LEASE OP ' VENISON ' 65 



On the other hand, his really good stud-horse, Venison, 

 was let by his lordship to Mr. Sadler for three years at 

 300 a year, with the option of purchase for 1,500 at 

 the expiration of the time. In connection with the lease 

 of this stallion I may give an instance of his lordship's 

 peculiar notions of dealing with others. Seeing how 

 bloodlike was the stock which Venison got, his lordship 

 wanted to have him back again, and adopted the follow- 

 ing ingenious method to gain his end. Calling on Mr. 

 Sadler in one of his most affable moods, he said : 



' By the way, I have a foreigner who wishes to buy 

 Venison, of whom I can get a fair price ; arid as I don't 

 suppose you would like to keep him, I shall esteem it a 

 favour if you will let me have him.' 



But genial as was the request, Mr. Sadler naturally 

 did not see the force of it. It was at the time supposed, 

 and most probably rightly, that his lordship wanted him 

 for himself. Very shortly after the failure of this attempt 

 to recover him, Venison passed into the hands of my 

 father and his son-in-law, Mr. George Dixon, whose 

 joint property he remained until his death from fever of 

 the feet, at Broughton, near Stockbridge. 



In fact, had not Lord George bought as well as bred 

 yearlings, his racing career, I suspect, would have been 

 short and disastrous. Crucifix, the best mare he ever 

 owned, was bought with Octaviana, her dam, of Lord 

 Chesterfield for 60. Grey Momus came from Sir Tatton 

 Sykes' stud. Venison my father bought for him for a 

 small sum from Lord Lonsdale. He also bought D'Egville 

 for 500, and most of his lordship's yearlings at that 

 time. I should add that his lordship was a most ex- 

 tensive breeder, having over sixty brood mares, and the 

 most costly stud in England, if not in the world. 



Lord George, so far as is known, commenced racing in 



5 



