84 THE TURF 



he ran his horses honestly and truly, and 

 supported the country races largely. His 

 three famous stud-horses were John Bull, 

 Alexander, and Meteor, the latter by Eclipse, 

 and the two former perhaps the largest and 

 the noblest thorough-bred horses ever seen 

 in England, and the sires of many good 

 ones ; but his two best racers were Meteora, 

 not fifteen hands high, and Violante; the 

 latter the best four-miler of her day. 1 The 

 earl was the first patron of Stubbs, the horse- 

 painter, whose pencil may be said to have 

 founded a new branch of the art in this 

 country, on which the painters of the present 

 day have improved, adhering more closely 

 to nature than their exemplar. The late 

 Duke of Bedford was likewise a great patron 

 of the turf previously to his taking to farm- 

 ing, and had more than thirty horses in 

 training at one time. Among these was 

 Grey Diomed, remarkable for his races with 

 Escape and Traveller at Newmarket; also 

 Skyscraper, Fidget, and Dragon. 2 His 



1 Francis Buckle always insisted on John Bull having 

 been the best horse, and Violante the best mare he ever 

 rode over a course. 



2 The grandfather of Mr. Stevens, the trainer, late 

 of Bourton-on-the-Hill, but now of Ilsley, Berk- 



