JOHN O' GAUNT. 169 



Discord won not only the Northamptonshire 

 Stakes, but also, during the following week, the 

 Granby Handicap at Croxton Park, carrying 11 

 stone 10 lb., and the Cup next day, carrying 

 12 stone. Later in the year he ran in many 

 other races, and was repeatedly tried at home, 

 leaving off at last perfectly sound. 



After these two experiences of Discord and John 

 o' Gaunt, his Lordship would never believe that 

 any horse was absolutely incurable, however badly 

 broken down he appeared to be. When he bought 

 John o' Gaunt the year before from the Duke of 

 Bedford, Mr William Edwards, then his Grace's 

 trainer, remarked to Lord George : " I suppose, my 

 Lord, you have bought John o' Gaunt for a stallion, 

 as it is useless to attempt to train him again. We 

 have had him fired and otherwise treated, but to 

 no purpose." When the horse arrived at Good- 

 wood, his Lordship said to me : " I wish you would 

 try the effect of your charges on John o' Gaunt's 

 legs, as I could win some money on him if he could 

 be brought sound and well to the post, since he 

 stays so well." Not only did John o' Gaunt win 

 the Queen's Plate at Northampton, but another at 

 Newmarket, and also the Cup at Stockbridge and 

 the Cup at Egham. His Lordship then obtained 

 a good price for him as a stallion. He afterwards 

 became the sire of Bolingbroke — a good horse if he 

 had not been " messed about " ; in fact, he was 

 only half trained when a distance from home he 



