Turf History. 15 



under the auspices of John and William Scott ; Sir 

 Mark Wood's rare brace of mares, one of whom bore 

 part in an Ascot Cup race of little less interest than 

 Zinganee's ; and Lord Westminster's Cup monopoly 

 with Touchstone, are all proud landmarks in turf his- 

 tory, until Lord George flung aside the flimsy mask 

 of " Mr. Bowe," and avowed himself the owner of Grey 

 Momus and Crucifix. 



The Bentinck era comprises the seasons of 1839-45, 

 when the hoister of the "sky-blue and white cap" 

 banner ruled the destinies of his much-loved turf with 

 all the genius and energy of a Napoleon. Even West- 

 minster Hall acknowledged the polished skill with 

 which he welded together all the links of evidence in 

 the Running Rein case ; and considering how often 

 (unless rumour is a sad liar) five and six-year-olds 

 were broken twice, that they may bear a hand in two 

 and three-year-old races, it was well that he then arose 

 in his might to give such knavish times a wrench. 

 During one of those years, he had forty horses in 

 Kent's hands ; and a notion that the stock of his Bay 

 Middleton must take the turf by storm, led him into 

 playing a deep game with them, which would have 

 ruined half a dozen less clever turfites thrice over. 

 Farintosh had no less than 33 engagements in the 

 1842 calendar, for which the forfeits alone amounted 

 to 25QO/., and his loss in stakes and expenses on this 

 colt must have reached 3OOO/. No man had a more 

 eagle eye to catch the precise instant when every 

 horse was on the move, as he walked by their side, 

 flag in hand, at the starting-post ; but his riding prac- 

 tice hardly corresponded with his precepts. He was 

 ordered to be fined for not being ready, when he rode 

 his Cup Course match at Goodwood in 1844 against 

 Lord Maidstone on Larry McHale ; and many a 

 jockey-boy grinned derisively when he saw him mak- 

 ing all the running, and shaking and punishing his 

 roarer Captain Cook right furiously, long after the 



