Sixty Years on the Turf : the Life and Times of George Hodgman, 1840
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Cff O o TUFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES lllllllllllfliillllllllllllli 014 541 193 Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University 200 Westboro Road North Grafton, MA 01536 ^ -/ JOHNA.SEAVERNS SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF —— — — PUBLISHER'S ANNOUNCEMENT THE BRITISH THOROUGHBRED HORSE. By W. Allison, M.A. ("The Special Com- missioner" of The Sportsman.) With Por- traits and other Illustrations. Royal 8vo. Cloth, {.z 2S. net. FROM GLADIATEUR TO PERSIMMON: Turf Memories of Thirty Years. By Syden- ham Dixon (Vigilant of The Sportstnan.) Illustrated in colours. Medium 8vo. Cloth. i8s. net. Two Books by "The British Yeoman." I. THE SPORT OF KINGS. By W. Scarth Dixon. With Portrait. Crown 8vo. Cloth. 6s. " Certainly one of the best books on hunting yet pnh\\%\ve.6.." Sporting Life. II. IN THE NORTH COUNTREE: Annals AND Anecdotes of Horse, Hound, and Herd. By W. Scarth Dixon. Illustrated. Demy Svo. Cloth. los. 6d. net. Three Bootes by "Nat Qubblns." I. THE FLOWING BOWL : A Treatise on Drinks of all Kinds and of all Nations. By Edward Spencer. Crown Svo. Cloth. 5s. " An exceptionally clever and entertaining book. " Newmarket Journal. II. THE GREAT GAME: And How it is Played. By Edward Spencer. Crown Svo, Cloth, ss. " No one will care to lay it down until the last page is reached." Sportstnan. III. CAKES AND ALE : A Memory of Many Meals. By Edward Spencer. Third Edi- tion. Crown Svo. Cloth, as. The Earl of Rosebkry, K.G., writes: "I never thought to read a cookery book through ; but then I never came across so pleasant a A Novel of Turf Life. THE SPENDTHRIFT. By Francis Dods- woRTH. Crown 8vo. Cloth. 6s. " He knows his subject thoroughly, and he also knows how to write." St James's Gazette. CINDER-PATH TALES. By W. Lindsey. Crown Svo. Cloth. 3s. 6d. " No athlete past or present should fail to read it." Sportsman. LONDON : GRANT RICHARDS 9 Henrietta St., Covent Garden, W.C. GEORGE HODGMAN From a Photo by Clarence Hailev, Newmarket SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GEORGE HODGMAN 1840-1900 EDITED BY CHARLES R. WARREN WITH ILLUSTRATIONS LONDON GRANT RICHARDS 1901 PREFACE Long prefaces nowadays are companions in mis- fortune of long sermons—in being out of date. Nor, unless the preface bear to the book the importance the postscript does usually to the lady's letter, is the, so to speak, preliminary or explanatory notice of much purpose. Still, a few words of why this book of " Keminiscences " came to be written, and how it was put into shape, may be held pardonable. Mr. Hodgman is now in his seventy-seventh year, and for over sixty seasons has he been associated actively with the Turf In that considerable period he has met, naturally, " all sorts and conditions of men," and stored in a marvellous memory is a rare harvest of anecdote, from which, in paddock or at dinner-table, he has drawn for the amusement of his friends, many of whom, time back, pleaded the desirability of publication. Mr. Hodgman, however, was not in a mood for the pen, and perhaps would never have seriously regarded the idea but for the insistence of the late Lord Kussell of Killowen. PREFACE Two years ago at Ascot his lordship, who was one of Mr. Hodgman's best friends, seized the occasion to test his memory by "leading questions." He received such an avalanche of anecdote that he turned to Mr. Hodgman and said, " Hodgman, you ought to publish your Reminiscences." " If I did, my lord," was the answer, " I should need the help of one or two like you to put them together." " And that should be no trouble. You really ought to publish." Nor is it too much to say that had Lord Hussell been spared he would have stood sponsor for the volume. Helen's babies wanted to see the works go round, and the Turf world may be similarly curious as to how the ensuing pages were compiled. Briefly, then, I have spent some three months with Mr. Hodgman, taken note of his reminiscences, and welded them into some degree of cohesion. I wish to add that the chapter on the Jockeys was penned some time ago. This I mention because I notice in the " Sheet Calendar" of March 8, 1901, licences were recorded as taken out for over a hundred apprentices. Apparently the policy of "drifting" has received a check. It remains to be seen whether the lost ground can be recovered. CHAS. R. WARREN. ——A CONTENTS CHAPTER I Early days—A useful reminder—Rogues and rascals—My first "book'" "Feathers to sell"— I win a "pony"—Mr. Tim Kelly and "Hop, step, and a jump ''—I win a " century "—Kelly advises London —Tattersall's Yard on Sundays—Caurouch for the Cesarewitch of 1847—I leave Ramsgate for London—Sweeps and lotteries—I draw the Cur- Colonel Peel's Cambridgeshire three (1848)—Small stakes, but good racing—Lenient handicapping ; no stakes—Derby and Oaks winners in 100 guineas Plate Pp. 9-19 CHAPTER II Financial reverses—Flying Dutchman's Derby—A dread of Derbies Layers of "safe 'uns"—Bon Mot's Liverpool Summer Cup—A home- made guide—Profit therefrom—A run from Bedford Racecourse to Bletchley—The Cambridgeshire of 1851 —A near prophecy—A Good Friday visit to Newmarket — Concerning Weathergage — A Derby thrown away—Objections to Plaiting—A "tip" for Stockwell—His Derby defeat—Davies "The Leviathan"—His heavy losses over Daniel O'Rourke—The turn of the tide—My first racehorse Pp. 20-35 CHAPTER III Davies " The Leviathan "—His humble start—His letter in retirement Derby and Oaks losses—A wonderful Ascot—An equine battle Davies's character—The man who could not whistle—Accident and assault—A sad end Pp. 36-42 CHAPTER IV Admiral Rous—Handicappers of to-day—Their disabilities—My first bet with the Admiral—" Young Impudence " — Putting weight on Gridiron —Handicapping at dinner—The Derby course—Mr. Dorling's economy prevented—Mrs. Rous's opinion of myself— ''He's sure to doyou!"— bet in the dark—The Admiral's testimonial—How conceived— notable menu ......... Pp. 43-66 I —A CONTENTS CHAPTER V Mr. Sykes—Mr. "D'Orsay" Clark—A Cesarewitch Trial—A commission saved—A negligent trainer—"Mr. Sykes " at Egham—Admiral Rous angered—Mr. Sykes versus Robgiil—Major Brabazon's bets—Mr. Greville—A " close " character—His Muscovite bets—Perkins pockets same—Mr. Shelley—" In the wrong Boat"—Eleven thousand pounds posted Pp. 57-70 CHAPTER YI Wild Dayrell's Derby—His "nobbling"' arranged—How prevented— costly "getting out"—Palmer the Poisoner—Marlow's opinion—Mr. Fred Swindell " readied "—Saved by the success of Doubt—Cockburn's grim assurance—Who set the law in motion . Pp. 71-78 CHAPTER VII Virago—The best filly of last century—Unplaced in a selling race ! —Mr. William Day in error—Heavy Chester Cup betting—The handicapper awake—City and Suburban and Great Metropolitan won on one day —Virago's Epsom trial—The real weights—Mr. Lambert's letter "Something out of Virago"—Lord Glasgow—Insistence on more weight—"Don't hesitate. to shoot"—A memorable Saturday on the Heath—Racing for Life Pp. 79-90 CHAPTER VIII Ml'. Drinkald—His eccentric attire—Why I laid Boiardo for the St. Leger of 1854—A riot at Doncaster—The fighting brothers Broome Black Tommy and the Derby—Ten Thousand pounds to a suit of clothes—Mr. Drinkald's bitter pill—Blink Bonny's triumph—The Leger Defeat—Mr. Swindell's advice—The Jackson confederacy—Prioress's Cesarewitch—A dead-heat between three—A change of jockeys and of result—My opinion of Fordham—How Captain Little "kidded "him —Heiress's defeats—Dulcibella's Cesarewitch—Her previous running Ladies in hiding Pp. 91-102 CHAPTER IX Lord Brampton (Sir Henry Hawkins)—On Friendship—His letter— shooting incident at Beddington—The long-eared parson—Shillelagh —His successes—Accident and death—I sue the Railway Company Mr. Hawkins against me—I win once and lose twice—Hawkins on "The Claimant"—His belief in him— His later opinion—A fortunate " 105-113 "get out —The Claimant sharpens a knife . • . Pp. ——I CONTENTS CHAPTER X Mr. "Ned" Smith—His financial diiiiculties—A poaching episode—His — " victim's threat " Who shot the fox ? —Margery Daw—Useless for racing—A paddock failure— I give her away—Her subsequent value She throws See Saw and Ecossais—Extraordinary career of the latter —Doeskin : another "gift horse"—Rocket's trial for the Cesarewitch of 1858—Faith lost—I try to buy Tame Deer—Confidence in Rocket restored—Colonel Forester's opinion—Rocket's victory—Mr. Edward Green—His "averaging" habit—How I purchased Emigrant—Mr. Green has half share—Emigrant's Grand National training—Accident to his jockey, Charlie Boyce—I hedge my monej'^Boyce wins with one arm tied up—Lucas's Repository—Mr. Hodgson forces a fight The result—Heavy damages claimed— I sell my responsibility—The trial—Baron Martin suggests arbitration—Acceptance of Admiral Rous—His judgment ....... Pp. 114-134 CHAPTER XI Sir Joseph Hawley—Reasons for engaging John Porter as trainer—I sell Sir Joseph The Beacon—His sarcasm about that horse's food—"Was it sawdust ? "—Lord Westmorland—A dispute over my boy Morris— give way, and beat his lordship—Tom Heartfield—A fine horseman Vestminster—His trial— I mystify Lord Westmorland—A good haul Vestminster and tlie Cambridgeshire—A pertinacious "tout"—Strong measures necessary—An ague-stricken " chucker-out "-—My confidence in Vestminster—Mr. Gideon's warning about Cerdagne—Mr. Foy's "little beggar"—The French filly handsomely beaten .