343 



CHAPTEE XV 



CONCLUSION 



NOBODY can deny that the roll of the Jockey Club, 

 from its commencement to the present day, genera- 

 tion after generation, has been a splendid one. The 

 Club, as we have seen, has consisted from the very 

 first, to all intents and purposes, of King, Lords and 

 Commons (though the King, at its initiation, was 

 represented by a Eoyal Duke only), as if it were 

 modelled on the lines of the British Constitution. 

 Its members have been almost to a man, one might 

 say hereditary and elective legislators, versed in 

 public affairs, and familiar with Parliamentary pro- 

 ceedings, and, in very many cases, holders of the 

 highest offices in the realm ; not a few have been the 

 wits and social leaders of the day ; a great number 

 have won literary distinction ; and most of them have 

 claimed descent from families which were conspicuous, 

 long before the Club was so much as dreamt of, not 

 only in society, but in horse-breeding and horse - 

 racing, and all that relates to the Turf, in bygone 

 days and dark ages before that term had any special 



