SECOND PERIOD : GEORGE III. 85 



Skyscraper, and Lord Derby's famous Sir Peter 

 (Teazle). 



In the North, too, the St. Leger had been 

 won by Mr. Hutchinson (ex-stable-boy) with 

 Young Traveller and Beningbrough ; and he 

 had bred Sir C. Turner's Hambletonian, a third 

 winner of that great race at Doncaster. 



Some other names (such as that of Mr. 

 Ferguson, who won the St. Leger of 18 19 with 

 Antonio, and is said to have been a publican) 

 might be added ; but enough has been said to 

 show that less aristocratic persons had begun 

 to assert themselves as active and successful 

 participators in what had been * the sport of 

 kings,' and not merely as envious spectators, 

 humble bettors among equally ' common ' friends 

 and acquaintances, or adventurous 'legs,' lay- 

 ing the odds to their social superiors. 



Between 1760 and 1820, the extent of the 

 reign of George III. (with interregna and a titular 

 regency), there also struggled into existence the 

 betting ring. Of course there had always been 

 betting, as we have seen, but it was chiefly, 

 though by no means entirely, confined to com- 



