96 RECORDS AND REMINISCENCES OF GOODWOOD 



Good heavens ! one cannot help laughing to think 

 How the weight of a duck made a jockey's scale sink, 

 How a Gold Cup was lost for so trifling a matter— 

 I shall faint when 1 next see a duck on a platter. 

 This gorgeous young rascal, the doctor declares, 

 A duck, sage and onions, devoured upstairs ; 

 "Whilst below stairs Joe Farrell, with muzzle in hand, 

 For to clap on his jaws had taken his stand. 

 Well knowing that this was a family failing — 

 Old Buckle would gorge too in spite of all railing. 

 A length and a half, Lord John Fitzroy would say. 

 And Stradbroke so ' cautious ' would nod ' so it may.' 

 Pray take my advice, for I wish you good luck — 

 Keep Buckle next time a whole mile from a duck." 



Many improvements have been made to the race- 

 course up to this date, but the most extensive was 

 the continuation of the old course, from the then 

 winning-post to the length of nearly half a mile 

 through the plantation — an undertaking which was 

 attended with much labour and expense in grubbing 

 up so many trees, and forming the course upon a sort 

 of embankment, which necessitated the erection of 

 the present stand, first utilized in 1830 ; since which 

 time improvements have been made to meet the 

 requirements of the most enjoyable race-meeting in 

 England, until it has attained the greatest pre-emi- 

 nence, and is justly known as " glorious Goodwood." 



Naturally his Grace was delighted to witness his 

 colours in the van upon a course he took so much 

 interest in, and upon his own estate. 



