DISRAELI AND THE RACE-COURSE 



with a sweet smile and gracious nod — those mys- 

 terious characters who, in their influence over 

 their superiors and their total want of sympathy 

 with their species, are our only match for the 

 Oriental eunuch." The Duke completed his stud, 

 and became one of the most distinguished votaries 

 of the Turf. 



Strange to say, the book had a good reception 

 and was popular. Indeed, Disraeli's sister says 

 that it was reviewed with excessive praise. But 

 it must surely have excited contemptuous opinions 

 in the racing world. In such an assembly, for 

 example, as at that date sat round Lord Egremont's 

 hospitable table — the host who had owned no 

 less than five winners of the Derby — when over 

 the wine a plain little foal was sold which after- 

 wards achieved a classic success. It can hardly 

 be supposed that of the then professional element 

 Gully or Ridsdale ever dipped into imaginative 

 hterature, or they too would have been greatly 

 diverted by the pantomime of Doncaster and the 

 absurd picture of Newmarket Heath. 



Impossible, of course, and ridiculous would have 

 been the verdict of them all. What extravagant 

 odds would they have gladly laid about the 

 romantic novelist ever being the director of the 

 destinies of the British Empire ! 



And yet in 1878 the author of The Young Duke 

 is the leading Plenipotentiary of Great Britain at 

 the Berlin Congress and discusses racing with 

 Prince Bismarck. In a letter to Queen Victoria, he 

 states that one evening he dined with the Prince. 

 They were alone, and in the course of conversation 

 Bismarck asked Disraeli " whether racing was still 



113 H 



