THE HALNAKEE, GALLOP. 105 



and Gaper had such doubtful legs that it appeared 

 almost hopeless to endeavour to train him. John 

 Day, in fact, said he never could be trained ; but 

 by the aid of " Kent's charges " — as Lord George 

 subsequently called the application — and the ex- 

 cellent training-grounds at Goodwood, he was kept 

 upon his legs and won the Criteron Stakes at New- 

 market in 1842, greatly to his Lordship's delight, 

 as he had a yearling bet of £10,000 to £100 about 

 him for the Derby. His legs being so bad through 

 standing over at the knees like a cab-horse, liberal 

 odds were laid against him for the Derby, after the 

 Criterion, which were taken by and for his Lord- 

 ship, till he stood to win a very large stake upon 

 him. This unexpected success, enhanced by 

 Gaper's future prospects, stimulated Lord George 

 still further to persist in his endeavours to com- 

 mand success. He determined to extend and 

 improve the exercise - ground, and to form a 

 gallop upon the ascent for a mile and a half upon 

 the most elastic turf that I have ever seen. To 

 attain this object, he devised the famous Hal- 

 naker Park gallop, which, with other works 

 upon the Molecomb Hill, he was most anxious 

 to complete. After explaining his views and 

 projects to my father and myself, he inquired of 

 me w^hat the cost of such works would amount 

 to, as a large number of immense timber -trees 

 would have to be felled and their roots grubbed 

 up, banks levelled, and turf and mould brought 



