THE TURF AND SOME REFLECTIONS 



Chamber at the Rooms in Newmarket ? There 

 are assembled the august Senators of the Turf — 

 stewards of its mysteries. Some of them have 

 known the spacious days of Admiral Rous and 

 Lord Hastings, of Mr. George Payne and Mr. 

 Savile. Some have trained their horses with Mat 

 Dawson of famous memory, and can recall their 

 racing victories of the sixties ; while a younger 

 generation have been elected to the sacred circle 

 who have been born since Galopin won the Derby. 

 Lord Durham is there. Out of office now, he has 

 at several periods filled with great credit the 

 highest position in the Club. He is a just judge, 

 but a hanging judge, more often wearing the black 

 cap than the white gloves. He replies to the 

 case made by the Senior Steward — the secundum 

 columen of the Turf — in argument which lacks 

 nothing of pungent difference marked by studied 

 gravity and respect. Lord Londonderry's narrative 

 flows easily on in its ordered sequence of logic 

 and reminiscence. Lord Derby, wielding a calm 

 and consistent statement, presses home some 

 material point. Lord Harewood assists his 

 colleagues with his intimate knowledge of the 

 classic races, with opinions sound, though at times 

 pontifical, and with his ripe experience of the 

 law and practice of the Turf. Lord Rosebery, who 

 can now give to the Jockey Club what he denies 

 to the Legislature, may offer a criticism all the 

 keener for its playful humour. 



Though wondering Senates hung on all he spoke. 

 The Club must hail him master of the joke. 



Lord Villiers and Lord Hamilton of Dalzell bring 



147 



