1 76 MEN OF MY TIME 



what this life is, but not what the next might be.' Poor 

 fellow ! he was destined to suffer great distress before 

 leaving the former. A delicate wife, and family dis- 

 appointments which have been alluded to, must have 

 contributed to his affliction. The last time I saw him, 

 he was at the age of eighty steeped to the lips in poverty, 

 and overwhelmed with grief. 



Sir Edward B. B. Baker, Bart., was one of the Dane- 

 bury patricians whose name is familiar in the ears of 

 racing men 'as household words.' He raced from the 

 year 1828 to 1865, and had never a large string ; nor was 

 he wealthy enough to support many more horses than he 

 kept, for in all things he was extremely liberal, and 

 spent his income without grudging. He had Dairy Maid, 

 Mr. Watt, Nicodemus, Bran, Spume, Montezuma, and 

 others. Bran was his best horse, but Spume his luckiest. 

 With him he won the Blandford Cup and Stakes, Queen's 

 Plate, Weymouth and Dorchester Stakes, and other good 

 races. My brother John rode for him on all occasions. 

 He never betted but a few pounds, but he dearly loved 

 to see his horses run, and whether they wor or were 

 beaten it was the same to him, in so far that he never 

 displayed any ill-temper at his reverses, nor was he 

 immoderately elated by success. Sir Edward left Dane- 

 bury to come to train with me at Woodyates ; not, I 

 need scarcely say, from any dissatisfaction, but because 

 Woodyates was much nearer his own seat, Eansom, than 

 his old quarters were. As I hope some day or other 

 to be able to give a fuller account of the doings of those 

 gentlemen who have honoured me with their patronage 

 during my life as a trainer, I will only here say of Sir 

 Edward that he was unsurpassed in all the good qualities 

 that a man of taste and honour may laudably desire to 

 possess. 



