THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

Text copyright Valerie Martin 1999 

William Goater had taken over the reins of Downs House in Findon from the trainer John Day around 1858. I have discovered that it was to Findon that Henry Chaplin later transferred his string of racehorses.

Chaplin was still bent on owning a Derby winner before his rival the Marquis of Hastings. With this consuming passion in mind, he drove to a yearling sale in Eltham in the company of his racing manager, the young Captain James Octavus Machell (1837-1902).  Here they immediately clapped eyes on the Marquis who was bidding freely with his usual foolhardy indifference to price. In a most casual frame of mind he was laughing and joking all the while and seemingly oblivious of the yearlings parading before him. As far as he was concerned, Chaplin was not worth considering, and Captain Machell had joined forces with his enemy.

Lot 27 at the yearling sale of Mr. Blenkiron's famous Middle Park Stud was a small dark unnamed chestnut colt by Newminster out of Seclusion. The animal was circled for them to look at.  It was walked round again. Well bred. A good looker. Much potential.

The unruffled Marquis stood by the side of the ring; he was now studying his catalogue and seeming to take an interest. He indicated his bids with the barest gesture. Chaplin and his manager stood on the other side of the ring, deep in consultation and indicating their own interest by a momentary signal to the auctioneer. The bidding increased by fifties until Chaplin stood at 900 guineas. The auctioneer, Edmund Tattersall,  indicated to the wealthy Marquis, hoping for another bid. There was silence for a moment as everyone turned, and he made a brief inclination of his head. The hammer was raised. Chaplin was undaunted and spoke quickly to the Captain Machell, who nodded to the auctioneer. "One thousand guineas".

The slight chestnut colt was knocked down to the Captain, who was bidding on behalf of Chaplin, for 1,000 guineas. The reckless Marquis had been taken off guard. He now grimaced, shrugged and turned away.

Chaplin did not realise it but he had just made the purchase of a lifetime. On the way home, with the Captain he decided that as the colt was by Newminster out of Seclusion, and thus suggesting a certain monastic mode of life, he should be straight away christened Hermit.