" Grudon " 



correct in stating that Mr Bletsoe, who bred, 

 owned, and trained "Grudon" in Northampton- 

 shire, bought "Old Buck " for a few sovereigns 

 out of a plough. Probably he had some idea 

 at the time as regards the treasure he had picked 

 up, for he is a fine all-round judge of horses, and 

 this is where the romance of breeding comes in : 

 to wit, pearls of price may be discovered in the 

 rubbish - heap. An eye keen enough to detect 

 them scintillates on the scene, and the rest is 

 simple. " Old Buck,' too, in a plough — the 

 sire of a future " National " winner — presents a 

 picture that one loves to dwell on with a certain 

 sense of emotion. As a small owner affirmed 

 piously : " No man need despair about the blackest 

 outlook so long as he has a blood 'un. The 

 latter may turn up trumps for him even when 

 he thinks he has played his last card." Truly 

 " a bit of blood " has helped many lame dogs 

 over the stile. It may have also assisted to 

 cripple others in a vital part — their pocket. 



I only rode " Grudon " a few times. On the 

 first occasion I steered him to victory in the 

 Paddock Steeplechase at Manchester in 1900 ; 

 next in a 2-mile steeplechase at Kempton, being 

 fourth in a field of good horses. After that race 

 Mr Bletsoe approached me with reference to my 



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