156 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



which he declined to do." When a vote was 

 taken it was found that there were nine in 

 favour of Sir Joseph's motion, and seventeen 

 against it. 



The meeting was described as a stormy one. 

 Sir Joseph was in a very aggressive mood. At 

 an early stage of the proceedings he, it was 

 alleged, told the members of the Jockey Club 

 some home-truths, which were so greatly resented 

 that a hostile vote became inevitable. 



There was another meeting of the Jockey Club 

 a fortnight later, and thereat the Committee of 

 Inquiry asked for by Admiral Rous was consti- 

 tuted. The Admiral and Sir Joseph served on 

 the committee, whose report was issued at the 

 end of June. The document embodied some of 

 Sir Joseph's ideas in a modified form. For 

 instance, the committee stated that they attached 

 " very great importance to a complete cessation 

 of racing for a period of at least four consecu- 

 tive months in the year." Further, they had 

 ** observed with regret that Selling Stakes no 

 longer effect the object for which they were 

 established, and that horses are frequently 

 entered to be sold for sums far below their real 

 value." 



The most important portion of the report 

 was, however, that relating to the advisability or 

 otherwise of placing restrictions on the racing 

 of two-year-olds. Before coming to a decision 



