Description:In addition to these blood sports, Sir John was also involved in the organisation of horse racing. A letter written to Sir John by William Manners, the son of John, the third Duke of Rutland, discusses horse racing. Manners enquires of Sir John whether Lord Grosvenor ‘will lett jockeys ride instead of Gentlemen’ at their upcoming ‘match’, protesting that ‘My Lord Duke will not lett me Ride my Mare my self’. Manners asks Sir John if he ‘will compound the match for me’, and cancel the race ‘for a small forfeit.’ Manners’s request suggests that Sir John played an active role in the organisation of sports such as cock fighting and horse racing in Staffordshire. Indeed, Manners refers to a ‘Horse Race’ in which Sir John was involved which was held ‘att Newcastle’.
Sir John was also involved in national horse racing events. Amongst his papers is a list detailing the horses running in a match at York. The list provides the names of the jockeys participating in the race, the colours work by the jockeys and their horses and also the prizes being offered to the winning teams.