3 8 JOHN BAYNTON STARKEY, ESQ. 



fortunes have naturally been attributed to following 

 sport in this form. Yet I think I can show that its 

 thoughtless votaries, such as Mr. Starkey was, do 

 more injury to the repute of our national pastime 

 than all the avowed gamblers and unscrupulous 

 schemers that are its real plague-spots. For I can 

 prove beyond doubt that in his connection with the 

 turf Mr. Starkey was by no means, at any time, a 

 heavy loser. 



Amongst other horses, he was the owner of Venclas, 

 which he bought at Mr. Blenkiron's sale. He bought 

 her, it may be said, almost by accident, or at all 

 events on the spur of the moment. In his good- 

 natured way he did not, as he said, ' like to partake of 

 his host's hospitalit}^ without making a bid for some- 

 thing.' And he showed this sense of gratitude in 

 action better than words. For when the animal was 

 brought into the ring he made the only bid, £210, 

 and to his surprise and dismay the hammer fell, as he 

 himself nearly fell too at the shock. The first use he 

 made of this good animal was to his own destruction 

 and heavy loss. In the Danebury Nursery he had 

 another horse running, Land Tax, which he had 

 backed for a lot of money. But he entered the mare 

 also, according to his own account, to make a field, 

 which was already large and respectable enough for 

 the purpose ; and she came and won, whilst Land Tax 

 was second. I really believe he was rather pleased 

 than otherwise with the result. At all events, he 



