GEHEIMNISS AND SHOTOVER 



With the season of 1 8 8 1 a new and extremely 

 prosperous era opened for the Kingsclere stable. 

 In addition to Mr. John Gretton's horses, which 

 remained with me, I was entrusted with those 

 belonging to Lord Stamford ; and that year 

 also Lord Alington and Sir Frederick Johnstone 

 became patrons of the Park House establishment. 

 Then, in the late autumn, I was asked by the 

 Duke of Westminster to take over his yearlings, 

 and the horses which had been trained for him 

 at Russley by Robert Peck. The " tone " of 

 the stable was rapidly elevated. We were no 

 longer concerned chiefly with handicaps ; atten- 

 tion became directed more towards the classic 

 and important weight-for-age races. The 

 " Hawley touch ** had been regained. 



The Earl of Stamford and Warrington was 

 nearing the end of his career when he came to 

 Kingsclere, for he died towards the end of 1882. 

 For many years his horses were trained by 

 Joseph Dawson. It can scarcely be said that 

 his success on the Turf was commensurate with 



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