1 56 The Post and the Paddock. 



for tried horses were more frequent in those days than 

 they are now, and the Chifneys seemed always to be 

 in the thick of them. Lord DarUngton would have 

 g-ladly given 4000 guineas for Mameluke shortly after 

 the Derby, and Mr. Thornhill bid Mr. Batson 5000 

 guineas for Plenipo a few weeks before the memorable 

 Ascot Cup of '35. Mr. Gully in the one instance 

 just anticipated the Earl, and Mr. Batson, at, we 

 beheve, the instance of his eldest son, declined to part 

 with his horse at any price. 



Priam's first essay for Lord Chesterfield was at the 

 First Spring, in a 200 h. ft. 8st. 7lbs. each match, 

 over the T.M.M., against Lucetta, who was a year 

 his senior, and had won the Ascot Cup in the pre- 

 vious June. Sir Mark Wood had originally given 

 2000 guineas for this mare, on the strength of a 

 private trial, and in the plenitude of his confidence 

 gave orders to Robinson to try and cut Priam down. 

 The spirit with which each animal was supported was 

 akin to that in which the backers of St. Hubert and 

 Lord of the Isles indulged for " The Two Thousand," 

 when " The Squire " observed that, " to hear them 

 talk, their horses must be more than clippers — they're 

 alarmers." It was a very severely run match, and 

 created enormous interest ; but Sam made very short 

 work of the Hare Park mare when he challenged in 

 the ropes. This was the last time Sam was on him ; 

 and in the whole of his victories, except this, either 

 Buckle, Connolly, or Robinson were his steersmen. 

 The latter knew him to a nicety ; and, in fact. Lord 

 Chesterfield's regular jockey, Connolly, thought he 

 went so oddly in his gallop on the Tuesday before the 

 Goodwood Cup (1831), that he called to Robinson, 

 who was on the ground, and requested him to give 

 him a canter, " Our Jim " returned the horse with 

 an assurance that he was all right, and he won the 

 Cup easily enough, and repeated the performance in 

 the following year under Qst. 13 lbs. Weight and 



