A HISTORY OF THE EXGLISH TURF. 



On October 7th, 1682, Lord Conway wrote from Newmarket, in a state 

 paper to Mr. Secretary Jenkins, that " His Majesty's horse Dragon which 

 carried seven stone was beaten yesterday by a little horse called Postbov, 

 carrying four stone and the Masters of that Art conclude this Top Horse of 



England is spoyled for 



& 

 ever.' 



These last words, 

 it has been suggested, 

 gave rise to one of 

 the most gratuitous 

 inventions of which any 

 reckless advocate was 

 ever guilty. The story 

 told by Dr. Hawkes- 

 worth, in March, 1/53, 

 is that Mr. Frampton's 

 stallion Dragon had 

 beaten a mare in a 

 match for ,1,000, some 

 time after he had been 

 sent to the stud with 

 an unbeaten record ; 

 and that the mare's 

 disappointed owner 

 then ottered to race 

 her for ,2,000 against 

 any other mare or 

 gelding ; whereupon 



the barbarous Frampton qualified Dragon for the second match and won it at 

 the cost of his gallant horse's life, which was sacrificed owing to the effects of 

 the race following so quickly on the operation. Even in this story as it stands 

 there is a good deal of improbability which I need not further emphasise. But 

 when the Dragon referred to by Dr. Hawkesworth is considered to be this horse 

 belonging to the King (because Frampton may have trained him), and when 

 Lord Conway's phrase about his being " spoyled for ever " is taken as referring 



Tregonwell Frampton as a young man. 

 Hy permission of the St. Hon. tlu Earl of Rostbery. By R. Pyle. 



