The Druid's Versatility. 239 



''After 1840 Lord Eglinton's stud never 

 numbered more than fifteen, which was 

 about its strength in 1842, when the some- 

 what mean - looking Blue Bonnet came 

 with such a feverish rush at the Don- 

 caster betting rooms about 8 o'clock on 

 the evening before the St. Leger, and 

 carried out Tom Dawson's anticipations so 

 cleverly on the morrow. The St. Leger 

 was Blue Bonnet's maiden performance, as 

 she had gone dead amiss on the eve of other 

 great engagements at Goodwood, Liverpool 

 and elsewhere, and in fact had travelled 

 hundreds of miles for nothing. With this 

 St. Leger, Lord Eglinton's especial luck 

 commenced, and between 1842 and 1851 he 

 won nearly ,£18,000 in stakes over its Town 

 Moor. Pompey, who was always an especial 

 favourite of his lordship, won the Great 

 Yorkshire Handicap here in 1843 and 1844, 

 and the pretty white-legged Aristides, after 

 showing temper in the St. Leger, won a 

 ^450 stake against Colonel Anson's Armi- 

 tage in 1843. ^ n J 844, the stud, which then 

 consisted of ten, left Thomas Dawson's 

 stable, as his lordship was anxious to have 



