376 



A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 



course just completed at the beginning of the nineteenth century at Goodwood, close 

 to the spot where Lillywhite and Broadbridge first learnt round-arm bowling from 

 Lambert, and where in 1801 the Duke of Richmond's house was crammed with 

 guests, and big luncheon parties were in full swing in half-a dozen tents, where " ice" 

 is actually mentioned (and "pickpockets") among the other luxuries, and the day's 

 sport was concluded in the Theatre at Chichester or at a ball in the Assembly Rooms. 

 And even when such a plunger as Colonel Hellish had to sell his stud, it was 

 difficult to realise a " pecuniary scarcity " in the 950 guineas brought by S treat ham 

 , -' - Lass in open auction, in the 1,200 



guineas given for Eagle by Volunteer, 

 or the 1, 800 guineas for Smuggler by 

 Hambletonian. Nor in the career of 

 such a lavish sportsman as Colonel 

 Thornton, whose portrait hangs now 

 at the Durdans, could many signs ot 

 " dreary gloom " have been detected, 

 for on both sides of the Channel this 

 ardent devotee of every out-door 

 pastime spent large sums every day, 

 from the fortune he inherited soon 

 after he left Charterhouse, in hunting, 

 shooting, fishing, riding, and every 

 form of entertainment, with Major, 

 his greyhound, Merryman, the beagle, 

 Pitch, the terrier, Juno, the queen of 

 Hon. Charles F. Greville. the twenty brace of setters and five 



and thirty pointers which composed his " partridge-preparations." When neither 

 racing nor shooting happened to be going the Earls of Winchilsea and Darnley 

 would bet a thousand guineas on a county match at Lord's, between elevens who 

 wore round hats, knee breeches and pigtails, and were scored for by a pair of patient 

 gentlemen with a slate. 



The jockey of the last half of the eighteenth century had not quite reached that 

 finished correctness of attire which is now customary; for though, as we have seen, 

 colours were introduced in the early days of the Jockey Club, old fashions died hard, 

 and many still tucked the skirts of the old bodycoat into their breeches, flaps and 



