ii8 CHASING AND RACING 



and her great sire Cackler of Notts are descended 

 nearly every terrier of the breed that is entitled to the 

 prefix " Champion.** 



Another time, Lord Lonsdale informed me that 

 Henry Chaplin had lent him his Lincolnshire residence, 

 Blankney Castle, for a space, and suggested that I 

 should accompany him thither. Here it was that I 

 had the interesting experience of feasting my eyes on 

 Hermit, the sensational Derby winner of 1867. 

 The little chestnut was then in the sere and yellow, and 

 looked rather sorry for himself. He may not have 

 been among Derby winners of the very highest class, 

 but, as all breeders know, his success at the stud was 

 phenomenal. His blood runs through that of a very 

 large percentage of subsequent winners of the " race 

 of races." 



Whilst I was at Blankney, Jack Frost made his 

 objectionable breath felt, and snow lay deep on the 

 ground. We poached some of our host's pheasants, 

 and tried in vain to course his hares ; but we had to 

 give it up and await a more favourable opportunity. 

 This came when the Lord of Lowther Castle took over 

 the Mastership of the Blankney, and invited me up to 

 sample the sport. I brought Yeoman and Uncle Ben 

 with me, and all and sundry were curious to see how 

 these nags would negotiate the local stone walls, 

 neither they nor their rider having had any previous 

 experience of this style of " lepping," but I don't think 

 we disgraced ourselves very obviously. 



