PAGEANT AND ISONOMY 167 



relates that the day Mr. Walker came of age he 

 received from his father a diamond and sapphire 

 ring. He had expected something more sub- 

 stantial, and his face betrayed his disappointment. 

 ** Look inside,'* said his father. The young 

 man did so, and found engraved on the ring 

 " Studley Castle.'* The estate thus given him 

 is in Warwickshire. It had been bought by 

 Mr. Walker senior from Sir Harry Goodricke, 

 brother-in-law of Mr. George Payne. 



Welcome as the support of these two gentle- 

 men was, it did not unfortunately amount to 

 very much, and the Kingsclere stable was for 

 two or three years in somewhat shallow water. 

 Mr. Walker had winners in Victor, Tapioca, 

 Morton Bagot, First Water, Bank Note and 

 Novar ; and Mr. Gretton was successful with 

 Gourbi, Little Boy Blue, and Grand Duchess. 



This brings us to the year 1875, when, avail- 

 ing myself of the option so generously given me 

 by Sir Joseph Hawley's will, I became the owner 

 of Park House and the land immediately sur- 

 rounding it. Henceforth I was a public trainer. 

 At the close of the season 1874 Mr. Walker 

 disposed of his horses and had no more till 

 1879, when, in a small way, he renewed his 

 association with the Kingsclere stable. In 1876 

 I had under my care a couple of horses belonging 



II to Mr. John Gretton, a brother of Frederick, 

 but neither of them won. Practically, therefore, 

 t 



