INTRODUCTION TO RACING 5 



a connoisseur myself, but have sufficiently often partaken 

 of his hospitality to speak with some authority of his 

 judgment. As he used to say to me in his characteristic 

 way, ' I can poison myself much quicker and cheaper 

 than by drinking bad port.' His affability and generous 

 disposition soon brought him a host of friends ; or I 

 should perhaps more advisedly put it, added immensely 

 to his stock of acquaintances. For I am reminded of 

 the story of the gentleman who, when boasting of his 

 numerous friends, was told ' that whilst the church 

 itself would not hold his acquaintances, his friends 

 could be put in the pulpit without inconvenience.' At 

 all events, one thing I can affirm Padwick knew every- 

 one that was worth money, or that had it to lend, or 

 that wanted to borrow it. 



Mr. Padwick commenced racing in 1849, when he ran 

 his horses in the familiar black jacket and orange cap, 

 and assumed the aristocratic nom de plume of Howard. 

 He began by buying a large number of yearlings, for 

 most of which he paid high prices. These were sent 

 to Danebury ; but not one of his, nor indeed of any 

 others sent there that year over forty in number 

 proved worth anything, except Prestige, and she only 

 won for him three races of moderate value the follow- 

 ing year. Such ill-luck would have daunted any but the 

 most enthusiastic ; but it redoubled his ardour. From 

 that time he became the man of the day among turfites. 

 At all the best yearling sales Mr. Padwick was to be 

 seen, my father by his side, giving 1,000 guineas for this 

 and 1,200 guineas for that, and fairly astounding the 

 ring of would-be buyers by the prices he bid. Yellow 

 Jack and Queen's Head were bought out of the Queen's 

 or Mr. Greville's sale for these sums exactly, if I re- 

 member rightly, the mare fetching the most. His horses 



