66 THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



Read came of a good family, but was left to begin the 

 world on bis own account with only a small portion. 

 He commenced farming on ground rented from the 

 Earl of Carlisle, at Grimsthorpe, near Pocklington, a 

 sporting neighbourhood, each village, far and near, 

 having its annual feast, and at every one of these a 

 race or two was run, while in every race there wore 

 numerous competitors. Mr. Read, taking to the turf, 

 sold his oxen and purchased racing stock, thinking 

 thereby to mend his fortunes. 



The life Singleton led with this gentleman for a 

 period of twenty years is worth noting. Read took a 

 liking to him, and the boy felt himself quite at home, 

 and always delighted in being on the back of a race- 

 horse. Singleton, having a fine seat and good judgment 

 of pace, obtained plent}^ of riding at the ' feasts,' and 

 speedily attained local fame as a jockey. One farmer 

 for whom he won a race was so well pleased that he 

 gave him a ewe, which Mr. Read agreed to keep for 

 him in place of giving him wages, so that in a few 

 years the jockey found himself possessed of a little 

 flock of sheep, which he sold in order to assist his 

 master. Sinodeton, discoverinsr that blood and breed- 

 ing played a chief part in the improvement of the 

 horse, and having gained experience, had come to 

 the conclusion that English horses might be greatly 

 improved by the infusion of a dash of Arab blood, and 

 strongly advised his master to put one of his mares to 

 such a horse ; but rooney being scarce at Grimsthorpe, 

 the only wa}^ that suggested itself to Read was that of 

 selling the little flock of sheep. A wage of £5 a year 

 was agreed to in place of the food hitherto supplied to 



