CHAPTERS FROM TURF HISTORY 



The association of politicians with the Turt 

 dates far back in the history of the sport. In the 

 annals of Newmarket it is related that Ministers 

 in the train of Charles II were engaged for weeks 

 together in the pursuit of horse-racing. King 

 James's interest in it was somewhat languid ; but 

 on the accession of his son-in-law, who had served 

 a good apprenticeship in all the graceless junketings 

 of the licentious Court during his racing visits to the 

 Merry Monarch, the Turf became more prominent 

 than ever among popular pursuits. On a brilliant 

 page the Whig historian ^ describes the joyous 

 pilgrimage when William III escorted the French 

 Ambassador to Newmarket for the Spring Meet- 

 ing. The principal Ministers of State and the 

 leaders of the Opposition were all members of that 

 distinguished company. Montague deserted the 

 Treasury and Orford the Admiralty. Sidney 

 Godolphin, the Lord High Treasurer, was as usual 

 busy with his horses and absorbed in his bets. 

 Garters, stars and collars shone in the crowd. The 

 King ran his horse. Stiff Dick, against Lord Whar- 

 ton's Careless over a five-mile course for ;f500, and 

 with 7 to 4 betted against him, the Royal steed 

 won.3 Careless, of course, is the horse that is 

 honoured in a passage now classical, and of whom 

 it is told that the profligate and corrupt owner 



I Macaulay, History of England, vol. viii. p. 109. This volume 

 was not published till after the author's death, and was uncorrected, 

 which accounts for the date being erroneously given. It was the 

 Spring Meeting of i6g8, not that of the following year (Hore, 

 History of Newmarket, vol. iii. p. 209). 



* The Postman, April 12/14, No. 446. The Postman and the 

 Post Boy were two of the best conducted papers which appeared 

 in 1695 after the expiry of the Press Censorship. They were 

 w^retchedly printed on scraps of dingy paper. 



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