LORD howth's horses. 385 



a rick with, and by the First October, if not by 

 the July Meeting, they are quite ready to be 

 drawn/ " 



When Sir Wilham Gregory was in his prime, 

 one of the most successful racing men of the day, 

 and certainly one of the finest judges of the noble 

 animal, was his compatriot the late Earl of Howth. 

 The latter trained with the Days at Danebury, 

 and was always on the look-out for Irish horses, 

 which he bought for, or shared with, his trusted 

 advisers in racing matters, Messrs Gully and 

 Harry Hill. In this w^ay Danebury became pos- 

 sessed of St Lawrence, Peep -o'- Day Boy, and 

 Mincepie, who won the Oaks. Speaking of Lord 

 Howth's race-horses, Sir William remarks : — 



" I cannot remember anything of much import- 

 ance except the stupor and surprise of Danebury 

 when my horse, Vitellius bought by me as a three- 

 year-old for £250, ran away as a four-year-old from 

 St Lawrence, then one of the best horses in Eng- 

 land, for the Queen's Plate at Northampton. The 

 betting opened at 4 to 1 on St Lawrence, and 

 ended by my taking 2 to 1 to all the money that I 

 could get on. This was the great performance of 

 ' Treen's ugly customer,' as Vitellius was called, 

 because of his fiddle-head, lop ears, and ewe-neck. 

 Well do I remember the caricature of old Drinkald 

 riding St Lawrence for the Chester Cup against 



2 B 



