VISITS TO DANEBURY 89 



be conceded, I think, that few of the nobility of those 

 days, or of the present time, would have so far demeaned 

 themselves. As a rule, I think they show their respect 

 for their friends and their exalted position in the choice 

 of less ignoble associates. 



Lord George, as is known, commenced racing in the 

 names of Lord Lichfield and Mr. Bowes, the latter an 

 hotel-keeper. He, early in his career, elected to run in 

 the name of John Day, and again changed for that of 

 the Duke of Bichmond, and ultimately raced in his own. 

 He did nothing by halves, and whatever he did was sure 

 to be well done. He made large paddocks ; and, for 

 shelter, planted a deep belt of fir- trees round them. He 

 made new gallops, watered and tanned them. The tan 

 he spread thinly over the ground, so that the grass 

 might come through it, and not as we see tan-gallops 

 nowadays. To Mr. Wreford was due the suggestion of 

 the use of water-carts, and the keeping the sheep off the 

 downs, which greatly improved them. Lord George 

 when at Goodwood did much to benefit the training- 

 ground there, and also the racecourse, particularly the 

 last half-mile, which he widened and levelled at great 

 expense. In short, it was entirely due to his lordship's 

 energy and lavish expenditure that glorious Goodwood 

 was raised from a plating to a first-class meeting. 



He usually travelled by night to Newmarket and other 

 race meetings. When visiting Danebury he came in his 

 large yellow carnage to the Star Hotel, Andover, where 

 he rested for a few hours, and then rode his gray mare 

 on to the downs in time to see the horses at exercise at 

 five o'clock a.m. After staying the day he rode his mare 

 back to Andover, and returned by night to town. My 

 father generally travelled with him inside the carriage ; 

 whilst I had to ride (when his light-weight jockey) with 



