CHAPTERS FROM TURF HISTORY 



that his thoughts turned upon the many incidents 

 of his racing Ufe. Surely he had found in it more 

 of the segreto per esser felice than in the sordid 

 struggle at Westminster, which he had so gladly 

 relinquished. He may have expended a sigh upon 

 the failure of his Parliamentary fortunes, but he 

 had no wish to resume the part of the homme 

 politique or the thankless office of a Party leader. 

 He could look back to his career on the Turf with 

 a larger and more generous spirit than common 

 men do. He had seen the real features of his 

 world of sport more fairly than the timid shufflers 

 who see theirs through blinkers, and who only 

 boast an opinion when there is a majority to 

 back it. He was still in the prime of life. Time 

 enough yet to breed and own and lead in the 

 winner of the Derby. This is a real achievement 

 for a man, and to have his name inscribed on 

 that long scroll of fame is like having it written 

 on the dome of St. Peter's. Pilgrims from all 

 the world behold it and admire. After all, he 

 had found in politics a morality not a whit superior 

 to that in sport. As in racing he had laid himself 

 out to defeat foul play, so he had opposed a states- 

 man on the Treasury Bench who had sold his 

 Party with less excuse than has the jockey who 

 sells his employer. And, thus musing, he may 

 have turned his thoughts upon his early days 

 before he wielded his undisputed authority as 

 Lord Paramount of the Turf — before he left the 

 pleasant scene of Danebury and the breezy downs 

 where he trained and triumphed. He may have 

 thought of those who had served him well, and 

 of the good horses that had carried his colours : 



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