PRIME MINISTERS AND THEIR RACE-HORSES 



won the first Derby in 1780. It was alleged against 

 Fox when Paymaster that he presumed to think 

 it possible that his lovely kinswoman, Lady Sarah, 

 might ascend the throne. A few months before 

 his marriage George III was remarkable for his 

 attentions to the young lady, and it is said that 

 only the influence of his mother, the Princess 

 Dowager, prevented an alliance.^ 



Lady Sarah's philosophy of existence is always 

 admirably expressed. She writes in 1762 to her 

 friend, " Pray now, who the devil would not be 

 happy with a pretty place, a good house, good 

 horses, greyhounds and fox-hunting, so near New- 

 market, what company we please in the house, 

 and £2,000 a year to spend ? " How reminiscent 

 this is of Thackeray's immortal heroine ! But 

 to return to Rockingham. His horse. Bay Malton, 

 was idolized in Yorkshire. In a sweepstakes of 

 500 guineas he vanquished the renowned King 

 Herod, at even weights, and two others. This 

 race, it was said, brought together a larger 

 number of people of all ranks than had ever 

 been seen at Newmarket. 



That stern struggle ended well. 



When strong of heart the Wentworth bay 



From staggering * Herod strode away. 



But, perhaps, Rockingham's fame on the Turf 

 rests chiefly on the victory of Allabaculia, who 

 in 1776 carried the green jacket and black cap 

 to victory in the first race for the St. Leger. The 

 mare was a bay daughter of Rockingham's great 



' Massey, History of England, vol. i. p. 97 ; Walpole, Memoirs 

 of George III , vol. i. p. 64 ; Albemarle, Life of Rockingham, vol. i. 

 p. 72. 



» King Herod broke a bloodvessel in the crisis of the contest. 



19 



