2 Some Opinions of the Press on the First Edition of Kingsclere. 



' While it may be welcomed as an invaluable addition to sporting literature . . . 

 further praise is due to the admirable fashion in which its materials have been handled, and 

 to the excellent taste and good feeling shown throughout its pages. The high personal 

 character of the author and the literary skill of his " amanuensis," as Mr. Webber 

 modestly styles himself, are worthily combined in it. . . . Further chapters are devoted 

 to a minute, yet pleasantly-penned, account of Park House and Kingsclere and their 

 surroundings, not only from the point of view of a sportsman, but also from that of an 

 artistic, antiquarian, travelled, and observant man of the world, and abounding in anecdote 

 and incident. The numerous illustrations of equine champions are admirable.' 



Morning Advertiser. 



' An interesting contribution to the history of the English Turf. Eight years ngo that 

 history was said to have been, for twenty-five years, the history of John Porter, and the 

 saying is no less true now.' — St. James's Gazette. 



' This history naturally is in part a history of great horses. Mr. Byron Webber, 

 who has told Porter's story with a very large ability, carries us lightly and chattily from 

 Rataplan to Virago, from Bedminster to Blue Gown, from Vagabond to Isonomy, from 

 Isonomy to the mighty Ormonde. . . . Mr. Byron Webber may well be satisfied with his 

 share in this excellent volume. His editing betrays infinite pains. He is never labori- 

 ously technical ; he has amassed a store of information which must ever be of infinite 

 service to the Turf historian of the future. Nor does he forget the weaker brethren, being 

 careful to lighten his pages with many pleasant anecdotes and much breezy chatter.' 



Daily Chronicle. 

 ' A healthy, interesting, and well-written book. Turning over its pages, we come 

 here and there upon passages that have all the freshness and breeze of the grand downs 

 on which John Porter has trained race-horses whose names will be remembered as long as 

 the Turf exists. A guarantee of interest is that the reminiscences are supplied direct by 

 the renowned trainer, one of the most accurate of men, gifted with a singularly retentive 

 memory. That the story of " Kingsclere " is told neatly and in aptly-chosen words must 

 be the case, considering that its editor is Mr. Byron Webber. ..." Kingsclere " is indeed 

 a delightful book, and of its kind unique. It contains nineteen full-page illustrations, 

 besides others on a lesser scale, and does infinite credit to author, editor, and publisher.' 



Observer. 

 ' A charming volume of illustrated reminiscences, edited with much care and originality 

 by Mr. Byron Webber. . . . Mr. Porter's reminiscences extend back over thirty years, 

 and are brought practically up to date. Many are the absorbing stories he tells of the 

 interesting animals he has trained, and of the great people with whom he has been on 

 terms of intimacy. . . . Nothing could be more beautiful than the account of John Porter's 

 family and professional life at Park House, Kingsclere. He has a quiet little community 

 of his own round about him over which he reigns supreme, and to which he extends almost 

 princely munificence. He is careful that no one in his service is neglected. . . . We are grate- 

 ful to Mr. Byron Webber for the delightful view he gives us of a remarkable character. 

 We seem to know the man, and whether he is engaged in following up the interesting 

 profession which he adorns, or entertaining the numerous guests who are to be found at 

 Park House all through the year ; or chatting in his homely but lucid style of events 

 which will only be remembered by the older school of sportsmen ; or giving vent to the 

 inherent passion for gardening that all his life has possessed him (says he : "I enjoy the 

 sights and sounds of rural nature, the signs of the seasons, and watching the gradual 

 succession of these is to me a source of continual pleasure ") ; or speaking in loving terms 

 of the English song-birds, " the warblers, and whistlers, and twitterers," which are his 

 especial favourites (there is a mandate that not one feathered pilferer in his gardens is to 

 be disturbed, no matter how the fruit suffers in consequence) — whatever he is doing he 

 inspires respect and confidence and admiration, and one feels what a good thing for the 

 British Turf it would be if more connected with it were like him.' 



Liverpool Daily Post. 

 ' A volume that we are quite certain will become one of the standard works associated 

 with the great national pastime, and, in addition, take its place as a book of reference and 

 research tor all time. ... In collaboration John Porter and Byron Webber have worked 

 most happily, with the result that from the first page to the last of this most entertaining 

 and instructive volume, to those associated with racing in all its ramifications, the interest 

 never flags for an instant.' — Sporting Life. 



' The book will rightly be deemed a classic, and as such valued for all time.' 



Sportsman. 



