TAKES A HOUSE AT NEWMARKET 29 



On the other hand, this circumstance may have 

 arisen from some racing quarrel or other, as it is 

 a singular fact that, beyond the escapade aforesaid, 

 no proof exists of his lordship having accepted or 

 made a challenge ; a simple fact that speaks volumes 

 for his common-sense, to which further tribute will 

 be accorded. 



By referring to the Racing Analysis at the end of 

 this volume, under date of the year just noticed — 

 1751 — it will be found that the result of the match 

 against time gave impetus to the Earl of March and 

 Ruglen's racing proclivities. True, the success issue 

 is poor, only one event out of eight gaining a 

 * winning bracket ' ; but that at this period did not 

 trouble his lordship much, as it was the acknowledg- 

 ment he chiefly desired at the hands of the English 

 devotees of the Turf, that the young Scottish Earl 

 was at least their equal in the 'mysteries' of the 

 racing stable. In what better way, then, could this be 

 shown than accepting or making matches with him ? 

 Having established himself as a supporter of the 

 Turf, and, what was more, having obtained public 

 recognition in that character, he 'capped' both by 

 indulging in a luxury that very few of the then most 

 ardent votaries of horse-racing could or did affect — 

 namely, a house at Newmarket, which he acquired 



