ORGANISED STEEPLECHASING 19 



in the first heat, Coleman enticed the trainer of the 

 winner into a clrinking-booth and pHed him so in- 

 cessantly with brandy that when the hour arrived for 

 the second heat the trainer of the winner of the first 

 had forgotten all about his business, so his horse was 

 a non-starter.^ 



In 1820 Lord Verulam gave Coleman permission to 

 train in Gorhambury Park, near St. Albans, and as 

 Lord Verulam had a tenant who held two farms, and 

 was desirous of being relieved of one, Coleman took 

 it, together with the farm-houses and stables. He next 

 took the "Chequers Tavern" at St. Albans, with a 

 large yard and premises. He pulled down the 

 " Chequers," and rebuilt, on a twenty years' lease, " The 

 Turf Hotel." Beine still desirous of extendinof his busi- 

 ness, the next step was to possess himself of a house 

 adjoining the gateway of the "Chequers," and this he 

 promptly gutted, refitting the interior with stabling for 

 thirty horses, and arranging opposite a ride on which 

 horses could be exercised in wet weather. 



"The Turf Hotel," though not very spacious, was a 

 great improvement on the old " Chequers." Coleman 

 knew what sort of accommodation his patrons wanted ; 

 so the bedrooms were exceedingly comfortable, while 

 there were baths supplied with hot and cold water — a 

 rare luxury about seventy years ago. Coleman secured 

 the services of a good cook, Val Kingston supplied the 

 wine, and there was as good a billiard-table as could be 



^ George Dockeray was the stable's usual jockey, and Coleman always 

 asserted that when he won the Derby on Lapdog in 1826 he was ten pounds 

 overweight. Coleman's next move was to Bulstrode Park, where he included 

 among his patrons Mr. Hraithwaite and Mr. Weatherby, and for them he 

 won the Oxford Gold Cup with Gardenia, by Cervantes. This unexpected 

 victory so upset the equanimity of the Sadler and Day families, that Old 

 Grandfather Day (who always had a hunting-whip hanging up at his right 

 hand when he read one of Blair's sermons to his stable lads on Sunday 

 evenings) went up to Coleman and said, " D — n thee ; I wish thou wouldst 

 keep to thine own country." 



