THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 97 



form) to the present time. But these were Bibury's very 

 best days. In addition to the encouragement given to it 

 by the patronage and presence of George IV., then Prince 

 of Wales, who was received by the Earl of Sherborne, 

 for the week, at his seat in the neighbourhood, and who 

 every day made his appearance on the course as a private 

 gentleman, on his favourite cropped roan hack, of which 

 he was as fond as the impetuous Hotspur of his " crop-ear 

 roan," which, in an equestrian transport, he called his 

 " throne," with merely a groom in attendance, and in 

 familiar conversation with all who had the privilege of 

 addressing him, there was a galaxy of gentlemen jockeys, 

 who alone rode at this meeting, which has never since 

 .>een equalled. Amongst them were the present Duke 

 f Dorset, who always rode for the Prince ; His Grace's 

 rother, the late Hon. George Germain ; the late Mr. 

 )elme Radcliffe who had the management of His Royal 

 {ighness's racing stud, until his decease as George IV. ; 

 lie late Lords Charles Somerset and Milsington, and 

 iord Delamere, then Mr. Cholmondeley ; Sir Tatton 

 iykes, then Mr. Sykes ; Messrs. Hawkes, Bullock, Worral, 

 jreorge Pigot, Lindow, Lowth, Musters, Probyn, &c., all 

 'rst-raters, and some of them in as constant practice as 

 iny of the regular jockeys. And a curious fact may here 

 je mentioned, and of which Frank Raby was a witness. 

 The Prince of Wales had a horse called Ploughater, by 

 Trumpeter, out of an Evergreen mare, and bred by Lord 

 Clermont, which was extremely difficult to ride, from 

 his hard pulling, and awkward position of his head in 

 his gallop. The Duke of Dorset, however, rode him in 

 several successful races, but at length broke a blood- 

 vessel by the exertion. Having lost a great quantity 

 of blood, His Grace did not appear on the course the 

 next day, but on the following one, to the surprise of 

 all persons who saw him, he not only appeared, but 

 insisted upon mounting Ploughater again, who had to 

 walk over the course for a Stakes. 



There was something especially jockey-like in the 

 appearance of the Duke of Dorset, his brother Germain, 

 and Delme Radcliffe, not only when mounted on race- 

 horses, but when seen riding on the course, on their hacks, 

 often with their saddles buckled to their sides, after the 

 manner of the professional men. Indeed, it is much to 

 be doubted whether there was so much as two pounds in 



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