LINES OF BLOOD 301 



be awarded pride of place. Hampton was out of Lady 

 Langden by Kettledrum, and was foaled in 1872. He began 

 his racing career in quite a humble manner, and was for 

 some time a selling plater. He won, amongst other un- 

 important races, a Selling Plate on the old Hampton Course 

 (now Hurst Park) and from this circumstance he obtained 

 his name. After a while he became the property of the late 

 Mr. Robert Peck, who then resided at Russley in Berkshire, 

 and who was the cleverest man of his day, especially when 

 great handicaps were concerned. I suppose Hampton had 

 been knocked about and overworked ; anyhow, Mr. Peck 

 had suspected that he was possessed of latent merit, and he 

 wisely threw him up for a time, then allowing him to come 

 nicely to hand. The result was most satisfactory, for during 

 the next few years Hampton won the Goodwood Stakes, 

 Goodwood Cup, Doncaster Cup, the Great Metropolitan 

 Stakes, and the Northumberland Plate — surely a pretty 

 record for an ex-selling plater. He also won some minor 

 events. This Northumberland Plate victory was his greatest 

 performance, for he carried the top weight of 8 st. 12 lbs., 

 and had to give 13 lbs. to a good-class horse in Glendale, 

 who was much fancied by the late Lord Durham and his 

 friends. There was also in the race a mare named Muscatel, 

 who carried the full confidence of Mr. William I'Anson, 

 the Malton trainer, and she was one of the handsomest 

 big mares I ever saw. It must be remembered that the 

 Northumberland Plate in those days was one of the biggest 

 betting races of the year, besides being one of the most 

 important long-distance races of the season. Handicaps of 

 ;^i,ooo were not then to be found with the frequency that 

 they now are, and during the summer months the Ascot 

 Stakes, the Northumberland Plate, the Liverpool Cup, and 

 the Goodwood Stakes were by far the most important long- 

 distance handicaps decided, and there was a market on each 

 of them for many weeks in advance. Owners and trainers 

 laid themselves out for the Northumberland Plate months 

 before, and books were opened on the event — and the winner 

 often backed — before the nominations appeared in the 

 Calendar. 



