'CRUCIFIX'— A SECRET KEPT. 91 



very costly experiment. For had Crucifix broken 

 down before running, or gone amiss early, the amount 

 he would have had to pay in stakes and forfeits would 

 have been enormous. 



Shortly after Crucifix won the Oaks she did break 

 down. This misfortune served to throw some light on 

 the peculiar racing ethics held by his lordship, and 

 showed that he was not incajmble of doughty deeds 

 hardly worthy the great Mentor, 'The Napoleon of 

 the Turf,' and most noble supporter of its moral 

 rectitude. The secret was so well kept that the mare 

 remained for a long time afterwards first favourite 

 for the Leger ; and there can be no doubt that his 

 lordship succeeded in laying a large stake against her", 

 either personally or through agents. Moreover, the 

 fact that he could not secure my father's co-operation 

 in his plan was one of the causes of his leaving 

 Danebury, as I shall show when I have an oppor- 

 tunity of relating the particulars of the rupture. 



From this point we must, I fear, come to the con- 

 sideration of some of the more doubtful actions in the 

 racing career of this nobleman, if we would arrive at 

 a true estimate of his character, and of his influence 

 on turf morality. In the memorable race at New- 

 market for the Feather Plate — the last three miles of 

 the Beacon Course — Tripoli was entered, and ridden 

 by Bob West, a lad in our stable, carrying 7 st. 10 lb. 

 Here I have to correct the mistake before referred to, 

 made by the Admiral, who, in his book, gives the 



