Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-08
STORIES OF THE TURF.

" 10 feIateu OF Jack Mytton the elder
one OF the widest and most reckless
nadcaps that ever charged bullfnch or
TOOK tie dice-box in hand-that upon one
occasion he won very large stake at Dom
caster races. In those days every patron
OF the turf who could afford post-ehaise
and four horses disdained to employ any
number conveyance, and it was said of
squire Mytton that when he died in
1884, every post-boy in England bewailed
the loss of his best customer. "The
Druid tells us that when the "Sailor
h'ng was on the throne, and during the
nrst years OF her gracious Majesty's reign,
tae post-chaises at Chesterford-th first
stage out from Newmarket-were never at
rest, and upon the death Of George Payne,
IN september, 1878, it was computed by
one who knew him well that he had spent
more money IN post-horses than would
nave suihced to provide competency for
moderate man. Reverting, however, to
Jack Mytton, it will readily be believed
tnat, having come to Doncaster In post
chalse and four, he was not likely to leave
the racing metropolis of the North in any
o-her vehicle, after he had undergone what
was to him the strange experience of win
nlng large sum Of money. In those re-
delivery OF letters uncertain, it was. the
uniform practice OF racing men. with one
exception, to settle at Doncaster. The ex-
ception to which we allude was that of
the once celebrated bookmaker, " Crutch
Robinson" who was in the habit, when he
could, OF drawing what was due to him
from customers who had lost, but of
saying to those who had won from him, 81
settles IN Lunnon. When "Jack Myt-
ton, was so fortunate as for once to spoil
the Egyptians. or as they were then called
the Greeks, at Doncaster, he set off for
his home at HalstoD, Shropshire, with his
pockets full OF notes. The rest of the story
had best be told in the words of Charles
James Apperley, his biographer. 81 have
reason to believe says Mr.. Apperley,
that the money Mr.. Mytton had at vari-
GUS times lost-not at play, for there I
should say he was borne harmless. as he
was very dangerous opponent of the table
when he took the dice-box in hand-would
have purchased pretty estate. l am
afraid to say what was the amount of bank
notes that wera blown one night out of his
carriage on hls road home from DOncaster
races, but have reason to believe it was
several thousand pounds. His account Of
the affair was that ne had been counting q
large sum IN bank notes upon the seat of
his carriage, IN which be was seated alone
with all the windows down. He fell asleep
and did not wake until the night was far
spent, his servant who sat behind in the
dickey paying all the charges on the road.
An equlnCctlal gale sprang up suddenly
and carried great part of tie notes away,
sweeping them out Of the open windows of
the post chaise. 1t was always his custom
to have large sum of money in his writing
desk, but 1t was more than usually large at
this time, as in addition to winning at the
races he had broken the banks of two we'll
known London kells on the eve of his
departure for Doncaster."
Jack Myttons are scarce but, within
the memory Of many still living, the son OF
the mad Squire of Helstou rivaled many of
his reckless fathers Freaks Thus, the
younger Jack Mytton once had commits
sion to lay against horse who was lead
ing favorlte for the Derby in Pyrrhug the
F.rss's year. Thinking that it would enable
him to lay more money if he feigned to be
half drunk, he sprang upon one Of the
brown tables at LImmers Hotel when the
coffee-room at that famous sporting cryst
was filled with visitors one night after din
| ner. When Jack Mytton had laid as much
money upon parole as he could get credit
for, he ran up stairs to his bedroom and
returned with several notes for fI, coo each
In his hand, and proceeded to lay upon
what he called ready money principles"
perhaps was not quite as drunk as they
thought" he afterwards remarked to a
friend. In truth, the ready money bust
ness Of the turf would afford materials
for many chapter worthy TO be added to
such books as "Post and Paddock" or
Silk and Scarlet" if only master. hand
were available for the purpose of arrang-
ing them. Thus it might be told that one
of the most famous jockeys of century
since, Dick Goodison, was always in the
habit of carrying $500 note about with
him, because he had once missed good
bet through inability ito 10 t the money.
A place might be found for the Yorkshire
blackleg who repaired to an auction.room
where au estate was about to be put up,
and had it knocked down to him for big
sum. Perceiving the mans rough attire,
and the fact that wisps of hay were
twined round his legs, the auctioneer
naturally demanded that substantial
deposit should be paid down. "Here
is the cock bird, exclaimed the purchaser,
as he pulled out bank. note for one hun
dred thousand pounds, and I've got the
old hen at home" Among the many
stories told about Derby settings, it might
be remembered that when Sir Joseph Haw-
ley, for the second year in succession, won
the great EPSON race with Musiid in 1859,
he requested his bankers to keep their
doors open little later than usual, in order
that he might carry thither the harvest
he had garnered at Tattersall's, and deposit
it with Messrs. Child before night fell. A
gentleman who was once a prominent
figure upon every race-course, and is still
living, although he has retired from the
turf, might be consulted upon an incident
which befel him many years ago at Coed
wood. He was making a book upon one
of the races, and offered to lay one thou
sand to three hundred upon the field.
"I'il take it, sir, was exclaimed by a
well-drssssd, gentlemanly man standing
just behind him, and, anxious to do bust
ness, he consented to book the bet, which
he won. On the following Monday at
Tattersall's he eagerly awaited the advent
Of his debtor, who, as the clock struck
| five, rushed hurriedly into the room. Apol-I
ogizing for the delay, on the plea that his
train had broken down, he pulled out a
note for one thousand pounds and asked
for change, which was gladly given, and
away went the sharp customer with his
seven hundred pounds. Upon paying the
one thousand pound note into his bankers
hands the astonished book:naker was told
that it was stolen note, anS>shat pay
ment Of it had been stopped jt thsss
of England. These and many other stories
of like kind woaa well repay their coll
lee 80 - trouble in disinterring them.
-[LoS9l Telegraph.