PRIME MINISTERS AND THEIR RACE-HORSES 



was backward as a two-year-old, and though he 

 had fine action, his general appearance was un- 

 attractive. He greatly improved during the 

 winter, and, sent to the post in brilliant con- 

 dition, he defeated the Prime Minister's horse by 

 a length. Toxophilite was soft-hearted, and he 

 lost through refusing to struggle when he was 

 challenged. 



In 1863 Derby sold his stud and retired from 

 the Turf. He had enjoyed his racing career to 

 the full. In the Session he rejoiced to escape 

 from London to his Yorkshire training grounds. 

 After a debate in the House of Lords, he would 

 hurry off by the night mail, arriving in the hours 

 of dawn to see his horses do their early gallop. 

 He would dine with his trainer, and sit up with 

 him all night gossiping over the past deeds of great 

 horses in classic races, until it was time to turn 

 out to see the morning work. Owner and trainer 

 maintained an unbroken intimacy of twenty-two 

 years. When it was all over, and the black jacket 

 and white cap were laid aside, Derby still found 

 delight in the home paddocks. There he would 

 show his guests his favourite, Canezou, for whom, 

 with her groom, he provided in his will. The 

 old mare survived her master. 



The Earl of Rosebery. — Born in 1847, Lord 

 Rosebery succeeded to the peerage in 1868. His 

 education had been at Eton and Oxford, but 

 coming into collision with the authorities of Christ 

 Church, he left that seminary of learning without 



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