668 



A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 



great a record of success as that at Eaton, which I first mentioned in tracing the 

 history of the Dukes of Westminster and the Grosvenor family in the eighteenth 

 century. Its sires, from Pottos to Bend Or, have been as famous as they were 

 efficient, and their noble company contains stars like Touchstone, Rhadamanthus, 

 Doncaster, and Ormonde. The Grosvenor colours have won the Derby seven 

 times, the Oaks nine times, and five St. Legers. The record prices connected 

 with the stables are no reflection of their owners' methods, for none could race 

 more heartily for the love of the sport alone ; but they are strong indications of 

 the value of its stock. Ormonde brought ,30,000 as a sire. Flying Fox was 



bought by M. Edmond 



-^- 



Blanc for jf 39,375, and 



there was a regular 

 groan of disappoint- 

 ment at Kingsclere 

 when this fine de- 

 scendant of Stockivell 

 passed into foreign 

 hands. As the hammer 

 went down, Mr. Tat- 

 tersall could remember, 

 as one of his earliest 



From the painting in the possession 

 \of Leopold lie Kolhschild, Esq. 



' Mr. Avon's" " Sir Bevys^' with 



George Ford/iam, winner of 



the Derby 0/1879. 



recollections of racing, 

 the remarkable sale at 

 Middle Park, Eltham. 

 in July, 1872, when 

 Blair A (hoi, son of Stockwell and Blink Bonny, and sire of Prince Charlie, was 

 preserved for this country at what was then the record price of 12,500 guineas, 

 by the Cobham Stud Company. The first Duke's horses in training sold, at 

 his death, for ,73,962, all nineteen of them descended from Doncaster ; and his 

 twelve Eaton-bred yearlings fetched the amazing figure of .45,465, the highest 

 single price being the record of 10,000 guineas for the yearling Sceptre, who 

 thoroughly justified Mr. Sievier's confidence in her powers. The sale at which 

 Sceptre passed out of the Eaton stud has perhaps only been equalled in interest 

 by that of Lord Falmouth when Mr. Phillips bought Galliard for 3,000 guineas, 

 after the Mereworth-bred son of Prince Bathyany's beloved Galopin had won close 



