CHAPTERS FROM TURF HISTORY 



merits to himself without allowing him to partici- 

 pate in them. Subsequently, they had a personal 

 collision at Newm.arket in a matter relating to 

 the rules of the Turf Senate, and in the spring of 

 1840, after a speech by Greville at the Jockey 

 Club ^ which Bentinck bitterly resented, they were 

 never again on speaking terms. No doubt Bentinck 

 was at times impulsive and arrogant, but Greville's 

 version is manifestly ex parte and coloured by a 

 personal prejudice which usually deformed the 

 judgments of that seasoned viveur. There is, on 

 the other hand, ample evidence that Bentinck had 

 many of the best qualities of a sportsman. He 

 bore the loss of a race with admirable philosophy, 

 and he never reviled his jockey or reproached his 

 trainer. Although he set his horses tasks of con- 

 siderable severity, he taught the rider that plus 

 fait douceur que violence. He was most liberal 

 to all who served him and most obliging in money 

 matters to his friends. He threw himself with 

 passionate ardour into any business he undertook, 

 and he risked his money with the ring because 

 to win was the test of judgment and success. 

 In the words used by both his biographers, he 

 counted his thousands after a great race as a 

 general would count his prisoners and cannon 

 after a victory. 



The Turf and its interests were nearest to 

 Bentinck's heart. His political career was merely 



I Speeches at the Jockey Club in those days must have been 

 portentous performances. Greville told Martin, Q.C., that Bentinck 

 might well be encouraged to make his maiden speech in the House 

 of Commons on the ground that he (Greville) had heard him speak 

 with great advantage for two hours at a meeting of the Jockey 

 Club ! 



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