CHAPTERS FROM TURF HISTORY 



the achievements of the winner are commemorated 

 in a suite of rooms at Wentworth ^ which to this 

 day bears his name. Rockingham bred a great 

 horse called Bay Malton. With him he defeated 

 the game little grey Gimcrack, who endeavoured 

 to give the other 71b. over a severe course at 

 Newmarket. This event is referred to in one of 

 Lady Sarah Lennox's charming gossiping letters 

 to Lady Susan Fox-Strangways. " There was," 

 writes the famous beauty, " a meeting of two 

 days at Newmarket at this time of year to see 

 the sweetest little horse run that ever was. His 

 name is Gimcrack ;2 he is delightful." Then, 

 with a touch of sentiment which would find a 

 ready response in the hearts of many people to-day, 

 she adds : " Lord Rockingham kissed hands the 

 day Gimcrack ran. I must say I was more anxious 

 about the horse than about the Ministry ! " 



This fascinating woman was the second daughter 

 of the Duke of Richmond and was aunt of Charles 

 James Fox. Her grandfather was the first Duke, 

 son of Charles II by Louisa de la Querouaille, 

 Duchess of Portsmouth. Her first husband was 

 Sir Charles Bunbury, " Father of the Turf/' who 



I At Rockingham's death his fine property in Yorkshire passed 

 to Lord FitzwilUam, whose father had married Rocldngham's 

 sister. The Rockingham racing colours, green jacket and black 

 cap, also descended to the owner of Catton and Mulatto, the pro- 

 genitors of some of the most distinguished families in the Stud 

 Book. For a description of Wentworth Woodhouse at this date 

 see Walpole, Letters, vol. iii. p. 28. The Rockingham colours on 

 Torlinda were victorious at the recent Ascot Races. 



* This little horse was a wonder — he was just over 14 hands — and 

 was raced for no less than eleven years and won twenty-five races. 

 It was to perpetuate his fame that the Gimcrack Club was formed 

 in York in 1767. The race for the Gimcrack Stakes was established 

 in 1846. 



18 



