42 



RACING. 



we are indebted to the oldest tenant on Mr. Batson's estate for 

 this story. ^ 



In these days the very birds of the air would carry the 

 news of such an accident, and the owner would assuredly read 

 of it in his newspaper the following morning. 



Elis is the first recorded instance of a racehorse being 

 vanned. This was in 1836, when he won the St. Leger. Lord 



Elis on the road to 

 Doncaster. 



George Bentinck being dissatisfied with the odds — five to one 

 — offered against Elis, announced his intention of not sending 

 the horse to Doncaster unless the odds of ten thousand to one 

 thousand were forthcoming. At the last moment, and when it 

 was considered impossible for the horse to reach the scene of 

 action m time, the bet was laid. Lord George, ready for any 

 emergency, had borrowed from Lord Chesterfield a large van 



* It is stated, on what appears to be good authority, that, besides having 

 met with the accident described, Plenipotentiary was 'got at' — i.e. poisoned— 

 in Sir W. Cook's stable, near Doncaster, the day before the St. Leger. The 

 horse was stabled there for safety. — Ed. 



