112 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



had misinterpreted some statement made to him, 

 and laid heavily against Blue Gown for the 

 Guineas. The horse was, therefore, withdrawn 

 from the race, because Sir Joseph did not want to 

 place his agent in an awkward predicament. We 

 sometimes saw Mr. Herring at Kingsclere. He 

 was godfather to my second daughter. In later 

 life he became a very wealthy man, but he made 

 most of his fortune in the City, where he was 

 associated with Baron Hirsch. He was naturally 

 an astute and clever man, and a very shrewd 

 Turf ** Commissioner." 



During the winter Lady Elizabeth was favourite 

 for the Derby at 6 to i. Against Rosicrucian 

 odds of 13 to 2 were laid; Green Sleeve was 

 backed at 100 to 8, The Earl at 100 to 6, and 

 Blue Gown at 25 to i. Against " Sir Joseph 

 Hawley*s lot " odds of 500 to 150 were offered. 

 Sir Joseph backed each of his three candidates 

 to win him something like ;£8 0,000, but before 

 we realised that if we were to win the Derby it 

 would have to be with Blue Gown he had hedged 

 his bets about that colt. Later on it became 

 common knowledge that Rosicrucian and Green 

 Sleeve had wintered badly, nevertheless the public 

 made the filly favourite for the Two Thousand at 

 5 to 2. Formosa, who, it will be remembered, 

 had finished not far behind her in the Middle 

 Park Plate, was heavily backed at 3 to i, 

 and Rosicrucian was third favourite at 8 to i. 



