Vlll PREFACE. 



the Turf, forty years ago, down to the present 

 moment, it has had but one Dictator worthy of 

 that name I mean, of course, Lord George Ben- 

 tinck." 



Mr Weatherby's words revived in my mind a 

 desire which had long before been conceived by me, 

 to gather together materials for the Racing Life of 

 Lord George Bentinck, who, above all other racing 

 men within my memory, had left his mark most 

 impressively upon the history of the British Turf. 

 I had often enjoyed opportunities of conversing on 

 this subject with Lord George's old and trusted 

 trainer, Mr John Kent, who, I was well aware, 

 entertained the profoundest respect and regard for 

 his memory. Not until within the last two or 

 three years, however, has it been found possible 

 for Mr Kent to write, or for me to edit, the notes 

 on which this volume is based. Those who are 

 interested in the subject, and have the patience 

 to read this work, will, I hope, not proceed far 

 without discerning that its hero, Lord George 

 Bentinck, was undoubtedly the most remarkable 

 man, and also the strongest character, that the 

 British Turf has known or seen during the present 

 century. It should therefore, I think, be a matter 

 of general satisfaction to the vast army of followers 

 and supporters to whom horse-racing is either an 



