50 THE JOCKEY CLUB 1750- 



and the latter nominated (if he did not actually run, 

 as owner) Lord Clermont 's Cantator for the Derby of 

 1784. The Earl was the somewhat dangerous * guide, 

 philosopher, and friend ' of the ' First Gentleman,' and 

 when they drove out together in the bleak air of New- 

 market Heath, would so carefully protect his old bones 

 with wraps that he was frequently mistaken for the 

 Prince's aunt Amelia (herself of ' horsey ' proclivities), 

 and the Prince won golden opinions for his supposed 

 affectionate solicitude for his aged relative. The Earl 

 is sneered at by Horace Walpole, who met him in 

 society now and then, and tells us how on one occa- 

 sion he spoke of having read in Livy, or some other 

 ' classic,' that ' Scipio introduced toothpicks from 

 Spain.' Upon which, the fastidious Horace expresses 

 surprise that ' my Lord Clermont should ever have 

 heard of any Scipio but a racehorse of that name.' 

 And certainly the Earl was great upon the Turf and 

 in the breeding of racehorses, whether alone or in 

 confederacy with Lord Farnham. He bred the great 

 Trumpator, buried at the end of the Clermont course 

 (now almost forgotten) at Newmarket ; he was owner 

 of the still greater Conductor, and of Marc Antony ; 

 he was an active administrator of the Jockey Club 

 (as his signatures bear witness in 1770 and 1771) ; he 

 won the Derby in 1785 with Aimwell (by Marc 

 Antony), the only descendant in the male line of the 

 Alcock Arabian among the great winners ; and the 

 Oaks in the same year with Trifle (by Justice) ; and 



