53 



CHAPTEE III. 



EARLY RACING DAYS. 



LORD GEORGE BENTINCK evidently took an interest 

 in racing at an early age, as in 1824, when twenty- 

 two years old, he rode Mr Poyntz's chestnut mare, 

 Olive, for the Cocked -Hat Stakes at Goodwood, 

 beating Lord George Lennox's bay gelding, 

 Swindon, and three others, after running two 

 dead heats with Swindon. In the third heat 

 his Lordship rode without spurs, and to his great 

 delight won, beating Captain Berkeley, an ex- 

 cellent rider, who piloted Swindon. At that time 

 Lord George Bentinck was staying with Mr Poyntz 

 at Cowdray, and some ladies who were also guests 

 in the house kindly undertook the task of mak- 

 ing a jacket for him to ride in. How far this 

 gratifying success tended to promote his par- 

 tiality for Goodwood I cannot say, but after its 

 occurrence he attended Goodwood races without 

 intermission; was a subscriber in 1827 to the 

 Cup, Stakes, and Drawing - Room Stakes ; and 

 was Steward in 1837. 



