GENERAL GROSVENOR. 67 



on one occasion at Newmarket he won the Riddles- 

 worth Stakes, worth five thousand guineas, with a 

 mare called Blue Stockings. He also won the Oaks 

 with a chestnut mare, out of Oleander, and another 

 Oaks with a mare called Briseis. But for all par- 

 ticulars of his racing exploits I must beg to refer 

 you to the Racing Calendar, for it is a subject upon 

 which I must own I know nothing, and for which 

 I never had the slightest taste or affection. 



The General used to run a horse or two at Stamford 

 and Croxton Park, but I cannot call to mind his ever 

 winning anything at either of them. He, however, 

 was very fond of a race, and if he did not gain much 

 himself, he used to help to make fun for others. 



Stamford and Croxton Park Races in former days 

 were very pleasant reunions. There were no railways, 

 consequently no legs and betting men, no sounds of 

 " Ten to one, I name the winner," " I'll bet ten to one, 

 bar one," and such like vulgar sounds, and which are 

 as painful to the ear as the smell of the beastly cab- 

 bage-leaf-made cigars, which are now smoked, is 

 offensive to one's nasal organ. 



There were but few paid jockeys, the generality 

 being either the gentlemen who owned the horses, or 

 some gentleman friend, or occasionally some groom 



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