20 STEEPLECHASING 



found in the days of list cushions. Here it was that 

 Mr. Osbaldeston, a frequent visitor at Coleman's house, 

 and by no means a bad hand at billiards, played for one 

 whole week, at ^25 a game, with a billiard sharp to 

 whom he lost ^3000, and against whom he had been 

 previously warned. 



By this time Coleman was getting into his stride. 

 He trained for Mr. Heathcote, the eccentric General 

 Grosvenor, Sir David Baird (the "Davie" Baird of 

 Ouorn fame), Mr. John Gully, Mr. Nevill, Mr. Tatter- 

 sall. Colonel Charretie, Captain White, Prince Esterhazy, 

 Mr. Formby, Mr. King, and others, not to mention a 

 member of the Bar, who, about twenty-five years ago, 

 was on the Bench, and this energetic sportsman would 

 run down on Sunday mornings, see his horses galloped 

 during church time, and then post back again to read 

 his briefs in readiness for Monday. Lord George 

 Bentinck, too, so Coleman used to say, often sent several 

 horses to him when the Danebury or Goodwood stables 

 were replete to overflowing. 



One is tempted to add a little to this digression in 

 order to relate the little-known fact, that not only did 

 Lord George Bentinck often stay at the "Turf Hotel," 

 but it was from Coleman that he derived a good deal 

 of that information which enabled him to successfully 

 expose the Running Rein fraud. 



Lord George Bentinck wrote to Coleman : — 



" Find out who painted Gone-away's leg. Was it Goodman himself 

 or William Saddler? It was painted in London." 



Another letter runs : — 



" Can the ostler at Bryant's recollect a dirty, mean-looking little 

 fellow, with light-brown or sandy thin whiskers, with a bad knee, kicked 

 by the horse he was leading up, stopping at the ' Red Lion ' to bait, 

 on Saturday the 24th of September 1842, and asking his way either to 

 Haines's livery-stables in Langham Place, or else to Mr. Goodman's 



