THE CLASSIC RACES. 115 



were well known, but no steps could be taken 

 against them for lack of proof. Ten years after 

 the Swap business there fell out another 

 St, Leger scandal, when a horse entered for the 

 race was purchased by the Bonds, the keepers 

 of a gambling house in St. James's Street. 

 Ludlow, the horse in question, was likely to 

 start a great favourite when it passed into the 

 possession of the Bonds, as was asserted, to 

 be " milked " for the race ; at all events, the 

 sporting public became possessed of that idea, 

 which, in some degree, put a stop to speculation. 

 Bond wrote a letter to one of the newspapers 

 in which he maintained that he meant to run the 

 horse on his merits, and mentioning the bets he 

 had taken, and naming the parties he had backec 

 the horse with ; but Ludlow was the absolute 

 last in the race, which Mr. Gully carried off with 

 Margrave. It was in connection with this race 

 — in consequence of some dispute — that Gully 

 and Mr. Osbaldeston fought a duel, in which 

 the former had a narrow escape of losing his 

 life. 



At Doncaster no individual or private company 

 reaps the benefit of the moneys paid for admission 

 to the stands and rings ; the sums drawn, it is 

 understood, go to benefit the town. As regards 

 the exact mode of benefit, or the degree in 

 which the people are benefited, no particulars 

 are published ; judging, however, from the greed 

 of those who let their houses during the St. Leger 

 week, the benefits derived cannot be very great, 

 the charges being always exorbitant, ranging from 

 £a to £"/ for apartments that at any other period 

 of the year would be dear at as many shillings. 



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