GEORGE IV. AND WILLIAM IV. 129 



from the heroic naval memories associated with 

 the name than from any cause connected with per- 

 formances in the pigskin, was a very notable and 

 brilliant period in the history of the English turf 

 and of horse-breeding. It had been feared that 

 the new King, who was well known not to share 

 his late brothers' (George IV.'s and the Duke of 

 York's) predilections, so far as horse-racing was 

 concerned, would withdraw the light of kingly 

 countenance from the turf altogether. It was, 

 therefore, a pleasant surprise to turfites in general 

 when, far from turning his back upon ' the sport 

 of kings ' and the national pastime, and far from 

 dropping his membership of the Jockey Club, he 

 allowed himself to be advertised as titular ' patron ' 

 of the club ; took over the late King's horses ; 

 started ' the whole fleet ' (in his own sailor-like 

 words) of such as were entered for the Goodwood 

 Cup, the race for which followed hard upon the 

 death of ' the First Gentleman,' and ran first, 

 second, and third with those expensive purchases. 

 Fleur-de-lis (the famous mare), Zinganee (the 

 * best horse in England,' at certain times), and 

 The Colonel (a winner of the St. Leger). He is 

 said to have established (or continued, probably, 



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