplemented by natural advantages of
locality unequalled in the country. The strong,
free air, and vast stretches of primeval turf, the ever-
dry surface of the chalk, and the undulating and
sloping contours of the ground, ensure the maximum
of benefit from the great health-bestowing air and
exercise ; and wholesome diet, regular hours, and
scrupulous cleanliness effect the rest.' The re-
mainder of the passage, albeit it refers to Park
House and the proprietor's system of management,
may just as well be cited. ' The soundest and
brightest oats, old and fragrant hay, and water
warmed with sunbeams, are the daily and delightful
portion of those Houyhnhnms of the nineteenth
252 KINGSCLERE
century ; and the desire of the eye for physical
perfection and beauty could scarcely be better satis-
fied than by a sight of the thoroughbreds in training
on a bright morning on the Downs.'
This great rolling down-land, with its widely
scattered and sparse agricultural population, is rich
with the romance of history. Respecting the origin
of the names of the principal places which mark the
range within which the Park House stud is trained,
there would appear to be some doubt, even amongst
the soundest authorities. Mr. W. Money, F.S.A.,
of Newbury, says : ' Many theories have been
advanced as to the meaning of the Saxon termina-
tion clere in Kings-clere, Burgh-clere, and High-
clere, which may possibly denote that these places
rise clear above the adjoining country, or a clear
opening, or clearing in the forest. Thus we have
Burgh-clere, where there is an extensive camp, and
High-clere, which is some nine hundred feet above
the level of the sea.' Mr. T. W. Shore, F.G.S.,
who has written exhaustively, and with a congenial
pen, of Down and Town, 1 says: ' The country in the
north of Hampshire which is known now as the
Clere district, comprises the three parishes of Kings-
clere, Burghclere, and Highclere. The name de-
notes a clearing or an open space, and the natural
features of the chalk downs extending from the
comparatively low ground near Basingstoke to the
1 Pre-historic Races and their Remains in the old Clere Country
of Hampshire, and Kings clere and its Ancient Ty things, a paper read
at Kingsclere, June 6, 1895.
NAMES AND ASSOCIATIONS 253
high ground at Combe Hill or Inkpen Beacon,
show that there must naturally always have existed
over this area open or clear spaces, where the chalk
lies close to the surface, and no trees can grow.
The area of the Tertiary clays and loams which
exist north of the chalk area, and, like it, extend
from the south-east to the north-west, was that
which was formerly covered by the great forest of
North Hampshire.' The remains of wild animals
that have been found in the Clere country are those
of the red deer, the ox known as the Celtic short-
horn (Bos longifrons), the wolf, the wild cat, and the
beaver. Painstaking Mr. Shore has found Elfinland
in the Clere country. Those ' pretty children of our
childhood' — which 'belong, as the mites upon the
plum, to the bloom of fancy, a thing generally too
frail and beautiful to withstand the rude handling of
Time' 1 — the Elfins have left their traces on the
Cleres. ' The fairy rings which occur in places on
the lower slopes of the chalk downs preserve for
us some references to the fairies of tradition.
Another more important reference occurs in the
Clere place-names in which the syllabic word " sid"
occurs. " Sid " was the fairy-mound of the Celtic
age, and we have still remaining in the Clere
country Sid-on-Hill, Sid-monton, and Sid-ley wood,
south of Ashmansworth, a surviving group of fairy-
mound names such as occurs nowhere else in
Hampshire.' The antiquarian interested in the
Roman in Britain is informed that amongst the
1 Thomas Hood.
254 KINGSCLERE
Roman remains which have been discovered in this
district are coins, chiefly of the later empire, which
have been found at Overton, on Kingsclere Downs,
and on Beacon Hill, and the pavements of villas
which have been met with at Redenham, Thruxton,
and Castlefield, Andover.
Amongst the documents relating to Kingsclere
which are cited by the historian is King Alfred's
will, in which that monarch bequeathed the town of
Clere to his middle daughter, Ethelgiva, Abbess of
Shalftesbury. Inasmuch as Kingsclere continued
to be a manor of the king's demesne through the
whole of the Saxon period, one arrives at the origin
of the distinguishing prefix ' Kings.' For no less
than a thousand years, during which period their
history can be distinctly land-marked, these magnifi-
cent Downs have nurtured sport. We learn from
the Domesday Book that as far back as the time of
Edward the Confessor Edwin the huntsman held
two hides of the king's demesne in Clere, which
Edward gave him. Freemantle Park — as the stretch
of Down overlooking Park House and stables was
afterwards named, and concerning which a word
presently — was evidently, from the beginning, a
favourite place of sport. Mr. Shore says that
Freemantle is apparently a name compounded
partly of the Latin word ' mantellum,' a covering
or mantle. ' The worship of Freya was, to a large
extent, that of the Mother Earth of our remote
pagan forefathers, and it is certain that at and near
Freemantle the earth becomes covered with wood
KING JOHN AT KINGSCLERE 255
as with a mantle, as the chalk on the surface gives
place to clay, on which the wood grows.' The
same writer bewails the fact that an ' ancient royal
estate and hunting seat of the early Plantagenet
Kings passed,' in the process of parcelling out the
sequestered lands, 'into the hands of the Regicide
Bradshaw.' It was Lord Cottington, the royalist,
who was dispossessed. Having given offence to
the parliamentary party, his estates, including ' all
the parks or lands enclosed, called or known by the
name of Freemantle Park,' were confiscated. At
the Restoration, Lord Cottington's nephew, Francis,
succeeded in recovering possession of his estates.
If Bradshaw had shared with Old Noll a sports-
man's appreciation of a thoroughbred — for the Lord
Protector loved a good race-horse — we might have
found some trace of it to-day at Kingsclere. But
Bradshaw does not appear to have possessed a
single redeeming foible. As it is, we only hear of
him as a sordid usurper.
In recalling royal association with the Kingsclere
Downs one feels that but scant justice has been done
to a monarch who was a frequent visitor to
Kingsclere, and whose name survives in that of
King John's Hill. In his ' Notes on King John's
Hunting Lodge at Kingsclere' Mr. W. Money
throws some curious light on an interesting subject.
The king stayed longer here, when on his sporting
expeditions, than at any other of his numerous
quarters. Local tradition had assigned the position
of this chdtelet-de-chasse to Cottington's Hill, and
256 KINGSCLERE
there are good grounds for believing that the farm-
house at Freemantle Park is the spot referred to in
the Itinerarium of the movements of King John.
As to Freemantle Park Farm, at the foot of the
southern slope of Cottington s Hill, Mr. Money says
it is impossible on approaching the house not to be
struck with its ancient appearance and its old-world
surroundings, although a closer inspection reveals the
signs of various ages and many changes. The most
singular feature of the kitchen — a long low room, with
a spacious open fireplace — is an ancient well, 225 ft.
deep, surmounted by a raised platform in the middle
of the apartment, whence the water is drawn up by
the aid of a large fly-wheel attached to the spindle :
and it is from this well that the cottages at Cotting-
ton's Hill are supplied. It was in order to settle
a point in dispute among local and other antiquaries
that Mr. Money made his examination, with, it would
seem, convincing results. He says: 'The most
striking: fact in connection with the old farmhouse at
o
Freemantle Park is that it actually abuts on the
line of the great Roman Road from Old Sarum to
Silchester and London, called the Portway, which
here presents itself to our view in a remarkable state
of preservation, between the house and where it
traverses the Newbury and Whitchurch Road,
whence it runs o'er hill and dale, through Bradley
Wood to St. Mary Bourne and Andover. When
we consider that these roads, constructed by the
Romans with such extraordinary skill, formed for
centuries after they left England the direct com-
COTTINGTON'S HILL 257
munication between the different towns and places
enumerated in the Itinerarium of King John, we are
inclined to think that the Park farmhouse has
preferable claims to be considered as the situation
of the ancient royal hunting lodge than the top of
Cottington's Hill. It would be necessary in the case
of hunting quarters such as Freemantle Park that
provision should be made for the accommodation of
the king's retinue and migratory court, particularly
in the way of stabling of some kind, which one can
scarcely think would have been placed on such an
exposed eminence as Cottington's Hill. On the
other hand, at Freemantle Park farmhouse all the
requisite conditions are present, there being not
only shelter, but a large enclosed yard in front,
which, with the house, forms a square or court such
as we generally find attached to such ancient houses
as we presume this to have been.' Those who
have climbed to the somewhat bleak summit in
question, and then made an inspection of the
historical farmhouse beneath, will have little hesita-
tion in admitting that Mr. Money's arguments on
this interesting point are conclusive. One notes, by
the way, that it was in the reign of the monarch
whom Sir Walter Scott has be-littled at the expense
of his brawny brother that ' running horses ' were
first mentioned in the annals. And, as a recent
historian of the Turf has pointed out, that the king
himself largely patronised horse-racing there is
reason to infer from his having founded an exten-
sive breeding stud at Eltham on the very pastures
S
258 KINGSCLERE
where Mr. William Blenkiron raised Hermit and
Galopin. We find interesting traces of both
Richard of the Lion Heart and King John at
Kingsclere. The former visited Freemantle once,
and that was on his way from the Midland Counties
to Winchester, after his return from captivity and
just before his second coronation. It is recorded
that King John was at Freemantle Park on no fewer
than thirty-seven occasions. Clearly it will be the
duty of the first historian or novelist who is
impelled to give us another and more favourable
view of King John to study him from the sports-
man's point of view, beginning his researches at
Kingsclere.
The sporting Duke of Cumberland — ' if not the
largest, certainly the most successful, breeder of his
time' 1 — trained his horses on Kingsclere Downs.
1 In the opposite hollow (to Cottington's Hill) of the
chalk downs,' writes Mr. Money, ' stood Canham or
Cannon's Lodge. It was built in the seventeenth
century by Charles Duke of Bolton, and was oc-
cupied as a hunting box by the Earl of Mexborough,
and also by the Duke of Cumberland, who purchased
it of the Duke of Bolton, and his race-horses were
trained on the neighbouring Downs.' Sir John Lade,
described as ' a famous character,' also trained at
Kingsclere. There is a tradition to the effect that
the famous horse Eclipse did some of his work here-
abouts. In the words of one writer — who, however,
1 The Horse-Breeder's Handbook.
CHARLES I. AT KINGSCLERE 259
omits to mention his authority — ' on the adjoining
Cannon Heath it is said that Eclipse was trained.'
Even as Mr. Shore has found in the quaint place-
name Nothing Hill a modification of the Saxon
Mo-thing or Mote-thing Hill, so does he trace the
Canons of Rouen, who were lords of the manor of
Kingsclere until the time of Edward III., in Cannon
Park, Cannon Park Farm, and Cannon Heath. It
is not easy to resist the temptation to write both
minutely and at large of the romance of history
which impregnates these noble Downs. To treat
the theme right worthily — well, would require the pen
of a Charles Reade. How the author of ' The
Cloister and the Hearth ' would have beaten out and
fashioned the pure gold of imperishable fiction from
such nuggets of fact as these : ' Kingsclere,' says
Mr. Money, ' being on the high road between the
royal garrisons of Oxford and Basing House, felt no
trifling portion of the military tempests that swept
over this part of England during the Civil War
between Charles I. and his Parliament. The king-
marched along these Downs with his army, on his
way to the West from Oxford, shortly before the
second battle of Newbury in 1644. On the night
of October 21 Charles slept in the house of Mr.
Towers at Frobury, about a mile from Kingsclere.
Part of the old mansion is now occupied as a farm-
house, on the south side of which are the remains
of an ancient domestic chapel. A portion of the
stone pulpit was in the building within the last
260 KINGSCLERE
fifty years, and the base of the font yet does duty as
a horse-block in the farmyard.' *
The other Cleres that comprise the country
which Kingsclere dominates, Burghclere especially,
invite momentary notice. The recent elevation to
the peerage of the Right Hon. Herbert Gardner as
Baron Burghclere of Burghclere, in the county of
Southampton, has invested this ancient parish, at
the foot of the bold range of Hampshire and Berk-
shire Downs, with an additional interest. In early
times this part of Hampshire must have been a forest
abounding with deer and other wild animals. It
afforded better game and more hardy sport in finding
it than the dry soils further south. It is not con-
venient to make more than a reference or so to the
history of the manor. The heirs of Sir William
Fitzwilliam, to whom it had been granted by
Edward VI., sold it with the manor of Highclere
to Sir Richard Kingsmill, knight, of Sidmonton,
and in 1577 Kingsmill gave the property to his
daughter Constance, wife of Sir Thomas Lucy,
knight, of Charlecote, only son and heir of
Shakespeare's Sir Thomas Lucy — and Justice
Shallow. At Adbury House, in this parish,
resided for some time in the last century Mrs.
Pococke, the daughter of the Rev. Isaac Miles,
1 The base of the font in question has been removed since the
paper from which the quotation is made was published. Mr. Porter
obtained possession of the mutilated and desecrated stone with a
view to having it placed in Kingsclere church. This, after ' a restora-
tion' of the missing part of the font shall have been supplied — subject
to the approval of the Bishop of Winchester, who has seen the frag-
ment — will be done.
COBBETT AT KINGSCLERE 261
rector of Highclere, and mother of the famous
Oriental traveller, Dr. Richard Pococke, bishop of
Meath. It was this Bishop Pococke who brought
direct from Lebanon a cone, from which the
famous cedars at Highclere were raised. In later
times the house was occupied by the famous sports-
man Mr. F. R. O. Villebois, Master of the Craven
Hunt, who in 1844 fought out in the Law Courts
the question of free chase and warren in connec-
tion with the Earl of Carnarvon's Hampshire
manors. It was proved that the two manors of
Burghclere and Highclere had passed down
through various hands with their ancient privileges
intact to the ancestors of the then owner, and the
verdict was therefore given in favour of Lord
Carnarvon. At Budd's farm in this parish resided
for some years Mr. William Budd, an eccentric
attorney at Newbury and an ardent admirer of
Cobbett. The despotic radical and pig-headed
reformer who believed in beer, scorned tea, and
contemned the potato, may be found at Budd's
farm by those who accompany him on his attractive
1 Rural Rides.' The new church at Burghclere was
built in 1838, and a new parsonage erected during
the incumbency of the late Canon Portal, whose
name will be long remembered with affection for
the many good works in which he took a leading
part. Portal has been an honoured name in the
Clere country for many generations.
The pilgrim to Kingsclere who was so pleased
to find that it was 'five miles from everywhere,
262 KINGSCLERE
would be correspondingly gratified in his wanderings
thence that the widely scattered hamlets and villages
which dot the borders of this silent land are, each in
its way, places of peculiar interest. ' The little village
of Steventon — where Miss Austen was born, where
she grew into womanhood, and where she wrote her
first three novels — lies in the North Downs of
Hampshire, at about equal distance from Whit-
church and Basingstoke. Beyond the church and the
manor house there appears to have been what was
then the sufficient equipment of a country parson's
daughter.' 1 Newbury, which is rather too remote
from Kingsclere and its Downs to be comprehended
in this glance, Overton being the most accessible
station for Park House, and stopping the express
at Overton to accommodate John Porter's guests
quite the usual thing — has more than once figured
in a description of a visit to Ormonde and other
great horses. The Newbury traveller, after cross-
ing Greenham Common and Crookham, approaches
so near to the junction of Berks, Wilts, and Hants,
he, not unassisted in the impression by the local
Jehu, firmly believes that he has 'met' the three
counties in driving across a rivulet at Knights-
bridge. Overton and Whitchurch, with the famous
paper-mills at Laverstoke, a couple of miles distant
from each of those places, have played their part in
making history. Sixty years ago a writer, briefly
describing Whitchurch, its situation, distance from
1 Austin Dobson.
THE BANK-NOTE PAPER ROBBERY 263
London, population, and so forth, says : ' Shalloons l
and serges are manufactured : also paper for the
exclusive use of the Bank of England.' Bank-note
paper is yet manufactured at the Laverstoke mills.
The robbery of bank-note paper which took place
at these mills some thirty-four years ago was yet a
topic of conversation when John Porter came to
reside in the neighbourhood. Somewhat clumsily
conducted, and pursued with strange impunity for
some time, it had no pretensions to what con-
noisseurs in the fine art of criminality which
engages the novelists of the Gaboriau school of
fiction would call a first-class case of detected crime.
1 Shalloon. 'A slight woollen stuff (Swift), said to be so called
from having been originally manufactured at Chalons, in France.
Professor Archer, in his Wool and its Application (British Manu-
facturing Industries), states that through Chaucer there is indication
that shalloon ' ranks amongst the most ancient manufactures of wool,'
finding proof for his assertion in this passage :
A bedde
With shetes and with chalonnes faire y-spredde.
but chalonnes here denoted painted coverlets, for the manufacture of
which Chalons was at one time famous. De Foe, in his Tour
through Great Britain, says that the little town of Newbury in Berk-
shire, once famous as the residence of Jack Winchcomb, 'the greatest
clothier that ever was in England,' is now ' generally employed in
making shalloon, which, though it is generally used only for the
lining of men's clothes, yet it is increased to a manufacture by itself,
and is more considerable than any single manufacture of stuffs in the
nation.' In 1835 shalloons were described as 'a worsted article,
which, like Calamanco, may be either hot-pressed or unglazed, but it
differs from the latter, particularly in the manner of weaving, being
twilled equally on both sides, or what is termed double-twilled.' It is
remarkable that The Drapers' Dictionary, from which part of the
present note is compiled, while quoting De Foe's reference to the
Newbury shalloons, makes no mention of the shalloons manufactured
at Whitchurch. And yet these were manifestly known to a con-
tributor to Knighfs Encyclopcedia.
264 KINGSCLERE
But it was pregnant with enormous possibili-
ties, the inception of it was undoubtedly daring, and
consequently the trial ranks with the most remarkable
amongst cases of bank forgeries. The man who
produced the notes admitted that he had been
engaged in printing forged Bank of England notes
since 1846 ; and that he had printed those on
genuine paper, stolen from the mill. What made
the detection of robbery and forgery comparatively
easy was the fact that the paper was sized, but not
glazed, and no paper was ever sent from the mill
before being glazed.
Leaving the fringe of the Downs, with its varied
associations, and passing with a mere word of
recognition as we revert to the centre one of the
4 Boures ' which Fair Rosamond had ' atte parke of
Freemantel,' we come with John Porter on to what
for a period of thirty-three years has been his train-
ing ground, and thereby bring this discursive survey
up to date. Those who would be geologically
acquainted with the immemorial turf which spreads
over upland and valley may learn from Mr. Shore
that a large area of the chalk Downs on the south of
Kingsclere must have been open downland in the
Celtic period, when forest land and heath land
extended along the northern part of the country
from the outcrop of the chalk, over the areas
covered with clay, loam, sand, and gravel, into
Berkshire. Nature marked out the site of Kings-
clere as a desirable one for an early settlement, a
site having a good water supply — and such water!
THE WATER 265
the cresses that are cultivated at the crystal well-
heads near Park House are surely the finest in
England ! — good land for arable cultivation, good
pasturage, and plenty of woodland for a
supply of fuel, and timber for house building.
The gault clay near the surface in the vale assists
in causing the outflow of water from the chalk,
feeding the stream that has for a thousand years
worked the mills which have existed there, probably
on the same sites.
266
CHAPTER XVI
The Prince of Wales's visits to Kingsclere — Other visitors to Park
House — Lord Russell of Killowen and Sir Henry Hawkins on
the Downs with Porter — Sir Henry's fox-terrier 'Jack' — The
missing Bishop — Distinct advantages of the Downs as a training
ground — The beauty of animated nature on the Downs — A Con-
servative rookery — The trainer's troubles — 'The North Pole' —
Coursing — Fox-hunting : full-cry after ' Pat ' — ' The Kingsclere
Farmers' Meeting' — Never again ! — Gamekeeper and Poacher —
A temporary attachment — Demonstrations and Festivities — Lost
and found on the Downs.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, during
the time his horses were under Porter's care, main-
tained the connection which the kings and princes
of the reigning family have had for centuries with
Kingsclere in a manner which is a pleasant memory
at Park House and in the neighbourhood. Com-
pared with the short step which his Royal High-
ness makes from Sandringham to Newmarket, an
excursion from Waterloo to Overton was a journey.
But it was easy, expeditious, and exclusive. A
hansom from Marlborough House, the 11.15 express
from Waterloo station, a fly at Overton, where the
train was stopped, a hack waiting at an appointed
place, and a canter on to the Downs. That was the
usual procedure. The party which ordinarily met or
accompanied the Prince was in no instance numerous,
and the occasion always private. His Royal High-
H.R.H. AT KINGSCLERE 267
ness was invariably enabled to see the horses at
work, to witness a trial, or to canter about the Downs
in company with his trainer, free from any kind of
interference or interruption on the part of a curious
public. Luncheon at Park House followed, with a
leisurely inspection of the horses in the stables, and
then came the comfortable homeward journey.
One is left to conjecture whether, even with all the
conveniences of Newmarket at his disposal, the
Prince does not sometimes wish those pleasant days
at Kingsclere back again, especially as, as we have
said before, John Porter has the assurance of his
Royal Highness that the change which was made in
the custody of his horses was not effected without
sincere regret on his part. Sometimes, when the
composition of the royal party was more elaborate
than customary, the reporter got scent of it, and then
a paragraph like the following made its appearance in
the newspapers : ' The Prince of Wales, accompanied
by Lord Arthur Somerset, Mr. Mackenzie, and
other gentlemen, arrived at Kingsclere yesterday
morning, and saw the horses go through their
gallops. The Prince and other visitors afterwards
lunched at Park House, the residence of Mr. Porter.'
There is a well-nigh uninterrupted stream of
visitors to Park House all the year round. It
rarely happens that the trainer's hospitable roof
shelters none but the members of his own family and
dependents. Whether they be merely there for the
day or for a more prolonged sojourn, an inspection
of the work done by the horses on the Downs, as
268 KINGSCLERE
well as a personally conducted tour of the stables,
are embraced in the visitors' entertainment. The
equestrians who desire it are mounted by their host,
while those who would be unable to qualify for ' The
Two Pins' Club,' 1 or who prefer another sort of
conveyance, can be equally accommodated. When
the work is done on the gallops nearest the house,
the walk there and back is within the capacity of the
pedestrian who does not fancy himself at a record ;
but Sydmonton, out and in, save to a walker who is
exceptionally fit, is rather a high trial. The journey
in the governess' cart is not without its spice of
excitement. Whether a nipper from the stables
holds the reins and takes you, after fording the
stream at the end of the village, by the more
circuitous route, or 'young Mr. John' strikes out
from the first summit of the road Overton way
across the Downs, you may depend upon ex-
periencing moments of probably unreasonable
trepidation. But after you have closely shaved
a gatepost or two, and the protruding roots of a
gnarled old tree have thrown a wheel up to an angle
of forty-five degrees, you skirt the clanging rookery,
mount an upland, and descrying the three strings of
sheeted thoroughbreds, two on the heights and one
in the climbing valley, with Porter mounted upon
Jack directing the work, you feel how delightful it is
to be there. In its way it is a most beautiful sight,
and when England possesses a Meissonier capable
of painting horses in action with his spirit and truth
1 Dick Txar/rin and John Gil///*.
WITH THE TRAINER 269
to nature, a picture surpassing everything of the
kind that is known to us will, no doubt, be put upon
canvas. It is not unusual for the trainer to have
visitors of distinction by his side watching the horses
at their work, and it is amazing to these — in fact, to
all observers — how he unhesitatingly points out every
horse in the separate strings, while giving utterance to
a sharp word of instruction to this boy who is going
too slow or that who is driving his charge overmuch,
accosting each youngster by name. He smiles
quietly when (for example) Lord Russell of Killowen
or Sir Henry Hawkins — not infrequent visitors to
Kingsclere when a vacation permits — notes a
splendid goer and asks him what it is. It was
during one of Sir Henry Hawkins' visits to Park
House that the late ' Jack' — his favourite fox terrier
and his master's constant companion — was nearly
lost. 'Jack,' like the animal which aroused Dandie
Dinmont's admiration, was a ' bonny terrier and a fell
chiel at the vermin.' In walking over the Downs he
was suddenly missed, and for a considerable time
could not be found anywhere, though searched for
high and low. Eventually about three-quarters of
an inch of his tale was seen wagging outside a
rabbit hole, in which, in following the rabbit, he
had got completely wedged. He was dug out none
the worse for his imprisonment, and just as ready
for another dive of the like description.
It sometimes happens that the observer is devoid
of a correct eye for a horse, and is rash enough
to betray his ignorance in speech. There was an
270 KINGSCLERE
occasion when a neighbour, under favour, brought a
friend with him to look at the gallops, who happened
to be destitute of that description of organ.
According to Hood, the back of John Day the
coachman was too broad to be conceived by any
narrow mind. By a similar rule only a giant
mind could have had any conception of the
stature of the gentleman in question. He might
have been a direct descendant, throwing back
to that progenitor of ' Og, the King of Bashan,'
who remained ' of the remnant of the giants.'
The great horse, Common — and in Porter's
opinion he is one of the greatest — being passed in
review, the excessively long looker-on ventured to
disparage the magnificent animal, but not in the
hearing of the trainer. In ' an aside,' some minutes
later, John's neighbour said : ' What do you think
my friend says about Common ? ' Porter replied of
course that he had no idea, but without adding — as
he might have done, for it was in his thoughts — that
such an opinion was a matter of supreme indifference
to him. ' He says,' added his informant, ' that
Common is a monster.' ' Does he ? ' rejoined Porter,
with a glance at the critic. ' Well, monsters are
rather common on the Downs to-day.' Porter, it may
be explained, is not addicted to punning. Like Mary
Lamb's single exploit in that line, this quip of his
appears deserving of preservation, more particularly
in testimony to the jester's modesty, as it is preserved
at the instance of the trainer's amused neighbour.
When Dr. Wilberforce was Bishop of Winchester,
PORTER AND THE BISHOP 271
he, uninvited, but for all that warmly welcomed by the
trainer, was one day a deeply interested spectator of
the horses while they were taking their gallops. He
was due at Kingsclere to conduct a Confirmation
service. As he was driving along the road from
Overton he descried the string of horses at work,
with Porter mounted in command. His Lordship
stopped his carriage, stepped briskly across the
Downs, and introduced himself. It is not known
whether Dr. Wilberforce, with Kingsclere in his
diocese, had previously made himself acquainted
with the racing ' connection ' of Park House ; but he
certainly manifested the most cordial interest in the
business of the moment, asked a number of curiously
intelligent questions about the horses, and in short
conversed with Porter on no other subject than the
trainer's vocation. For the time being the Bishop
was one of the laity, with a genuine English sports-
man's interest in the thoroughbred. It was the trainer
himself who put an end to the interview. Suddenly
recollecting that he had a telegram to despatch from
the village, he said ' Good day ' and galloped off,
leaving Dr. Wilberforce to return to his carriage,
which meanwhile had been waiting for him in the
road. When Porter arrived at the post-office in
Kingsclere, which is opposite the church, he found
the vicar, with other clergymen and an expectant
crowd, in a state of mind bordering on dismay.
What had become of the Bishop ? Had he seen
the Bishop ? Prodigious was the relief of the
assemblage when they learnt that not only had the
272 KINGSCLERE
Bishop sustained no injury, but that he was by that
time very near at hand.
Porter loves these Downs, which he considers
afford under the conditions commanded by a private
trainer the most perfect of all training grounds for
the thoroughbred ; and his daily experience upon
them familiarises him with the changes of vegetable
colour and animal life which the seasons bring, and
which he observes with keenly abiding pleasure.
The intelligently enthusiastic gardener does not
limit his appreciation of flowers and plants and trees
to those whose cultivation he delights in at Park
House. He sees the works and ways of Nature as
Charles Waterton (it is strict ' sanctuary ' to all the
birds in the gardens at Park House, let the gardener
protest never so loudly against the feathered pilferers
of his fruit trees), White of Selborne, and Jefferies
(one of his favourite authors) saw them, with a quaint
method of finding out things which is quite his own.
An anecdote is told of a regular backer of horses
who, when asked why he never attended a race-
meeting, replied that he loved betting, but racing
was a bore. It is related of George Borrow, the
author of ' Lavengro,' that of the three personages
he always had a desire to see, the second was Lamp-
lighter, the sire of Phosphorus, Lord Berners's
winner of the Derby. To those who best know
him it is conceivable that John Porter might become
surfeited with racing. It is his delight, of course,
to bring his charges fit and well to the post, and to
see them win, but his heart's in the downlands of
PRIVATE TRAINING ADVANTAGES 273
Kingsclere, and he is just the man to thoroughly
appreciate Borrow's feeling of almost worshipful
admiration for a great horse. The question of
betting scarcely arises out of the reference, but it
may be remarked, perhaps, that few men in his line
of business speculate less than John Porter.
In reference to self-contained settlements like
his own, but more particularly to that which is
centred in Park House, Porter says : ' The advan-
tages of a private racing establishment as this are
manifold, but one of the chief is that the horses are
kept to themselves. This is safer at any rate than
when your stud has to fall in, as it were, and become
part of an immense congregation of horses, as is
habitually the case with trainers' lots at Newmarket.
In my opinion, it matters not what care you take or
what precautions you may adopt, it is next to impos-
sible to keep a large number of cattle of any descrip-
tion together within a prescribed space of ground
without favouring the generation of some form of
disease. And, the more numerous the crowd the
greater the danger. Newmarket, with the Heath,
lies entirely in a sort of basin surrounded by low
hills, and as for drainage, with the exception of one
watercourse which is converted into a drain, there is
practically none, while all impurities fall into instead
of outside the town. Regarded as a training ground,
Newmarket is at a disadvantage in comparison with
a down country, inasmuch as it is so level. Horses
that climb up and down in their daily exercise
develop all their muscles, because every one of these
T
274 KINGSCLERE
is brought into constant play in the ascent and
descent of the hills. A^ain, there is much more
elasticity in the turf of old down land than there is
in that of flat and more or less artificially preserved
pasture. What with the large number of horses
that are kept in continual work at Newmarket, and
the unceasing rolling and bush-harrowing which
have become necessary to the ground, all " the life "
is taken out of it. Down-land, I may remark, is
very expensive to keep in order, because all tracks
have to be put in by hand with " rammers " and other
appliances. In my own practice I seldom or never
resort to rolling the gallops after Christmas. They
are all put in order at the end of the racing season,
and, the spring frosts breaking up the surface again,
they remain good going the whole of the ensuing
summer. Otherwise, if you defer the operation of
rolling the gallops until, say, February, and then
get the March winds upon them, you have a hard
surface, which remains so for the rest of the season.
The proper management of the Downs for training
purposes requires careful attention on the part even
of a trainer like myself, who has lived upon them all
his professional life.
'It has been said of me that my heart and soul
are in my work, and that I am never happier than
when I am engaged in it. Well, I am not going to
deny that that is somewhere near the truth ; but I
may observe also that I derive a very great deal of
pleasure from my employment beyond that which
naturally belongs to bringing on the horses under
LOVE OF NATURAL HISTORY 275
my charge the right way and getting them fit for
their engagements. I enjoy the sights and sounds
of rural nature, the signs of the seasons, and watch-
ing the gradual succession of these is to me a source
of continual pleasure. There are the cowslip,
harebell, wild hyacinth, wild thyme, and saxifrage,
with many another flower and fragrant herb to
gladden the sight and sense of smell when one
treads or canters across the Downs, and it seems to
me that, after they begin to come, there is a fresh
carpet of them every month of the year, from
springtime to harvest. This is a wonderful
country for birds. All the English song birds,
the warblers and whistlers and twitterers, are with
us in their turns. It seems to be a favourite resort
of many birds of passage, and there are birds that
appear to have made the Downs their home.
There is the grey plover, the first harbinger of
spring. The bird merely scratching a small hollow
in the moss or grass to form the nest, and the eggs
are much sought after yet very difficult to find,
although some of the old women who go in search
of them and offer them for sale appear to make
a good thing of it. The wheatear, with his short
and jerky flight, the swallow and the cuckoo are
not only with us in their appointed seasons, but I
fancy, although I have kept no record of their
coming, that we have them earlier on our Downs
than they have in other parts of the county. It is
curious to watch the swallows as they dart and
wheel round the horses' feet, apparently without
t 2
276 KINGSCLERE
fear, hunting the insect life which the latter have
disturbed. There is a rookery between Cannon
Heath and Sydmonton which a noisy colony has
occupied ever since I can remember, and probably
generations before I made its acquaintance. As far
as I can see, there is no reason why the flock should
not build as freely at one end of the plantation as
they do at the other. But, no. Year after year
they congregate at the same end. I may remark
that this particular tribe of rooks are not only strictly
conservative, but intelligent as well — or perhaps I
ought to put it another way, they are intelligent
because they are conservative. However, it in-
variably happens when the horses appear over the
brow of the hill that a detachment of the birds leave
the rookery and closely follow the animals in their
track, diligently performing the office of scavengers
as they continue the pursuit. Amongst rare visitors
to the Downs I count the ring ousel and the quail.
Nevertheless, they are " annuals."
' Now and then a kestrel will make its appearance,
while the call of the curlew is not an unfamiliar
sound. As to the nightingales, they are regular
visitors; but to hear their "jug, jug" to perfection
you must ensconce yourself in the gardens at Park
House. There are jackdaws galore to be seen at
Sydmonton, starlings work together in immense
flocks, and all the land is alive with larks.
' The most troublesome creatures to the trainer
are the ants and moles. It is astonishing what
large heaps of earth are thrown up by both. It
'LIFE/ 'VIEWS,' AND WEATHER 277
has sometimes occurred to me, when we have cut
through an ant-heap, and the little creatures were
dispatched, scurrying about in all directions, out of
their beautifully celled-out habitations, that if some
of my labourers saw the ant tugging along with an
egg twice its own size they might profit by the
example. And yet it is doubtful. I am not learned
in butterflies, but I have observed a sufficient number
of these beautiful insects — not, of course, counting
the chalk-hill blues and little duns— to make me
wonder why a hunter with a gauze net was not
oftener encountered in the neighbourhood. There
are mavellously fine and extensive views to be
obtained from some of our heights, Cottington
especially. From the highest part of what used to
be called Freemantle Park you can see across Hants
into Berks, Wilts, Oxon, and Surrey ; and you may
obtain a good view of the Isle of Wight in one
direction, and of Windsor Castle in the other. You
can taste the salt of the sea when the wind blows
from the English Channel, and you may fancy
yourself at sea when the white fogs blind the valleys
and here and there trees show upon the uplands
like ship masts. It blows hard enough sometimes
to make even Park House appear to rock in the
gale ; and there is a spot on the Downs, called the
North Pole, which is occasionally cold enough to
cause visitors to think that they have discovered
the other one. This was quite my friend Dollar's
impression when we met the gamekeeper there-
abouts, and he, in answer to a question, was unable
278 KINGSCLERE
to articulate a reply. The breath on the poor man's
beard had frozen so hard he was afflicted with
momentary lockjaw.
1 We have plenty of hares ; Mr. Booth, the
zealous and genial secretary of the Sydmonton
Coursing Meeting, who resides at Sydmonton Farm,
takes care of that. Not that he is not as watchful
of the interests of the Vine and the Craven Hunts as
he is careful to provide game for the coursers, being
just as keen a preserver of Reynard as he is of puss.
Indeed, he is a thoroughly good sportsman all round.
Mr. Pember is master of the Vine, and Mr. Dunn
of the Craven. The kennels of the Vine are at
Overton, and those of the Craven at Vintbury. It
is not at all a good hunting country. There is too
much flint about, the woods are of considerable
dimensions and closely packed together, and under
ordinary conditions the scent does not lie. Never-
theless, it cannot be said that the Craven are not
ardent in the pursuit of their quarry — whatever
that may chance to be. I will not go the length of
saying that in the absence of a fox they will hunt
anything, but I remember on one occasion, when I
had walked to Sydmonton in the afternoon and was
returning home, I missed my Irish terrier, who had
accompanied me. I guessed, however, that he was
busy as usual with the rabbits in the Sydmonton
bushes, and, since I was sure from past experience
that he would come home to tea, I gave him no
further thought. The Vine were out that day, and
the hounds, drawing the bushes I have mentioned,
A FARMERS' RACE-MEETING 279
Pat was descried, a View Halloa raised, and away
went my old terrier at racing speed followed by the
pack and the body of the field ! By that time I had
trudged about three parts of my way home. The
first thing I saw was Pat, tearing along and making
a bee-line for Park House, and quite oblivious of my
presence. When the master rode up he said, " Have
you seen the fox?" " No," I replied, "but I have
seen my Irish terrier making for home with his
brush up, and for once in his life not stopping to
salute his master." Pat got safely home, winning
the race with a goodish bit to spare, and the Craven
trotted off in search of just such another fox.
' I had been repeatedly requested by the farmers
in the district to allow them to hold a race-meeting
on the Downs, and at last I consented. Not, how-
ever, without some apprehension as to the result.
However, that came off all right. But I must not
anticipate. It was when I had charge of Lord
Stamford's horses, and he was good enough to give
a farmers' cup to be run for. The course was laid
out on Cannon Heath, for I would not allow them
the use of my gallops. There was an extraordinary
entry, sixteen, and my object, since I was in it, was
to get them all to the post. I therefore lent them,
in turns, an old grey horse of mine to try theirs
with, and I rather think about three-fourths of the
competitors availed themselves of the privilege.
Strange to say, every one of them beat my grey, in
the trial, by a neck ! One of the conditions, and the
most important, was that they carried 12 st. 7 lb.
2 8o KINGSCLERE
each. As some of the jockeys were 9 st. or 10 st.
men, and there were very few weighted cloths
available, those riders who were deficient in weight
made up the difference by filling their pockets with
flints. One determined jockey, who had made sure
of winning, rode himself clean out of the saddle, and
finished gallantly on the horse's croup. Since the
first " Cannon Heath Meeting" had passed off so
harmlessly, I readily gave my sanction to a repetition
of what some of my sporting neighbours were
beginning to hope would prove a fixture. But
certain of the bookmaking fraternity got wind of it,
and, owing to a couple of them being unable to settle
when called upon, the meeting wound up with a
swimming match in a convenient pond, into which
the defaulters were summarily immersed. I dare
say neither they nor any of their brethren and
followers would have ever patronised the meeting
again, but I had had quite enough of it. That
second farmers' meeting on the Downs will last me
all my life.
1 It follows as an inevitable rule that where there
is game there will be poachers. These gentry are
numerous in the Clere country, and especially in my
part of it, and are not at all easy to catch. A neigh-
bour of mine, Mr. S. Wentworth, was informed that a
certain notorious poacher had been seen planting his
wires, and, since it was pretty certain that he would
return to them very early next morning, arrange-
ments were made to place him and his snares under
unobserved inspection. Mr. Wentworth himself, a
THE BAFFLED POACHER
281
young gentleman who was his guest at the time, and
my neighbour's bailiff, sturdy Joe Witts, comprised
the reconnoitring party. Joe had the reputation of
being as proficient with a knife and fork as the Fat
Boy in " Pickwick," and as far as sturdy strength went
he did credit to his keep. The party of three pro-
ceeded to the Down named by their informant, and
distributed themselves in ambush. About four
o'clock in the morning the expected poacher put in
an appearance, and, after carefully "surveying the
country round," and apparently satisfying himself
that he was alone in the landscape, he proceeded
leisurely to his wires and found that he had been
successful in securing two hares. These he carefully
removed, and dropped into two capacious pockets
provided for the purpose of receiving everything
that came to hand from wire or net. Having
evidently completed the job to his satisfaction, he
was turning on his heels to depart, when, to his
consternation, he beheld three men rise, as it were,
from the earth. He immediately made strong
running, and, having got the best of the start, led for
some distance ; but, encumbered as he was by the
weight of his spoil, it was not a fair handicap.
Weight told, as it always will, and he was eventually
secured. Mr. Wentworth thereupon ordered the
man to walk with them to the police station. This
the poacher flatly refused to do. If they wanted to
take him there they must carry him. Inasmuch as
the nearest police station was some three miles
distant, that alternative was out of the question.
282 KINGSCLERE
What was to be done ? The difficulty was at length
overcome. Joe Witts — the sturdy Joe, whose voice
was like the roaring of a lion — exclaimed "Tie him to
I, Maister! Tie him to I! He can't run away
then." This plan was adopted. The two men were
tied to each other, back to back, and when the party
returned with a horse and cart, they found the
poacher and his partner Joe as firmly attached
as the Siamese twins. The poacher had his way.
He was carried to the police station, and in due
course his case came before the magistrate and he
was duly convicted. I have often wondered what
the subject of conversation was between the attached
pair during their long wait for the conveyance.
1 We have had our demonstrations and festivities
on these Downs, and in that way have made our
not inconsiderable mark in local history. There is
plenty of room hereabouts for a mass meeting, and
during the progress of more than one general elec-
tion such a meeting has been held. As to the
cause, or the candidate, or the speakers, I need
not say a word. I may remark, however, that we
have always been winners. We have stood on no
Yellow Jacks. As to festivities — well, when Shot-
over won the Two Thousand and Derby, and
Geheimniss the Oaks, in 1882, the Duke of West-
minster and Lord Stamford joined with me in
providing funds for a fite to celebrate the double
event, and invited the people of Kingsclere "town"
and neighbourhood to dinner. Tents, decorated
with the Duke's and Lord Stamford's colours, were
LOST AND FOUND 283
erected on Cottington Hill; Roberts, of St. James's
Hall, London, did the catering, and did it well, too ;
and upwards of a thousand people sat down. We
had the usual grand display of fireworks, provided
by one Corneby, a skilful local pyrotechnist, and an
unusual flight of balloons, seeing that each of them
carried the colours of the Derby and Oaks winner.
I may remark that the poor of Kingsclere were not
forgotten on that occasion, or the inmates of the
workhouse, nor have they ever been. They have
always had a substantial dinner given to them to
commemorate our victories, and we have had a few.
I am not sure whether it is worth mentioning, but if
it is, this is as appropriate a place as any to mention
it, when, as it were, we are leaving the Downs to
continue my disclosures indoors, but I once lost a
purse when I was out with the horses, and although
I hunted everywhere in my tracks for the missing
treasure I gave it up as utterly gone. Nevertheless
I offered a sovereign reward to any of the boys
who might chance upon it. Upwards of two years
elapsed when the purse (which, by the way, con-
tained the sum of 2/. 18^. and some private memo-
randa) was discovered by a boy just as he was
pulling up after a canter. We had been over the
spot almost daily for the period named. Lady
Chelsea lost a ring off her finger when she was on
the Downs, and of course never expected to see it
again. But she did. Mr. Kingsmill, in walking
from Sydmonton Court, his residence, some months
afterwards, found the ring and restored it to the
284 KINGSCLERE
owner. I may remark, in closing this part of the
retrospect, that my pleasant associations with the
Downs were seriously interrupted when my son
John sustained an accident while out with a shoot-
ing party in the neighbourhood of Cottington, which
unfortunately eventuated in the amputation of one
of his legs. It was a sad affair for him, poor fellow,
but the amount of sympathy which was shown to
him, his mother, myself, and the whole of the family
in respect of it I shall ever hold in grateful remem-
brance.'
28,
CHAPTER XVII
Park House and its characteristics — The gardens — Pheasants, owls,
and Mornington Cannon's cat — ' Sanctuary ' — The pet pony from
Sandringham — Mementoes and relics — Kingsclere's connection
with Park House — The Vicar and the stable-boys — The rival
barbers and carriers — The Whiteley of Kingsclere — An ancient
hostelry — The Albert Hall — John Porter's speech — The Concerts —
The Horticultural Society — Football and Cricket — The Church —
Graves in the Churchyard — Old-world Kingsclere — Conclusion.
According to the unquestionable authority, there is
but one way to ' view fair Melrose aright.' Except
to those who approach Kingsclere from the Overton
Road the place is calculated to produce the im-
pression it did on the mind of a writer some
seventy years ago, who described it as 'a small
town of mean appearance.' And that too when
some trade in malt was carried on, when a market
was held every Tuesday, and a fair made rustic
merriment and stimulated afresh the local business
of agriculture twice a year. It was a much later
and far finer writer who beheld ' Kingsclere stand
out with brilliant picturesqueness under the clear
sunlight which fell on the fields islanding that
charming little village in an undulating sea of
green.' Obviously he scanned Kingsclere from
an Overton Road point of view. Inasmuch as one
pen has described the high land which immediately
286 KINGSCLERE
overlooks Kingsclere as ' a beech-crested knoll,'
and another has placed Park House ' not half a
mile from the village, amid luxuriant gardens and
meadows of vetch and clover, nestling beneath a
lordly range of mountains,' we may, making every
allowance for these and other impressionist notions,
conclude, that he who would view Kingsclere
aright must not fail to approach ' the town ' from
the Overton quarter. The summit of the last
descent, to the immediate left of which is a rather
formidable declivity in the Down which leads to
■ the rabbit hole,' affords the first complete glimpse
of Park House, with its lawns and gardens, and the
stables and other buildings, comprising John Porter's
extensive establishment. The house with its ad-
vanced guard of conifers is partially hidden by the
latter finely-grown trees. That portion of the
buildings, however, with the thatched summer-
house surmounted by a vane (an effigy of Blue
Gown showing the way of the wind), stands forth
most picturesquely, the beginning and principal
feature of the trainer's handsome home. The eye is
carried on to the point where the gardens terminate
in the country below Cottington Hill. The lawn-
tennis court, a considerable expanse of perfect turf
upon which championships might be decided, is
indicated by the pinkish wall of the thatched
pavilion ('hut' is too modest a word to describe
it) erected for the accommodation of spectators
when ' practice ' or a tournament is in progress.
The buildings, the highest of which is the water
PARK HOUSE AND COTTAGES 287
tower surmounting the stables, with the exception
of the lawn-tennis stand or pavilion, consist of red
brick. An artist noting that ' scheme of colour '
amid the greenery, and contrasting with the ' note '
of pinky red of the wall in question, would no
doubt pronounce the latter ' fortunate.' But before
reaching Park House, for the most part — if he be
WATER TOWER
driving at a gentle pace, since it is a stiffish hill
which precedes the expanse of table land upon
which residence and stables stand — the visitor has
had his attention drawn to the neat cottages dotting
the left of the road, in which certain married de-
pendents of the establishment are comfortably
housed. Copies of these cottages recur at intervals
288
KINGSCLERE
beyond, in the direction of the village. At a peri-
patetic meeting of the Hampshire Field Club,
which was held in the summer of 1895, Mr. T. W.
Shore, the organising secretary, halting in this
neighbourhood, said it was to be hoped a spirited
individual would some day put down a deep boring
to know whether there was coal or anything else.
In that part of the country no geologist could tell
what might be found perhaps five hundred feet
COACHMAN'S COTTAGE
down. Of all the districts in the south of England
that was one of the most likely, which rendered it
desirable that a trial boring should be made. If
coal was found they should at once have a remedy
for agricultural distress thereabouts. It might be
submitted, perhaps, that, pending the discovery of
coal, or the adoption of any heroic palliative for the
distress in question, so far as Kingsclere itself is
concerned, the neighbourhood is not so badly off,
and that no small amount of the prosperity which is
THE GARDENS 289
prevalent is attributable to the active existence of
the racing establishment of John Porter, the
employment it directly and indirectly gives to the
inhabitants, and the money it causes to circulate.
1 The town ' is not insensible to this, or ungrateful
to its chief supporter, as we shall find further on.
Whether the visitor to Park House stroll through
the gardens, while mine host is temporarily engaged
with other visitors, or he be at once received in the
hall and explore an interior that is rich in relics and
<^ '■■:>-.
STUD-GROOM S COTTAGE
mementoes of the Turf, and otherwise full of objects
of interest, his lot is equally fortunate. In the former
case there are the birds in the pheasantry, bred
mostly by Mr. Arthur Yates — another gift of that old
friend of John Porter's — to arrest attention. The
aviary where the pheasants are housed might be a
section of the pheasant department in the Zoo.
The roses, with, it will seem to the visitor, every
choice flower and rare flowering shrub that ' in the
garden grows,' all the sweet flowers of the familiar
orders, the fruit trees and bushes, with a wealth of
u
2 9 o KINGSCLERE
vegetables of prize-winner size and succulence, show
how completely the trainer, who is heart and soul a
gardener, has taken care to have every rood of the
ground turned to appropriate account. Everything
in season, or, for that matter, ahead of the season,
and all of the very best, would appear to be the
principle to which effect is given. The green-
houses, the orchid houses, the vineries, to the con-
tents and management of which only an expert in
first-class gardening could do justice, are on a par
with the rest of the establishment. The animal life
in this beautiful garden is one of its charms. It is
pleasant to see the Persian cat, a very very old re-
tainer, follow Mrs. Porter about step by step with
canine docility. The owls, in happy captivity, in
a semi-detached habitation which they share with
other pets, do not appear to mind being disturbed in
order that they may blink wisely in the daylight for
the entertainment of the caller. There is a cat, a
lovely creature with a strain of the ' Persian ' in her,
that is rightly the property of Mornington Cannon.
But she has been a wild cat ever since kittenhood,
and, having successfully defied more than one
attempt at capture on the part of an organised band
of hunters, is now allowed undisturbed liberty. She
is often missing for days together, and then she
shows herself at a window — mostly at meal times —
a sure sign that the larder outside has either become
monotonous or is impoverished. Nobody has seen
her feed, and yet the plateful of food which is duly
placed for her is just as duly emptied. Pat, the
THE PRINCE'S PONY 291
Irish terrier, is on instantly friendly terms with the
latest guest, and will walk with him any distance.
It has already been mentioned that the birds find
perfect sanctuary in the gardens at Park House.
The fruit suffers in consequence, but the mandate
stands that not a feathered pilferer is to be disturbed.
Although His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
is no longer a patron of the stable, charming
evidences of his friendly relations with John Porter
still exist at Park House. ' The little animal he is
bestriding,' wrote a special interviewer, ' is no
ordinary pony. On his back the sons and daughters
of the future King took lessons in equitation.
" Then, when they had got too big for the pony,"
says J. P., "the Prince sent him down here to find
a good home." And when I look at his sleek sides
it is evident the good home has been found.' The
explorer who makes a thorough inspection of the
farmstead part of the premises, after doing ' stable,'
lingering in the museum, a spacious apartment
embellished with owners' ' colours ' in glass cases,
pictures of famous horses, and shields of winners'
plates, gilt, and each accompanied with a gilded
inscription showing how much the winner won,
will dwell with delight, especially if he knows the
points of the breed, on a group of Jerseys, one of
which Porter purchased out of Prince Christian's
well-known herd.
A list of a year's guests at Park House, as a
remarkable volume of autographs which is kept
there shows, possesses peculiar and extensive in-
u 2
292 KINGSCLERE
terest. Not that everyone leaves his name. They
come from all parts of the world, and they are
wonderfully representative of the interest which
Kingsclere excites wherever, either directly or
through his descendants, the British thoroughbred
has set his foot. Neighbourly visits are not infre-
quent. The distinguished foreigner, the American
journalist or breeder, the racing man from 'down
under,' types and representatives of distant commu-
nities deeply interested in Porter's establishment at
Kingsclere, alternate and mingle with such visitors
as Mr. Wyndham Spencer Portal 1 and his brother
and distinguished guests, Mr. Cleaver, a newer
neighbour, and, as a matter of course, the parson
of the village. It was equally noteworthy, as evi-
dence of the genuine interest which is taken in
the stable-boys by the vicar, to witness the Rev.
Orde Powlett standing referee in a football match
between Kingsclere and Park House, and then,
some months later, to encounter his successor, the
Rev. A. T. Finch, on his way to Park House for
the purpose of preparing the lads for Confirmation.
A number of the pictures in the collection of Park
House have been reproduced in the present volume.
They are, however, necessarily, subjects which
belong exclusively to the history. Doubtless, if the
1 Mr. Wyndham Spencer Portal, D.L., J. P., Chairman of the
London and South-Western Railway Company. He succeeded the
Hon. Ralph Heneage Dulton, of Timsbury Manor, Romsey, Hants, in
1892, and was Deputy-Chairman of the Company from the year 1875
until that time. Mr. Melville Portal, D.L., J. P., is a brother of Mr.
Wyndham Portal, and Chairman of the Hants Quarter Sessions.
FROM 'HOUSE' TO VILLAGE 293
owner made a clean breast of it, he would admit that
they are not his favourite works of art ; while an in-
spection of the walls of dining-room, drawing-room,
and of other apartments would show how sound and
varied the art tastes of the possessor are. Amongst
marks of esteem is a fine example of the silver-
smith's craft occupying a prominent place on the
sideboard. It was presented by Sir Charles
Russell (now Lord Russell of Killowen) to his friend
John Porter. There are many other memorable
sideboard ornaments, but with the exception of that
just named they all yield in interest to the hoof of
Blue Gown. That famous horse died at sea. It was
a thoughtful and gracious act on the part of the
captain of the ship to have one of the horse's hoofs
removed for personal presentation to his old trainer,
and an act that the recipient of the relic greatly
appreciated. 1 One of Rosicrucian's and one of
Isonomy's hoofs also adorn the sideboard.
As we go forth from Park House to the village,
having, it may be, passed the buttery hatch and
made ourselves acquainted with a certain tap of
marvellous old ale, we cannot fail to observe how in-
timately the fortunes of Kingsclere town are inter-
twined with the Kingsclere training establishment.
Say it is the shortest day. A troop of women are
approaching to receive their annual dole. There is
a tradition to the effect that on one occasion a
1 Blue Gown died on his passage to America in 1 880-81, and
Kingcraft, another Derby winner, died while making the same passage
in 1886.
294 KINGSCLERE
good woman who carried the most recent baby
received a double gift, whereupon she retraced her
steps and, relating the circumstance to her companions,
the baby was borrowed, and, like the infant in
'The Cricket on the Hearth,' 'handed round* for
further presentation, ' like something to drink.'
Attacked directly in the cause of charity, and never
besieged in vain, Park House is also not seldom
made the medium for indirect appeals on what may
be termed the higher scale of benevolence. One of
the patrons of the stable, who is remarkable for a
concise epistolary style, appealed to by a lady in
Kingsclere for a subscription to a local charity,
replied somewhat as follows : ' takes all my
money. Kingsclere is my ruin. I send you a
guinea.' As you stroll past the paddocks on the
right, and more cottages on the left, it is ' Park
House ' that confronts you in every shape and form.
The baker, laden to the roof of his cart with loaves
to be discharged in one delivery : the butcher, with
his contributions towards provisioning the garrison,
as it were, for a siege : and waggon-loads of forage,
with other contributors to the maintenance of the
establishment, are all making for the house. You
look ahead and note the two sides of the Down
converging to a point, with the road in the centre
and the village ' bosom'd low in tufted trees ' partly
disclosed, and the richly wooded country beyond
spreading out like a fan. Here on the right are the
gas works, which make their presence apparent to
more senses than one. And here again we re-touch
THE VILLAGE 295
Park House. If it were not for John Porter these
works would have to close. It is the house and
stables that keep the gas going. The quaint row of
old cottages, with their bits of dormer-windows half-
hidden by part of the high-banked swarded road, is
surely just the foreground which an artist would
choose for a view of the most picturesque outskirt of
the village. The stream, and trees, and high ground
beyond would complete the picture. Quaint cottages
on the right, each with its plot of sloping garden
buttressed by a wall of flints, and then, if you please,
the Montague and Capulet of the village, the rival
barbers and carriers. One signboard proclaims the
fact that A. Wickens is a haircutter and shaver who
attends to clients in the evening from six o'clock,
while further on E. Stroud takes the same means of
informing the unshorn and unshaven that he operates
on heads and chins from the same hour. It is grati-
fying to find that they compete on equal terms.
You would scarcely conceive, from the tiny propor-
tions of a shop which vends everything, from flour
and fat bacon to starch and powder blue, and is as
strong in brushes and biscuits as it is in crockery
ware of home manufacture, that Prior & Sons are,
agriculturally speaking, the Whiteleys of Kingsclere.
They are millers, corn, coal, cake, and provision
merchants, forage contractors to her Majesty's
Government, and goodness knows what all. Prior
& Sons export Hampshire hams to France, and hay
to Aldershot. On the opposite side of the street is
the Albert Hall, architecturally 'an adapted Renais-
296 KINGSCLERE
sance built in brick and stone ' from the designs of
Mr. Dollar, and hereunder it will be seen how the
building came to be erected.
In a speech which he delivered as chairman of
the directors, John Porter said: 'I believe the
original idea of building a hall came from my wife.
We were discussing the want of such a building
when Dr. Maples called in, and suggested a limited
liability company. (So enthusiastic was the recep-
tion the idea met with that a company was at once
formed. The capital asked for was 760/. It was
immediately subscribed. It was then increased to
1000/.) The hall is for theatrical entertainments,
concerts, balls, and political meetings, be they Con-
servative or Liberal. We only draw the line at
atheists, Salvationists, and separationists (cheers, and
a voice " No Home Rulers ! "). By separationists
I mean those people who would lop off one by one
the vigorous branches of that grand old tree which
has taken centuries to grow into the British Empire,
and would leave old England a pitiful spectacle of
a decayed and withered stump, to be kicked and
cuffed by all the world, and with no spirit or energy
left to repel such an attack.' The trowel presented
to Miss Beach (daughter of Mr. W. W. Beach,
M.P.) by Dr. R. Maples to lay the foundation stone
was inscribed : ' Presented to Miss Beach by Dr. R.
Maples on the occasion of laying the Foundation
Stone of Kingsclere Albert Hall, June 14th, 1886.'
At the foundation banquet, the chairman, Dr.
Maples, said Mr. Porter was one of the mainstays
CONCERTS AND FLOWER SHOWS 297
of Kingsclere, and without him Kingsclere would
not be what it was. Should adverse fate ever
remove him, the immediate result would be a
decrease of at least one hundred of the population.
Probably Mr. Porter had done more than any other
man for Kingsclere, both with his public zeal and
with his pocket. In responding, Mr. Porter said
that during the twenty-three years he had been
with them he had always wished to do what good
he could for Kingsclere. The good of the parish
was always a pleasure to him, and he was glad to
give employment to as many as he possibly could.
He lived at Kingsclere as much as possible, as far
as his profession permitted.
Ever since the house-warming of the Albert
Hall — which hospitable operation was, of course,
carried into effect by Mr. and Mrs. John Porter — the
place has figured prominently in the local records.
We read from time to time that ' the usual success
attended the annual concert given by Mr. John
Porter,' when ' the Albert Hall was prettily de-
corated,' and ' Mr. Porter entertained a large party
at Park House.' Also, praises of Miss Mildred
Porter's pianoforte playing, which, considering that
the young lady is a medallist of the Royal Academy,
is not surprising. The concerts have been esta-
blished long enough to have made Mrs. Charles
Greenwood and Mr. George Gardner Leader (Mr.
Porter's son-in-law) two admirable vocalists, with
other regular contributors to the annual programme,
first favourites at Kingsclere, The proceeds of the
298 KINGSCLERE
concerts are given to local charities. It was only-
natural that the Kingsclere District Horticultural
Society should spring into flourishing existence with
Park House to support it. Writes the local chroni-
cler, after assigning a prominent place in his report
to Mr. and Mrs. John Porter, the Misses Porter,
Mr. John Porter, junior, and a large house party,
that ' Dr. Edwards next submitted the health of
Mr. John Porter, whom he thanked for throwing
his grounds open to the Society, and spoke of him
as a staunch liberal friend to Kingsclere. Mr.
Porter responded to the enthusiastic manner in
which the toast was received, and said it was a
source of real pleasure to assist at the working of
this excellent Society,' which hearty assurance
everybody who knew the speaker devoutly be-
lieved. As to the contributions to which the Society
owes so much of the success of its annual exhibi-
tion, such statements as the following have come
to be annually looked for : ' Mr. Norris's selection
from the Park House conservatories also displayed
much taste, while Miss Mildred Porter's button-
holes and Mrs. Milsom's beautiful hand-bouquet
were greatly admired.' Some idea of the part
which Mrs. Porter plays in the useful, social, and
graceful functions which diversify the life at Kings-
clere in its relation to Park House, and of the
estimation in which that lady is held, was given by
a speaker on another public occasion, who said that
* wherever the name of Mr. John Porter was men-
tioned — which was all over the land — his wife's was
equally well known.'
FOOTBALL AND CRICKET 299
Football is cultivated at Kingsclere, and the stable
boys are proficient at the game. It is astonishing
with what pluck and skill the least of them will tackle
opponents twice their weight. When they can secure
the services of Barry Porter, the trainer's youngest
son and a player with a county record — in the county
of his adoption, Surrey — they feel strong enough
to confront a team of the best. Occasionally a
big match is played at Kingsclere — Ewell against
Newbury, for example — and then as a matter of
course the players are entertained at Park House.
There is an annual cricket match between Mr.
Lloyd Baxendale's and John Porter's elevens, and
as good men contend the rigour of the game is
maintained, and the battle is worth seeing. Men like
Emmett and 'the demon bowler,' Spofforth, have
figured in the Porter team, in which, also, that
formidable amateur — almost as good with bat and
ball as he was in the pigskin when he sported silk,
1 Bobby' I' Anson, invariably takes a hand. John
Porter and Robert I'Anson are very old friends. It
may be doubted whether any public character in the
sporting world has been oftener described, or with
more contrasted results, than John Porter. The occa-
sion of one of those cricket matches was seized by
one of the portrait-painters — in pen and ink — to
sketch a likeness ; but that example of free and
easy limning was surpassed by another artist who
wrote as follows: ' Now, as when he was qualifying
for the business, Mr. Porter is just the same quiet
little man, with the subdued manner, and the calm,
3 oo KINGSCLERE
reflective expression, whom you might be excused
for putting down, if you met him casually without
introduction, as a physician with a slightly horsey
turn and important consultation in his mind, a
hunting family-solicitor, or a gentleman-farmer of
scientific bent. For anyone who lives in an
atmosphere of " horse," who has been engaged in the
training business for a moderately long lifetime,
and is a prominent figure amongst trainers, Mr.
Porter is about the least horsey-looking of our
racing men of mark.' Passing from the Albert
Hall, one of the newest, to ' The Swan,' one of the
oldest, buildings in Kingsclere, we are impelled to
pause for a moment at that tavern. A local anti-
quary thus couples two interesting facts : ' Win-
chester College had property at Kingsclere, some of
which it still retains, notably that famous hostelry,
yclept " The Swan," and hence we find several
names in the register of natives of this parish ; and
let the fact be held in perpetual honour that the
name of the first scholar on the roll of the College
is that of a Kingsclere boy, Andrew Goolde.' One
of the many observers who surveyed the place from
the windows of ' The Swan ' has given it as his
impression that ' Kingsclere is an ideal village.
To the right is the old church, and facing it is the
blacksmith's forge. In that little forge all the
plates for the many horses from Park House that
have won our great classic races have been welded.
Old Mr. Russell, the blacksmith, now rests in the
churchyard opposite, where " Tiny " Wells, the
WELLS'S GRAVE 301
celebrated jockey, lies. Russell's sons still carry on
the business.' Not only John Wells, Sir Joseph
Hawley's favourite jockey and John Porter's life-
long friend and comrade, but Wells's wife, George
Manning, the trainer, and a son of Charles Marlow's
rest in the shadow of Kingsclere's ancient church.
The first chapter in the history of the venerable
piles begins in Saxon times. Of that building,
however, no trace remains. The fine church of
Kingsclere which we see now is mainly of Norman
date, and the architecture shows that its erection
must be ascribed to the time when the Abbey of
Hyde held the advowson. At about the end of the
thirteenth century this benefice was the wealthiest
in the diocese of Winchester. It is noteworthy
that revenue contributed by Kingsclere helped to
build Rouen Cathedral, and that a palace at
Winchester was built by funds partly derived from
the same source.
Whether it be taken before or after Sir Joseph
Hawley's favourite Kingsclere breakfast — which
consisted of trout, a chop, and strawberries— the
stroll through Kingsclere ' town ' and thereabouts
is a pleasant experience. Only, to enjoy it
thoroughly, you must now and then ' mark time '
in the antiquarian sense in company with the
Monkbarns of the place or the oldest inhabitant.
'The clanging rookery,' the saddlers' and wheel-
wrights' shops, the doctor's, Mr. Drake, the brewer,
a mill and a mill-stream which would delight ' Red-
spinner,' the post office and telegraph office (in
3 02 KINGSCLERE
active communication with the haunts of men
owing to the contiguity of Park House), the quiet
roads leading from what may almost be called the
church square to Basingstoke and Newbury, and
on to the rising Downs, comprise features which
might in these days, when the railway goes every-
where, be called ' an ideal village.' As for its old-
worldness, as Mr. Shore says, ' the curfew bell is
an appropriate survival of a Norman custom in a
Norman church. Seven mills are mentioned in
Domesday Book, and four remain at the present
day.' As to modern ' Kingsclere ' — in which is
embodied the origin, development, and present con-
dition of Park House and John Porter's extensive
racing establishment — it is hoped that the contribu-
tion to its history which the proprietor of Park
House has made in the present volume will not be
found unacceptable to those who take an interest in
the English racehorse.
303
EDITOR'S NOTES
WILLIAM PALMER
William Palmer, surgeon of Rugeley, Staffordshire,
aged thirty-one, was indicted for the wilful murder of John
Parsons Cook, and tried at the Central Criminal Court on
May 14, and eleven following days of May 1856. In
consequence of the prejudice against him in Staffordshire
the case was transferred to London before Lord Chief
Justice Campbell, Baron Alderson, and Mr. Justice Creswell.
The Attorney-General (Sir A. Cockburn), Mr. Edwin
James, Q.C., Mr. Welsby, Mr. Bodkin, and Mr. Huddleston,
were for the prosecution, and Mr. Serjeant Shee, Mr.
Grove, Q.C., Mr. Gray, and Mr. Kenealy for the defence.
The trial was remarkable for the conflict of the medico-
scientific evidence, the most eminent men among our
physicians and analysts being called on either side, and
the most contradictory testimony as to the possibility of
detecting strychnia being given. Cook, having been
originally brought up as a solicitor, on coming into a
fortune of from 12,000/. to 13,000/., abandoned the law and
took to the turf, where he became acquainted with Palmer,
who had for some years kept racehorses. Originally in
good local practice, Palmer had of late transferred most
of his patients to a Mr. Thirlby, formerly his assistant.
His father, originally a working sawyer, had amassed a
fortune as a timber merchant, and dying suddenly in 1837
left a fortune of 70,000/. Each of the children took 7,000/.
Of the seven children the prisoner was the fourth. As a
child he was known for his amiability and kindness, but
also for his sly and underhand manner, and his partiality
for trying experiments of a cruel nature on animals. He
had to leave a firm of druggists in Liverpool when he was
3 04 KINGSCLERE
apprenticed in consequence of a scandal in money matters.
He was placed with Mr. Tylecote, a surgeon at Rugeley,
walked the London hospitals, ' passed,' and set up for
himself at Rugeley, having previously married the illegiti-
mate daughter of an Indian officer, who left her a small
property. Of his five children only the first was living at
the time of his trial, the others all dying suddenly of
convulsions within a few weeks of their birth. He lived
in handsome style, training and breeding race-horses,
and occupying himself on the turf. As his wife's fortune
died with her in 1854, he insured her life for 13,000/., the
premiums on which exceeded the income he derived from
her, further insurances of a greater amount being declined
by other offices. Within nine months after this his wife
was dead. Less than three months subsequently, Palmer
was endeavouring to effect insurances on the life of his
brother Walter, a confirmed drunkard, to the enormous
extent of 80,000/. Only one of these policies, that in the
Prince of W 7 ales's Office, was accepted. He then tried to
effect an insurance for 10,000/. on the life of one George
Bate, a decayed farmer, whom he employed as a kind of
farm bailiff, and represented as a gentleman and an esquire,
with a famous cellar of wine, but the insurance offices were
now thoroughly awake ; a detective was sent to interview
the esquire, whom he found hoeing turnips, and the scheme
fell through.
Since 1854 Palmer had been in the hands of bill dis-
counters, and especially a money-lending attorney in May-
fair of the name of Pratt, with whom he discounted
what purported to be the acceptances of his mother, some
of which were renewed on partial payment, others cleared
off by the money received from the insurance of his wife's
life. In May 1855, Cook had lent him his acceptance of
200/. to meet a small claim, and had to pay it on Palmer's
default. In August that year Palmer asked Pratt to
discount a bill of Cook's for 500/., representing that Cook
wanted the money. It was, however, declined without
further security, and then Cook assigned two of his
horses — Polestar, the subsequent winner at Shrewsbury,
and Sirius — as a collateral security, and obtained only
375/. in money, and a wine warrant for 65/., the rest being
swallowed up in discount and expenses. Cook got neither
money nor warrant, Palmer asking Pratt to send them to
BILLS'
305
the post-office at Doncaster, and as the cheque was made
1 to order ' and bore a receipt stamp, Palmer, it was alleged,
forged the name ' John Parsons Cook,' and appropriated
the proceeds. That bill would be due on the day of Cook's
death. The same month he attempted to effect the
insurance on Bate's life, and though Cook had, at Palmer's
request, attested this proposal, which referred to Palmer as
the usual medical attendant, beyond that he had nothing
to do with it. On November 6 a writ for 2,000/. against
Palmer, and another for the same sum against his mother,
were issued, but held over by Pratt for 'arrangement.'
This he managed to the amount of 800/.; and consequently,
after allowing for an exorbitant discount, 600/. was taken
off the bill, leaving 1,400/. to be met. The Prince of
Wales's Office had refused to pay on Walter Palmer's life,
and Pratt would wait no longer. On November 13,
Pratt wrote him that all the bills, 11,500/. in amount, must
be met — a letter which Palmer must have received next
day — the day after Cook's horse won at Shrewsbury. After
the race Cook had between 700/. and 800/. in his pocket,
and from the stakes and other bets would be entitled on
the week after to receive upwards of 1,000/. at Tattersall's.
Before that day Cook was dead, his pocket-book empty,
and his betting-book missing. Cook celebrated the victory
of his horse with some friends at the Raven Hotel on his
return from the course. He went to bed well, and next
day was at the meeting as usual. That night his illness
began. Fisher, a witness, was invited by Cook late on the
evening of November 14 to come to the rooms where he,
Palmer, and one Myatt were, to take some brandy and
water. Cook drank almost all the liquor in his glass, and
within a minute exclaimed, ' There is something in it ; it
burns my throat dreadfully.' Palmer sipped what remained
of the liquor, and said : ' There is nothing in it.' Later
Cook said he thought Palmer had been dosing him, and
gave Fisher 700/. to take care of. Dr. Gibson was sent for,
and administered some simple remedies. Cook said later,
he thought he had been poisoned. Mrs. Brooks saw
Palmer on the night of the 15th standing at a table in a
passage at the top of the stairs which led to Cook's bed-
room, examining the contents of a tumbler which he held
up to the light. At the Talbot Arms, at Rugeley, an inn
situated immediately opposite Palmer's own house, whither
306 KINGSCLERE
Cook was taken, the poisoner completed his work. The
chambermaid tasted about two tablespoonfuls of some
broth which Palmer had sent over for Cook, and was so
sick she had to go to bed. Mr. Jones, a surgeon at
Lutterworth, an intimate friend of Cook's for the last five
years, was written to by Palmer on Monday, the 19th,
stating that Cook was taken ill at Shrewsbury, and obliged
to call in a medical man ; that ' since then he had been
confined to his bed with a very serious bilious attack,
combined with diarrhoea,' and that Palmer ' thought it
advisable that his friend should come and see him.'
Palmer thereupon proceeded to London. It was settling
day at Tattersall's, and he had written to Herring to meet
him at a house in Beaufort Buildings. Cook's usual agent
was Fisher, and Palmer was a defaulter. Herring was
naturally surprised on hearing from Palmer that he was to
get in Cook's debts ; but, however, he undertook to do so.
Palmer returned to Rugeley. In response to the letter
which Palmer had written him, Cook's friend Jones, who
had been ill, came to Rugeley, but not until the afternoon
before Cook died. Approaching the end, with Jones
sleeping in the room with him, Cook suddenly started up
in his bed and called out : ' Doctor, get up, I am going to
be ill. Ring the bell and send for Palmer.' Palmer came
in two or three minutes after the chambermaid called him.
He said, ' I never dressed so quickly in my life.' He gave
Cook two pills, which he said were ammonia pills. Cook
swallowed them. Directly he did so he uttered loud
screams, threw himself back in the bed, and was dreadfully
convulsed. He said : ' Raise me up, I shall be suffocated.'
The convulsions continued, accompanied by stiffening of the
limbs, and the heart gradually weakened. Palmer, who
had gone to his house for some spirits of ammonia to be
used as a stimulant, fetched a bottle, and found that the
pulsations of the heart were gradually ceasing, and life was
almost extinct. Cook died very quietly a short time
afterwards.
Palmer was present at the post-mortem examination.
When the stomach and intestines were removed from
the body they were separately emptied into a jar by Mr.
Devonshire and Mr. Newton. While the former was
opening the stomach a push was given by Palmer, which
sent Mr. Newton against Mr. Devonshire, and shook some
THE INQUEST 307
of the contents of the stomach into the body. Palmer
was smiling at the time. The viscera with their contents
were placed in a jar, which was covered over with two
bladders that were tied and sealed. Palmer was moving
about the room, and presently the jar was missed from
where it had been placed. Dr. Harland called out, ' Where's
the jar ? ' and Palmer, from the other end of the room,
said, ' It is here ; I thought it would be more con-
venient for you to take away.' Dr. Harland, continuing
his evidence as to the post-mortem at the trial : ' I called
to Palmer, Will you bring it here ? ' I went from the
table, and met Palmer half-way coming with the jar.
Since I last saw it, it had been cut through both bladders.
The cut was hardly an inch long, done with a sharp instru-
ment. Palmer, Devonshire, and Newton said they had
not done it. The strings were then cut, the covering
altered, each corner re-tied, and re-sealed with Dr. Harland's
seal. During the post-mortem Palmer remarked to Dr. Bam-
ford, and also made the observation to other persons in a
loud voice ' They won't hang us yet.' The proof that Palmer
purchased strychnia on two separate occasions immediately
before the convulsive attacks of which Cook died, rested
on the evidence of two druggists' assistants at Rugeley.
On the day after Cook returned from Shrewsbury with
Palmer to the * Talbot ' at Rugeley, Cook dined with
Palmer. Early the next morning (Saturday) Palmer was
in his bedroom, and sent for a cup of coffee for him. Cook
vomited the coffee. Then the soup followed, and the
victim's drive to his death was accelerated as has been
recounted. Palmer made a second attempt on the jar
which contained the contents of the stomach. Myatt, the
postboy, said that Palmer offered him 10/. to upset Mr.
Stevens and his solicitor's clerk, who were to take the jar
to the Stafford Station en route to London.
Whilst the analysis was being conducted in London,
the coroner opened an inquest at Rugeley. Palmer sent a
hamper of fish and game to Ward the coroner, writing the
direction himself, but not otherwise revealing from whom
they came. To Cheshire, the postmaster, with whom he had
long been on friendly terms, he on December 2 hinted the
importance of his knowing anything that might pass through
the post between Dr. Taylor (the analyst) and the local
solicitor. On the Wednesday following, he was told by
308 KINGSCLERE
Cheshire the substance of the letter written by Dr. Taylor
to Mr. Gardner on the previous day. Thereupon, on the
8th, Palmer writes to a poulterer at Stafford to have some
game ready for his messenger. Bate goes to the poulterer,
re-directs, and sends the game by a lad, and then finds his
way to the inn, where the coroner is smoking, calls him
out of the billiard-room, and privately gives him a letter, in
which, in reference to the evidence given at the inquest on
the previous day, he states when Cook was first taken ill,
discounts Fisher's forthcoming evidence, and contrasts
what Professor Taylor may say to-morrow with what he
has already said. As to the latter point, Palmer's words
were, ' Mind you, I know and saw it in black and white
what Taylor said to Gardner.' Eventually, while Palmer
was in Stafford Gaol, inquests were held on the bodies of
his wife and his brother Walter. In the first case, there
was no manner of doubt that she had been gradually
dosed to death by antimony. In that of the brother, the
analysis failed to detect any poison, a fact probably
accounted for by the length of time that had elapsed since
the death and the action of the lead coffin, if prussic acid
was the poison used. In both cases, however, verdicts of
wilful murder against Palmer were returned.
The trial for the murder of Cook, as has been stated,
filled a period of twelve days. Lord Campbell's charge
occupied the whole of the eleventh, and until the afternoon
of the twelfth day. The jury retired at 2.20, and at 3.45
returned a verdict of guilty, and Lord Campbell passed
sentence of death, to be carried out at Stafford Gaol. The
prisoner heard the sentence unmoved. Even at the close of
the Lord Chief Justice's summing up, which was felt to be
adverse, Palmer retained his confidence, and is said to have
thrown over to his counsel a paper, on which he had written,
1 I think there will be a verdict of Not Guilty.' Sir Douglas
Straight remembers as a boy being present at most of the
trial of William Palmer, and recalls ' the florid, portly form
of the prisoner, the keen, searching eye with which he
watched the witnesses and counsel, the cool, calm way in
which he wrote slips for the instruction of his solicitor and
counsel, the interest and attention with which he watched
Lord Campbell's summing up.' Young as I was, Sir
Alexander Cockburn's reply for the prosecution made a
deep impression on me, and well might the convict say, ' it
PALMER'S STUD 309
was the riding that did it.' While the sentence was being
passed Palmer drew himself up as if about to make some
remark, but did not attempt to speak ; then he stood quite
calm, and when his Lordship had concluded, turned round
and walked from the dock with the same coolness he had
shown during the whole of his protracted trial.
palmer's stud
An account of the sale, dispersal, and subsequent per-
formances of the horses comprising Palmer's racing stud
appears necessary in order to complete the collateral story
of the notorious poisoner's connection with the Turf. In
1 Bell's Life ' of January 20, 1856, we read that ' William
Palmer's own life is insured in the Albion Office for 5,000/.,
and the policy is assigned to Mr. Wright, solicitor, of
Birmingham, for " advances made." ' Mr. Wright, it may
be remembered, is the person who swept off the whole of
Palmer's effects, under a bill of sale for 10,000/., including
the racing and breeding stud, which was brought to the
hammer at Tattersall's on Monday last, and realised 3,906/.
Pratt had a bill of sale for 500/. on Polestar, Mr. Cook's
mare, which it is understood he has since voluntarily relin-
quished, so that she, together with the remainder of Mr.
Cook's stud, will shortly be sold. ' As to the sale of
Palmer's stud, it naturally drew together a very large
attendance, including many leading patrons of the Turf,
and most of the principal trainers. There was some
spirited bidding for The Chicken between a supporter of
the Danebury stable, and Mr. Harlock, the latter of whom
eventually secured the horse for a noble lord [Lord Ports-
mouth], who adopts the nom de course of ' Edwards.' Major
Grove secured Tricktress for the Royal Stud, but the
Prince's commission (!) would not allow of his securing
Nettle (who was ruined by her accident in the Oaks for
racing purposes), and he was outbid by Mr. F. L. Popham.
The Seaweed filly and Rip Van Winkle return to Woolcot's.
Mr. Howard bought the two highest-priced yearlings (the
filly out of Maid of Lynne, and the colt out of Dervish's
dam), and they go into William Goater's stable ; and the
yearling colt out of Goldfinder's dam was purchased by
3 io KINGSCLERE
Mr. Blenkiron,who also added Doubt to his stud at Middle
Park. The two-year-old colt by Sir Hercules out of
Lurley's dam has joined Joseph Dawson's lot at Ilsley,
and Staffordshire Nan, we are informed (though not
officially), has returned to her old quarters at W. Saunders's,
at Hednesford. Prices : —
Guineas
The Chicken [afterwards re-named Vengeance], by Chanticleer
out of Gladiole's dam (Mr. Harlock) 800
B. filly, 3 yrs., by Melbourne out of Seaweed [afterwards called
Mermaid] (Mr. Sargent) 500
Nettle, 4 yrs., by Sweetmeat out of Wasp (Mr. F. L. Popham) . 430
Staffordshire Nan, 3 yrs., by Faugh-a-Ballagh out of Dart's
dam (Mr. Bryant) 300
Brown yearling filly, by Touchstone out of Maid of Lynne
[afterwards called Oakleaf] (Mr. Howard) .... 250
Tricktress, 8 yrs., by Sleight of Hand out of Dervish's dam,
covered by Touchstone (Royal Stud) 230
B. yearling colt, by Melbourne out of Duchess of Kent [given
in the ' Stud Book ' as by Touchstone, afterwards called
Frogmore] (Mr. Howard) 230
Duchess of Kent, covered by Teddington (Mr. H. Hargreaves) 210
Lui ley, 5 yrs., by Orlando (Mr. Alexander) 120
Brown colt, 2 yrs., by Sir Hercules out of Lurley's dam [after-
wards named Gemma di Vergy — the dam herself was sub-
sequently called Snowdrop] (Mr. H. Hargreaves) . . 105
B. filly, 2 yrs. (sister to Staffordshire Nan) (Mr. Hadland) . . 82
Doubt (foaled 1846), by Gladiator out of The Dart's dam
[Marcella], covered by Melbourne (Mr. Blenkiron) . . 81
Goldfinders dam (foaled 1843), by Liverpool out of Ninny,
covered by Teddington (Mr. Parker) 71
Morning Star (brother to Polestar) (Mr. Preston) . . .71
B. yearling colt, by Melbourne out of Goldfinder's dam [after-
wards named Wanderer] (Mr. Blenkiron) . . . .225
Rip Van Winkle, 3 yrs., by the Flying Dutchman out of
Windischgratz's dam (Mr. Sargent) 70
Brown yearling colt, by Faugh-a-Ballagh out of Doubt (Mr.
Nicolls) 51
To further follow the fate of the principal members of
this in every respect remarkable stud, Vengeance (late
The Chicken) ran unplaced and unbacked, with 8 st. on his
back, in the Royal Hunt Cup. He was again nowhere in
the Chesterfield Cup at Goodwood, albeit second favourite
with Olympus, when Lord Anglesey's Termagant ridden
by Fordham won. Then came the Caesarewitch, which, in
relation to the murderer's former ownership, proved a sen-
sational race indeed. Here it is — one, two, three, with the
betting : —
PALMER'S STUD 311
Mr. Edwards's Vengeance, by Chanticleer, 4 yrs., 7 st. 7 lb.
(Aldcroft) 1
Mr. Snewing's Polestar, 4 yrs., 8 st. 2 lb. (J. Goater) . 2
Mr. W. Day's December, 4 yrs., 5 st. 5 lb. (Hibberd) . 3
Betting : 5 to 1 against Polestar, 8 to 1 against December, 9 to 1
each against Vengeance and Malacca, &c.
Won in the commonest of canters by three lengths ; four lengths
between second and third.
The reporter, whose ' fine Roman hand ' will not escape
recognition, thus comments and moralises from a racing
point of view on the race : — ' The extraordinary coinci-
dence of the first and second horses in the race to-day
having belonged to the wretch Palmer and his unfortunate
victim Cook, afforded an exciting subject for gossip, and
recalled afresh the frightful monstrosities of the Rugeley
tragedies — how Palmer purchased Vengeance (then called
The Chicken) with his poor wife's blood — with a portion of
the money which he obtained from the insurance offices after
poisoning her; and the subsequent murder of his friend to
obtain possession of the large sum which Polestar's success
at Shrewsbury had won for poor Cook, in order to meet
the pressing difficulties of the moment. ... To judge by
the result of the race to-day, if Palmer had managed to
escape detection, the Ring would undoubtedly have had a
"dressing" in the course of the present season with Polestar
and The Chicken, to say nothing of the " good thing " that
Gemma di Vergy, another of his stud, of whom he was
particularly fond, might have brought off. Vengeance
started favourite for the Cambridgeshire (3 to 1), and
10 to 1 each against Malacca, and beaten two lengths by
Mr. T. Parr's b.c. Malacca by Ratan, 3 yrs., 5 st. 5 lb.
(Hibberd), I ; Mr. Edwards's br.c. Vengeance, 4 years
8 st. 2 lb. (including 7 lb. extra) (Flatman), 2 ; and Mr.
Warrington's b.f. Flyaway, 3 yrs., 6 st. 9 lb. (Bray), 3.
Thirty-four ran.' Vengeance did not run again, and
evidently went to the stud in 1859. He appears in the
return of foals credited with a brown colt, The Bilk, out of
Queen Christina (Lord Portsmouth's), and was advertised
to serve at 10 guineas, stock pronounced ' very promising.'
In 1863 there was a useful plater, called Pony, by
Vengeance. In 1864 Vengeance is credited with five
winners. One of them, Mr. C. Alexander's Cordelia-
Sydmonton (out of Midia), was probably the best. He
3i2
KINGSCLERE
beat Caller Ou at Lewes. At four years old he won the
Whip at Newmarket. Gemma di Vergy won thirteen out
of eighteen races as a two-year-old ; at three years old six
out of eleven. He once beat and was once beaten by
Fisherman, and was second to Skirmisher for the Gold
Cup at Ascot. He was advertised at Theobald's Stud
in i860 at 20 guineas.
VIRAGO
' There were more nuggets than Voltigeur at the Hart
diggings, as Virago was foaled there the year after his
w
H
to
&
w
t
>
Epirus
Fortress
Rowton
Langar
Olympia
Defence
Jewess
Oiseau
Katberina
Pucelle
Muley
Medora
Selim
Mare by
Sir Oliver
Scotilla
Whalebone
Defiance
Moses
Calendula?
Camillus
Mare by
Woful
Landscape
Orville
Eleanor
Selim
Mare by
i Buzzard
Alexander mare
! Walton
Young Giantess
I Sir Peter
, Fanny
Anvil
Scota
! Waxy
Penelope
[ Rubens
I Little Folly
< Seymour
I I Gohanna mare
j I Camerton
1 1 Snowdrop
j ! Hambletonian
I Faith
j ' Coriander
1 Wild Goose
j Waxy
I j Penelope
1 ' Rubens
II Iris
# Beningbro'
I Evelina
I I Whisky
1 j Young Giantess
i Buzzard
1 Alexander mare
Sir Harry
Volunteer mare
CATCH'EM ALIVE
3i3
double event. She was advertised for sale as a yearling at
Doncaster, when old John Day slipped down and tried to
buy her privately, but Mr. Stephenson insisted on her going
to the hammer along with Epinician. John Scott liked
her, but left off at 340, and the next ten settled the job for
Mr. Pad wick. She was tried as a two-year- old in October
at 7 lb., with Little Harry, and William Day, who rode in
the trial, was so pleased with her that he increased the
two thousand offer which he made on the ground to three
when they got into the house ; but Mr. Pad wick was as firm
as Gibraltar.' — Scott and Sebright.
CATCH'EM ALIVE'S CAMBRIDGESHIRE, 1 863
The following is the official account given of the
Catch'em Alive case in the 'Racing Calendar' for 1863.
1 When the jockeys returned to weigh in after the race, the
clerk of the scales found that the rider of Catch'em Alive
did not draw the proper weight. He was first weighed
without a whip, and a whip was afterwards given to him,
which was stated to be the one he rode with ; this barely
made him weight, and the owner of the second horse
objected to the jockey being weighed with anything given
to him after he got into the scales. The clerk of the
scales requested the stewards to come into the weighing-
room, and they decided that a jockey not having brought
his whip with him into the scale could not afterwards weigh
with it, and it plainly appeared that the jockey did not
draw his proper weight. The rider of Merry Hart had
been previously weighed and passed by the clerk of the
scales, and the stewards were on the point of giving the
race in his favour, when the rider of Summerside was
weighed, and he also was found short of weight. On this
the stewards directed the scales to be examined, when it
was found that they were not correct, and that some lead
had been fastened on the bottom of the weight scale.
When this was removed and the scales adjusted, the
stewards felt satisfied that the rider of Catch'em Alive
would have drawn his proper weight if the scales had been
adjusted before he was weighed, and the clerk of the
scales, on being questioned, having assured them that he
had no doubt on the subject, the stewards declared that
3 i4 KINGSCLERE
Catch'em Alive was the winner of the race. A reward of
50/. was afterwards offered by the Jockey Club for such
information as should lead to the discovery of the person or
persons who had fastened the lead to the scales.'
In William Day's ' Reminiscences of the Turf,' the writer
gives his version of the transaction as follows : — ' The scandal
arose from the fact that some one had fixed some lead
under one of the scales — for there were two scales, one at
the lower, and one at the top stand. It was pretty well
known at the time, and is now, who the offender was. A
light-weight jockey who rode in the race had wasted very
hard, in the hope that he would reduce himself to the exact
weight. Unfortunately, on scaling privately early in the
morning, he found himself 2 lb. over the weight he had to
ride, and fearing, I imagine, that he might be taken off,
he kept the secret to himself. Before the jockeys were
weighed out for the race, he went to the clerk of the scales,
the late Mr. Manning, then engaged at the lower stand
weighing jockeys for some other race, and said : " I have
left my light saddle in the top stand ; please let me have
the key to get it, as I have to ride in the next race." As
there was nothing unusual in the request, the key was
handed to him, and the opportunity thus afforded him of
fixing, unobserved, the lead to the bottom of the scales
without exciting suspicion, as he soon returned and gave
the key back to its proper custodian. I should state that
though the jockeys were allowed to "weigh out" before the
race at either of the scales, they could only " weigh in " after
the race at the top stand. The jockey knew that if he
carried more than 2 lb overweight without declaring it, he
would, if he won, be disqualified, and that by the plan he
adopted he was quite certain to be the right weight. But
I suppose it never occurred to his imaginative mind that
others carrying the right weight being weighed at the lower
stand, would prove that he carried the wrong weight when
weighing in at the top stand. If he had thought of this, and
had had the opportunity of making both scales alike he
would have escaped detection ; for in that case all the horses
would have simply carried 2 lb. over the weight assigned
them.
' There is no doubt that several jockeys did weigh out
at the top stand, and, without knowing it, rode 2 lb. over-
weight ; and if cne of them had won, and the fact of
THE SCALES TAMPERED WITH
6 l b
carrying this overweight had been discovered, he would
have been disqualified. The culprit, when his turn came,
of course passed satisfactorily, having weighed out at the
top stand. But Sam Adams, the rider of Catch'em Alive,
one of those who had " weighed out " at the lower stand,
was the first to try the scales in " weighing in " at the top
stand, and he could not draw the weight. Admiral Rous
was sent for by the clerk, and, after many ineffectual
attempts to draw the weight, Adams was told to leave the
scales — on the face of it a virtual disqualification. Then
James Grimshaw, the rider of Summerside, the third horse,
tried and failed to draw his weight, though he protested
that he drew it well at the lower stand. I told the Admiral
that I was sure Adams weighed the proper weight " out."
Of this I was positive ; for he rode in an exercise saddle
without any saddle-cloth, and so could neither from design
nor accident have lost any weight, as I saddled and un-
saddled the horse myself, and I asked that he might be
allowed to weigh there again. But the Admiral would
not permit it. " No," he said ; " though for convenience'
sake there are two places to weigh out at, there is but one
that you can weigh in at after the race." Feeling certain
there was a mistake, I at once, without asking permission,
took the weights out of the scales to see if they balanced,
and, finding that they did not, called the Admiral's atten-
tion to the fact. " Here is the mistake, sir," I said, and first
put on I lb., which did not turn the beam, and then another
i lb., which just balanced it, the Admiral and Lord West-
morland, the one coolly and the other anxiously, looking
on all the time. 1 then turned up the scale, and discovered
and pointed out the three pieces of lead fixed to the
bottom. They were at once removed, the clerk affirming
that " they were not there this morning," and the scales
then balanced to a nicety. I have always thought it was
a great mistake on the part of the Admiral, when the
fraud was discovered, not to have required the riders of
the first three horses to get into the properly adjusted
scales to see if they could draw their respective weights,
and not more than 2 lb. over. Had he done so, the diffi-
culty would have been settled on the spot, and the result
would have been in the detection of the jockey who had
tampered with the scales, and the disqualification of his
horse. I believe only three jockeys weighed in ; one did
316
KINGSCLERE
and two did not draw the weight. This is an impartial
and correct account of what took place on the occasion.'
THE CHAMPAGNE STAKES, 1 864
The official record of Blue Gown's disqualification for
the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in the ' Racing
Calendar ' is singularly bald, and to the reader exclusively
of that formal page of the history of the Turf somewhat
misleading. At any rate it is short of the entire truth of
the matter. It is as follows : ' 2 to 1 against Blue Gown,
1 1 to 2 against Vale Royal, 7 to 1 each against Mercury
Sheet Anchor 1
Lottery |
Tramp
Mandane
/
[
Morgiana |
Muley
Miss Stephenson
t
Weatherbit <
f
Priam •!
Emilius
Cressida
<
V
Miss Letty j
Mare by -|
Orville
Buzzard mare
(
Camel j
Whalebone
Selim mare
— 1
/
Touchstone 1
Banter \
Master Henry
Boadicea
u->
\
Mendicant i
VO
1
1
Dick Andrews
CO
1
Lady Moore
Tramp \
Gohanna mare
5
Carew
Kite \
Bustard
Olympia
f
Birdcatcher |
Sir Hercules
Guiccioli
The Baron i
1
Echidna {
Economist
Miss Pratt
-)
1
Stockwell
w
Pocahontas 1
Glencoe j
Sultan
Trampoline
1
Marpessa j
Muley
Clare
*
en \
<
PQ
(
Camel j
Whalebone
Selim mare
z
Touchstone ■{
I
Banter |
Master Henry
Boadicea
Vexation
Langar j
Selim
Walton mare
k
Vat
Wire {
Waxy
Penelope
THE 'CIRCULAR' 317
and Virtue, 10 to 1 each against Mameluke and Iron-
master, and 100 to 6 against Bel Giorno. Blue Gown
came in first, beating Virtue by half a length, a head
between the latter and Bel Giorno, but at the weighing in
Wells was more than 2 lb. overweight, and Blue Gown was
disqualified. The Par 
