BRITISH TURF. 331 



opinions must have been formed without reflec- 

 tion. 



However all this may be, it must ever be re- 

 gretted that Mr. Batson did not afFord that 

 thorough knowledge of everything concerning the 

 management and training of his horse, to which 

 the public had an undoubted right ; and although 

 that gentleman's high character for integrity, 

 places him above the shade of suspicion of foul 

 practice, he must still labour under the charge of, 

 at least,^ carelessness, for having, with his great 

 experience on the turf, suffered so splendid an 

 animal to be ruined by an ignorant or designing 

 trainer. 



The remaining performances of this second 

 Eclipse, still further confirmed the public opinion 

 that he could have carried off" the St. Leger with 

 great ease. But after the " Doncaster affair," 

 few could be found to back him, and those few 

 suffered at Ascot for their credulity ; as we shall 

 presently shew. 



A reference to the racing for the following year, 

 (1835) will show our readers that at the Newmarket 

 Craven Meeting, Plenipo again made his appear- 

 ance. On this occasion, his condition was perfect, 

 and his fine form, muscle, and legs, clean as a 

 foal's, excited general admiration ; and it was 

 universally admitted that he was a perfect model 

 of what a race-horse ought to be. His first race 



