GAPER. 187 



Gaper could never take a strong gallop or win a 

 race without pulling up more or less lame, and, 

 in addition, he was very nervous and excitable, 

 and Sam E-ogers's heavy hand and rough-and-ready 

 style of riding made him more irritable. The 

 first of the follow^ing letters was written from 

 Newmarket on the evening of the day when Gaper 

 as a three-year-old had the greatest difficulty in 

 beating a very bad horse called New Brighton, 

 after having won a sweepstakes of 100 sovereigns 

 each, R.M., by three lengths on the j^i'evious 

 Tuesday, beating a very moderate horse of the 

 Duke of Grafton's, called Esop, who was ridden 

 by John Day. It will be seen that Lord George 

 was greatly disappointed at this poor performance 

 of a horse whom he had heavily backed for the 

 Derby, and on whom he founded the most sanguine 

 hopes. I should premise that " Philip," to whom 

 Lord George frequently alludes, was Philip New- 

 man, stud groom at the Danebury paddocks, 

 adjoining John Day's stables. To these paddocks 

 considerable additions were made by Lord George 

 when he first went to Danebury ; and on removing 

 his horses from Danebury to Goodwood he re- 

 tained his paddocks at the former place, thereby 

 turning to account his heavy investments in loose- 

 boxes, hovels, paddocks, tanks, ponds, and fences, 

 together with plantations or belts of trees erected 

 to shelter the thoroughbred stock from the cold 

 winds sweeping over those exposed downs. 



