LORD DARLINGTON AND MR. THORNHILL. 131 



only overrated because his owner knew his form to a 

 nicety, and did not choose to inform the public of it 

 by being* provoked into a match. His lordship 

 nibbled at the purchase for weeks ; and after having 

 his offer of 2,600 guineas refused, he boldly sent a 

 cheque for 3,000 guineas, and was soon so disgusted 

 with his purchase, that, although Sam screwed him 

 in before Lottery for the King's Purse at York, and 

 got him second to Bizarre for the Ascot Cup, he 

 positively gave him away to a foreign nobleman ! 

 Eventually, he found his way to America, along with 

 Barefoot, whose price was 2,500 guineas. This son 

 of Tramp was barely 15 J hands, with thighs and legs 

 like a waggon-horse; and his noble owner was long 

 playfully reminded of his wretched bargain by the 

 sight of Sir Bellingham Graham's cover-hack, who 

 was so completely his fac-simile, both as regarded 

 shape and white stockings, that he was duly christened 

 after him. So high was the opinion which Lord Dar- 

 lington formed of this chesnut after his double race 

 for the St. Leger, in the harlequin colours, that he 

 forwarded an ineffectual 2,000 guineas a-side match 

 challenge to Mr. Udney, the next November, to run 

 his Derby winner, Emilius, over the Flat, in the First 

 Spring. Barefoot had a strange trick of rearing 

 whenever he was brought out of the stable ; the con- 

 sequence of which was, that ere Easter arrived he 

 had a sad pair of broken knees. Three years before 

 that, his lordship had sent Will Chifney to York, to 

 make a 2,000 guineas bid for St. Patrick, in case he 

 liked him; but Will descried the erring joint which 

 subsequently gave way, and would not make the bid. 

 Tamboff, Trustee, and Emancipation, all of whom he 

 bought for about 2,000 guineas a-piece, were also 

 among his other long-priced nags, whose luck was very 

 little better ; and he gave 1,500 guineas for Liverpool, 

 after he had defeated Chorister at Doncaster. He 

 also purchased Wat Tyler, for a very long price, from 



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