DISRAELI AND THE RACE-COURSE 



another King Tom filly who was absolutely sacrificed 

 to Hannah. She won several good races, including 

 the Cesarewitch, in this season of marvellous 

 success. " Follow the Baron " was the cry that 

 year of the racing multitude. Well might Disraeli 

 urge his friend to emulate the example of the 

 family of Sidonia, whose devotion to sport he 

 held to be the safety-valve of their energy.' 



In the September of 1875 Disraeli was on a 

 visit to Sandbeck, and attended the Doncaster 

 meeting. His biographer relates that the Prime 

 Minister witnessed the St. Leger, betted, and lost 

 his money. Rarely have such indifferent horses 

 competed in a classic race as on that occasion. 

 The actual favourite was Seymour, a horse that 

 had been beaten in eleven out of the twelve races 

 in which he had taken part. Indeed, it was such 

 a bad year that it was said anything might win. 

 The race was won easily by Craig-Millar, a chestnut 

 son of Blair Athol, of whom the stable had a poor 

 opinion. No wonder that the Prime Minister lost 

 his money ; unfortunately for him, the Prince of 

 Wales had heard of his ill-fortune, and when later 

 in the month Disraeli paid him a visit at Sandring- 

 ham, it appears that the Prince twitted his guest 

 unmercifully. At first Disraeli denied his losses, 

 and then pleaded in extenuation that he had only 

 indulged "in a sweepstake with some ladies." 

 But the Prince would not accept the plea. " Oh 

 no ! " said His Royal Highness ; " I hear a good 

 round sum, paid in bank-notes, a rouleau. I 

 always thought Bunny was sharp, but I never 

 thought he would top all by putting the Prime 



I Coningsby, p. 221. 

 119 



