DANEBURY DAYS 



worked wonders, and he got him into such form 

 for the St. Leger that John Day said that he had 

 never seen a horse in more perfect trim. I use 

 the word "seen" advisedly, for, though the old 

 man was as nearly as possible blind, he could 

 tell more of a horse's condition by the use of his 

 fingers than most men are able to do with their 

 two eyes thrown in. Then came the question 

 of a trial. Enoch stoutly opposed the idea of 

 subjecting him to this ordeal, for he had felt 

 uncomfortable suspicions with regard to the 

 suspensory ligament of his near fore-leg for some 

 time past, and "If we attempt to try him we 

 shall see no Doncaster," was the opinion he gave 

 John Day. Unfortunately, as it turned out, the 

 latter took a different view, so, though The Earl 

 was not actually tried, Tom Cannon rode him 

 in a good stripped gallop on the Thursday before 

 the Leger, he pulled up lame, and his career was 

 ended. Few horses have ever started stud life 

 with better chances, as he went to Mr. Sawrey 

 Cookson, who, at that time, possessed a very 

 choice collection of brood mares. He, however, 

 turned out a terrible " laggard in love," as scarcely 

 a mare that visited him proved to be in foal, so, 

 after being given a full trial for a couple of seasons, 

 he was sent to Watson at Belleisle, and an 

 attempt was made to train him again. I suppose 

 his near fore-leg would not stand the strain ; at 

 any rate the experiment was a failure, and he 

 never re-appeared in public. 



The Marquis of Hastings did not see the end 

 of 1868, his death taking place on November 10 

 in that year. He was only in his twenty-seventh 

 year, but he had lived every hour of his life, and, 

 mere boy as he was, those who knew him best 

 still maintain that no cleverer tactician ever 



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