HASTY SALE OF HIS STUD 93 



line previously quoted, ' He gave a sort of superb groan.' 

 'It is the blue ribbon of the turf/ he slowly repeated to 

 himself, and sitting down at the table, buried himself in 

 a folio of statistics. 



An unequivocal example that his lordship possessed 

 a spirit not always under control, was given on the occa- 

 sion when, piqued by defeat on the racecourse on Crozier 

 losing, he offered his entire stud for sale. When the 

 deciding heat was given against him, in a raging temper 

 he offered to sell every horse he had, comprising the 

 whole of his stud brood-mares, foals, yearlings, and 

 stallions, as well as his horses in training, with their 

 engagements to Mr. George Payne for 10,000. After 

 three days' reflection, the offer was declined, and the 

 stipulated forfeit of 300 paid. But his lordship con- 

 tinued of the same mind, and subsequently Lord Clifden 

 and Mr. Mostyn were allowed to have them conjointly 

 for the same price. In the lot were Surplice, winner of 

 the Derby and St. Leger, and other good races ; Load- 

 stone, and a host of other winners, The total stud may 

 be put down as having consisted of 208 animals viz. : 

 50 horses in training, 70 brood-mares, 40 yearlings, 45 

 foals, and 3 stallions ; and was worth over 100,000 at 

 the time he thus recklessly sold it. 



The following will give some idea of the magnitude of his 

 lordship's racing establishment. In the four days' racing 

 at Goodwood in 1846, there were thirty-one races, besides 

 three walks-over. In these races his lordship had horses 

 in twenty-eight the three exceptions being the Queen's 

 Plate, the Orange Prize, and a small sweepstakes. In 

 the twenty-eight races he started as many as forty-four 

 times, three horses sometimes running in one race in 

 the Goodwood Stakes to wit, where none of them were 

 placed. He won eight races only. And I think I may 



