332 HISTORY OF THE 



was for the Craven stakes, when he defeated Col. 

 Peel's Nonsense, 5 yrs. old, the Duke of Cleve- 

 land's Shilelah, 4 yrs., Lord Chesterfield's Glaucus, 

 5 yrs., and five others. The pace was terrific, all 

 doing their utmost to choke oflf the " phenome- 

 non," but in vain, Plenipo winning easily by a 

 length. 



His next performance, in the same meeting, 

 excited great interest, from a doubt which existed 

 among many experienced turfites as to his being 

 able to run a short distance at a great rate of 

 speed. This race was for a subscription plate of 

 £50, T. Y. C, a distance not much exceeding 

 half a mile ; and Lord Orford entered his horse, 

 Clearwell by J.-^rry, five years old, for the purpose 

 of clearing up this doubt, that horse having the 

 reputation of first rate speed for that distance. 

 This event was decided by Plenipo winning by 

 three lengths, and his jockey, Robinson, declared 

 that his horse " was never at half his speed." 



The close of the Craven Meeting, and Plenipo's 

 last appearance, took place on the same day, when 

 he walked over for the Port stakes. This was 

 contrary to what was held out to the pubhc, as 

 it was implicitly believed, up to the day of the race, 

 that he was to start for the Gold Cup at Ascot, 

 where he would again meet Bran, (the second for 

 the St. Leger), and Glencoe. Great was the 

 consternation of his unfortunate backers when 



