158 MEN OF MY TIME 



best interests, and by the skilfulness with which they 

 escape the legitimate penalty of their deeds, which 

 should be their peremptory dismissal from the scene. 

 But though ' to say well is a kind of good deed,' I am 

 painfully aware that to lecture on the subject is use- 

 less, unless the magnates of the turf take the matter 

 in their own hands, and by their own actions produce 

 the desired good results. Nevertheless, it is a pleasure 

 to me to have now to record the deeds and doings of not 

 a few patricians who, in the olden time, largely helped to 

 serve the best interests of the turf, and, I may add, were 

 consistent supporters of the Danebury stable. 



In saying what I have to say about them, I shall not 

 attempt to deal with these noble patrons of the racecourse 

 in chronological order, or aim to give them the correct 

 precedence one over the other; but take them just as 

 they come to memory. 



Mr. Harry Biggs, then, I take as my first example of 

 the thorough sportsman. He commenced racing in 1807, 

 raced like a gentleman for some forty years, and left a 

 name unsullied in turf history. . His country seat was at 

 Stockton, in Wiltshire. In his youth he was noted for 

 his ready wit and facetiousness, and for his attention to 

 the fair sex. He was fond of sport in whatever shape. 

 He coursed ; was a great admirer of boxing, and some- 

 what proficient in the use of his hands ; and he revelled 

 in cocking, a gentlemanly recreation in those days. But 

 his chief delight was in racing, pure and simple, and he 

 raced for the love of the sport. He was wealthy, or had 

 ample means for the continuance of such pleasures as he 

 indulged in, without looking for the addition of success. 

 He had many serviceable horses. Amongst them were 

 the following : Pounce, Whisk, Arrian, Clara, Eleus, 

 Thessahis, Margaretta, Miss Baddesley, Buxom Lass, 



