16 
THE HOESE. 
THE RACE-HORSE. 
william, who succeeded to the stud of his uncle the Marquis of Rockingham, and died in 1833 at the age of eighty-five, having 
been about sixty-two years actively connected with the turf; the Dukes of Grafton, Hamilton, Dorset, Portland, Bedford, 
and many noble persons more, all keepers of large studs. Of Commoners the list is very extensive. Amongst these it will appear 
strange to include the illustrious name of Charles James Fox ; yet so it was. Mr Fox’s own stud was not remarkable for its 
goodness, hut he betted largely, as was the fashion at the time, and it is said with success. At a match at Newmarket in 1772, 
he is said to have won about 16,000 guineas, by taking the odds on a horse that lost by half a neck. On coming into office with 
Lord North, in 1783, he suddenly gave up his stud, and abandoned the racing clubs; but this was only for a season, for, when 
still in office, in the same year we find him at the meetings of Newmarket exhibiting all his accustomed eagerness,—his marvellous 
and versatile genius appearing to vulgar observers as much in its proper sphere at the betting-post as in the senate. Approaching 
nearer to our own times, we find the name of Sir Henry Vane Tempest. This gentleman was early on the turf. A famous 
match of his is familiar to all sportsmen. His horse Hambletonian, got by King Fergus, dam by Highflyer, grandam by Matchem, 
ran a match with Mr Cookson’s Diamond, descended from Herod, over the course of Newmarket. The match was for 3000 guineas, 
besides large bets between the parties. So close was the contest, that, even within a few strides of the winning-post, the horses 
were head to head, when, by a grand effort, Hambletonian, ridden by Buckle, came in by half a neck. Incredible sums depended 
upon this contest, the north country gentlemen betting on Hambletonian, who was Yorkshire born, and the Newmarket gentlemen 
as freely taking the odds in favour of his rival. In this contest the blood of Eclipse prevailed over that of Herod, and Sir Henry 
Vane Tempest, with just feeling, would never permit his noble horse to hazard his honours by entering the lists again. We 
find also living, or lately living, in our own times, amongst the supporters of the turf, the names of the Dukes of Grafton, 
Cleveland, Richmond, Rutland, Portland ; the Marquises of Westminster, Exeter, Conyngham, and Sligo ; the 
Earls of Egremont, Burlington, Warwick, Verulam, Chesterfield, Sefton, Jersey, Lichfield, Albemarle, Wilton ; 
the Lords Lowther, Wharncliff, Suffield ; Sir Francis Standisit, Sir Mark Wood, Sir J. Shelley, Sir Gilbert 
Heathcote ; Generals Grosvenor and Gower; Colonels Peel and Wilson ; Messrs Wilson, Wyndham, Rouss, and great 
numbers more recorded in the sporting annals of the times; and even if we could exhaust the list of those who are chiefly found 
at the great courses, as Newmarket, Epsom, Ascot, Doncaster, we should have a catalogue behind of those who confine them¬ 
selves to what may be called the provincial courses, and then we should have those who, without keeping regular racing studs, 
rear thorough-bred horses, and bring them from time to time upon the turf. 
The classes referred to are the legitimate supporters of this system of amusement. They bet upon the result; but the bet, 
generally speaking, may be regarded as secondary and subservient to the sport. But the sport involves not merely the contest for 
victory in the race, but the contest of judgment on the merits of the rival horses, and on the chances of success or failure. No mode 
except the bet has been devised, or appears suitable, for this purpose, and hence it has become an integral part of the system. The 
bet, however, may degenerate into abuse, and connect with the business of the turf persons whose sole end is gain, and who avail 
themselves of the recognised usages of betting to make the system an engine of mere mercenary calculation. In this class are 
comprehended persons of various ranks of society, from the lowest retainers of the course, ostlers, discarded jockeys, and blackguards 
of every degree, to those who have the means to make good their engagements. The former are mere ruffians, known under the 
name of blacklegs, and fitting subjects for the pillory or the whipping-post. Many of the others are adventurers, who are not less 
alien to the legitimate business of the turf, who contribute nothing to its support, and who merely make it the subject of a calcula¬ 
tion of chances for the purposes of profit. Some of these adventurers indeed acquire studs, and then take their station amongst 
the contributors to the actual business of the course, the origin of their connexion with it being forgotten in their success. It is 
impossible indeed to draw a line of demarcation between such persons and those who merely bet as occasion offers. Numbers of 
these last are of the more opulent classes, as country gentlemen, the wealthier yeomen, and persons of trades and professions of all 
kinds. And besides these, are the ordinary frequenters of the racing-grounds, who assemble merely to enjoy the spectacle, and 
bet, because it amuses them, on the favourite horses, or in such other way as the feeling of the moment dictates. It is plain 
that these classes are distinct in their relations to the turf from the class of gambling adventurers. The bet with them is merely 
part of the sport, and the test of judgment on the chances of the winning and losing horses. But doubtless there is a mixed class 
of feelings introduced, and no certain means exist for discriminating between the regular gambler, who speculates upon the events 
of the turf with the same feelings as on the chances of the dice, and those who make the business of betting secondary and subser¬ 
vient to the pleasure and interest they derive from the spectacle itself. 
The institution of the Course is plainly one in accordance with national character, and interests deeply a great part of the 
population of all classes. The prevailing fondness for this gay and animating pursuit need be sought for, it is apprehended, in no 
other principles of human nature than are employed to explain the love of all those sports and occupations of the same kind which 
