This was in August, 1846, and the light-blue jacket and white cap of
Lord George Bentinck were to be seen no more on a race-course.
The stables had been on such an immense scale that the responsibility
was too much for one man to undertake, so that the monetary interest was
divided, and two or three turf celebrities of the day entered into
partnership, which accounts for the fact that when Surplice ran in the
Derby of 1848 he was entered in Lord Clifden's name.
From that time to this the career of Surplice has always been of
interest to racing men. His trainer was John Kent, who faithfully
discharged his duty in guarding the horse from the machinations of
unscrupulous loafers and touts.
There was a dead set against the horse. He was naturally a lazy runner
and took a great deal of skill to ride. All sorts of rumours were
started about him; that he was not well, that he was lame and that he
was not the equal of Loadstone, although from the same stable. Up and
down went the betting respecting Surplice until the market was in such a
state that it was to the interest of an unscrupulous gang to poison or
lame him.
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