404 RACING CAREER OF SIR W. H. GREGORY. 



day he was again pulled out for the Cup, and a 

 heavy commission to back him was issued by Mr 

 Osbaldeston. All the money betted against Rush 

 at Lord Wilton's dinner-table upon the previous 

 evening was secured by an agent of the Squire, 

 and when the horses came to the post for the Cup, 

 Rush, who had been backed for large sums, from 

 10 down to 2 to 1, started at the latter price. As 

 Mr Osbaldeston, seated upon his horse's back, 

 walked by the stand to go down to the starting- 

 post, Lord George Bentinck cried out in a loud 

 voice, "Two hundred to one against Rush." "Done," 

 exclaimed Mr Osbaldeston ; " put it down to me." 

 Waiting upon Lord Wilton, who rode Bill Scott's 

 mare, Lady le Gros (also a great pot), the Squire 

 overhauled her at the distance, and coming away, 

 won in a canter. Great was the hubbub that 

 ensued, and Rush's sudden change of form was 

 commented upon in very outspoken language, 

 which was not a little increased and aggravated by 

 his winning again upon the following day. Im- 

 mediately after the latter race the Squire set off 

 to go cub-hunting, and had no opportunity of asking 

 Lord George for two hundred pounds until they 

 both met at the Craven Meeting next year. The 

 fact that his Lordship, who was usually the most 

 punctual of settlers, had not discharged his debt 

 for many months, gave some presage of the scene 

 which was to follow. 



Lord George was standing in front of the Jockey 



