CHAPTER XXV 



Decline of his grace's racing 'star' — Richard, seventh Earl of Barrymore, 

 and Queensberry compared as Turfites — Racing, 1791-3 — Lord Gros- 

 venor's losses on the Turf : an equal sum said to have been won by 

 the Duke — The ' Father of the Turf ' : candidates for the honour — 

 Recipe for making a jockey — Queensben-y's Turf record, 1794 — His 

 grace killed by the press — Monody on his supposed death — Racing 

 results, 1796 — The Duke's appetite. 



The racing star of William, fourth. Duke of Queens- 

 berry, may now be said to have reached its zenith, and 

 began surely though slowly to decline. 



In all outdoor pastimes, whether of sport or pleasure, 

 where the physical powers of man or beast play an 

 important part, age is a never-failing factor. There- 

 fore Queensberry, 'within hail' of seventy, was not 

 ' M. and R.' at forty as regards his ability to ride in 

 matches or trials and to test first-hand the ' paces ' 

 of his racing prodigies. 



The Duke of Grafton's remark to John Day, whom 

 he accused of being a disciple of Hermes, by saying, 

 ' You 're a thief, John Day, you stole that race,' may 

 be twisted into Father Time robbing 'Old Q' of 



