i68 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



I was from 1875 ^^ 1878 dependent for any 

 success that came my way upon horses owned 

 by Mr. Fred Gretton, who, after the temporary 

 retirement of Mr. Walker, considerably enlarged 

 his racing stud. Of the many animals that 

 carried Mr. Gretton 's " orange jacket, purple 

 belt and cap,** the most noteworthy were Pageant 

 and Isonomy. They were two of the few good 

 horses I trained not bred by my patrons. Others 

 bought were Fernandez, Paradox, Sainfoin, Metal 

 (who won the Viceroy*s Cup at Calcutta) and La 

 Fl^che. 



By Elland out of Panoply, daughter of Para- 

 digm, Pageant was bred in 1871 by General 

 Pearson, whose colours he carried as a two-year- 

 old. Towards the end of that season, during 

 which he won a couple of races, he became the 

 property of Mr. G. Angell, who had him cut. 

 Early the following year he passed to Mr. G. 

 Masterman, who won a small race with him at 

 Croydon. In June, when James Nightingall 

 was his owner. Pageant won a selling race at 

 Hampton, and was bought by Mr. Gomm for 

 380 guineas. In August, at Lewes, he won a 

 ten-furlong race called the Eccentric Free Handi- 

 cap. This event was for horses supposed to be 

 mere sprinters. Pageant beat his opponents in 

 a canter and thus revealed a hitherto unsuspected 

 staying power. Mr. Gomm took advantage of 

 the knowledge thus gained, and won other ten- 



