RACING AT THE DAWN OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. 



327 



at Ascot (four-mile heats), and Salisbury (four-mile heats), after which he was 

 bought by Sir Charles Bunbury, and though defeated by the Duke of Grafton's 

 Guardian in a race from the Ditch In, he signalised his return to British 

 ownership by beating a field of six in two heats of four miles for the Odsey ,50 

 Plate. In 1769 Gimcrack showed a still greater appreciation for his famous owner 

 at Newmarket in the Spring, by beating Hermione and Amazon, Baler by Blank, 

 Cardinal Puff, Bay Malton, and many others. He now reached the legitimate goal 

 of every good horse's ambition in those days, and was bought by Lord Grosvenor 

 for 1,200 guineas, promptly showing his approval of the transaction by beating Lord 

 Rockingham's Jacko over the Beacon Course. His first attempt on the Knavesmire 

 at York was not so success- 

 ful as usual, for, on August 

 24, 1769, he was placed 

 third(ridden byjohn Pratt, 

 gst., four miles) to Sir L 

 Dundas's Chatsworth by 

 Blank (C. Dawson), and 

 Mr. Wentworth's Tortoise 

 (L. Jewison),with Morisoick 

 Ball, Bay Malton, and All 

 Fours behind him, after a 

 close race. In 1770 he won 

 the Whip at Newmarket, 

 and it should be remem- 

 bered that all this excel- 

 lence was packed into a fraction over fourteen hands. In 177 1 he had his revenge over 

 Sir Charles Bunbury's Bellario, by beating him over the Round Course, in the good 

 company of Lord March's Sportsman, Lord Bolingbroke's CJialfont^ord Orford's J%w/>, 

 Lord Farnham's Guardian, Lord Rockingham's Tantrum, Mr. Wentworth's Myrmidon, 

 and Mr. Cox's Teetotum. Thinking this a good enough bouquet to finish with, 

 Gimcrack now left the Turf for the amenities of the Eaton stud-farm. I should like 

 here to speak also of the Duke of Cleveland's Dainty Davy, a small bay son of 

 Traveller, who won the first Gold Cup at Richmond in 1759, and beat Lord 

 Rockingham's Scrub at York, in two four-mile heats, in 1760 ; but I must pass on to 

 that famous son of Snap, Mr. Jenison Shafto's good bay Goldfaider (his dam by 



By permission of H.K.H. Prince Christian. 



" Sport ley" (1748). 



