half a hundred race-horses, with John Day as trainer; and was fully
embarked on his turf-career. From the very first year of his enlarged
venture success smiled on him. Ackworth won the Cambridgeshire for him,
in 1864; the Duke captured the Goodwood Cup two years later; and the
Earl carried off the Grand Prix de Paris. In the four years, 1864 to
1867 the Marquess won over £60,000 in stakes alone, while his winnings
in bets were larger still. So excellent a judge of a horse was he that
he only spoke the truth when he boasted, "I could easily make £30,000 a
year by backing other men's horses." Indeed on one race, Lecturer's
Cesarewitch, he cleared £75,000. Such was the brilliant start of a
racing-career which was to close so soon in failure and disgrace.

In the world of the Turf the youthful Marquess was hailed as a new
deity. At Epsom, Newmarket, and a dozen other race-courses his
appearance created as much sensation as that of the Prince of Wales
himself; he was greeted everywhere with cheers and a salvo of doffed
hats; and the way in which he scattered his smiles and his bets was
regal in its prodigality.

"As he canters on to the course," we are told, "he
slackens speed as he passes through the line of
carriages, from which come shrill, plaintive cries, 'Dear
Lord Hastings, do come here for one second,' and others
to like purpose. Conveniently deaf to the voice of the
charmers, he rides straight into the horseman's circle,
and takes up his position on the heavy-betting side.
'They're laying odds on yours, my lord,' exclaims a
bookmaker. 'What odds?' blandly asks the owner. 'Well, my
lord, I'll take you six monkeys to four!' 'Put it down,'
is the brief response. 'And me, three hundred to two--and