He took pride in rearing thoroughbred horses at Welbeck and had some of
them trained by R. Prince at Newmarket. In the course of his career he
had the satisfaction of winning the Derby in 1819 with Tiresias. It was
his custom to ride a cob led by a groom, and for the purpose of watching
the racing at Newmarket he had a structure placed on wheels which could
be moved from point to point, where he could gain a better view of the
running through a telescope.
There is an anecdote of the Duke's agility when about eighty years old.
He was about to undertake a long walk from Harcourt House; upon which
the Ladies Charlotte and Lucy tried to persuade him to ride; but he
declined and challenged them to a race. They went into the garden for
the purpose and naturally Lady Charlotte won in high spirits.
His death took place at Welbeck on March 27th, 1854, at half-past four
in the afternoon, at the age of eighty-five years, having been born in
London on June 24th, 1768. His remains were laid to rest in the family
vault in the school of St.
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