b'A Famous Yorkshire Roadster StallionThomas RyderT he improvement of roads during the late 18thtake legal action against him in order to recover their century led to an increase of travel throughoutshare.England and this created a market for good trottingThe barn in which Performer was confined horses, the trot being the fastest pace a horse canhappened to be built on a steep hillside and there was maintain over a long distance. An improved breeda large window at the back, almost on a level with the of trotters was produced in the eastern counties offield behind. Taylor enlisted the aid of a friend who was England, particularly in South Lincolnshire, Norfolk anda brick-layer and they planned to remove the window East Yorkshire. Market Weighton was a noted centreat dead of night and lead the horse out. The brickwork for these improved trotters and some good stallionswould then be rebuilt and the window fitted as before. were to be found there. The most noted stallionOn the chosen night the two men set off for Callis owner in the early years of the 19th century wasWold, taking with them the galloway and the stallion Robert Ramsdale, the landlord of the Kings Arms Inn.harness that Taylor had used on his rounds. No time Stallions were sent out to villages and farms on setwas lost in taking out the window and the necessary routes during the breeding season and a good stallionbrickwork and, once inside, the two feverishly built could make a handsome income for his owner. up a ramp of litter to the opening. Luckily the stallion In 1840, James Taylor, an ambitious young man,recognised his companion of recent weeks and was working as a groom for James Singleton, aremained calm throughout all this unusual activity. landowner who lived at Great Givendale. SingletonAt last all was ready and, wearing his familiar tackle, was the grandson of John Singleton, one of thePerformer calmly followed Taylor through the gap most successful jockeys of his day who had boughtwhere the window had been.the Givendale estate about the middle of the 18thSniffing the night air, the horse caught the scent century. A neighbouring farmer, James Newby, bredof the galloway tied to a nearby fence and whinnied a few horses, mostly Yorkshire Coach Horses, but heloudly in greeting. The horrified conspirators expected had a good roadster mare which in 1840 had a coltlights to appear in the house at any moment and that foal by Ramsdales roadster stallion, Phenomenon.they would be caught in the act. Happily, the Askwith Young Taylor greatly admired Newbys foal and, whenbrothers slumbered blissfully on; Taylor mounted the it was weaned, borrowed 19 from his master, Jamesgalloway and led the horse away, leaving his friend to Singleton, and bought the colt. Taylor then madeset all to rights in the barn.an agreement with the brothers Askwith, who wereHorse and man travelled south, not stopping Mr Singletons tenants at Callis Wold, to keep thethrough the day following, till Callis Wold was 36 miles colt until he was three-years-old in return for a halfbehind them. The horse was hidden for the time being share in the horse. Taylor carefully watched as thenot far from Doncaster, and the following night they colt grew into a handsome young stallion, becomingset off again, heading for Leicestershire. No doubt increasingly convinced of his potential as a stallion. the Askwiths had by then started enquires about the In 1843, Taylor left Mr Singletons service to leadmissing horse, but they had no news of him until the the young stallion, which was now named Performer,trio returned to Givendale more than a week later. on his rounds. The handsome young stallion and hisTaylor was promptly arrested, charged at Pocklington proud young owner made many friends that springwith the theft of the horse, and committed to York and they had a most successful first season. ButAssizes. Naturally the case aroused much interest in when Taylor went to Callis Wold to settle his accountthe farming community, and on the appointed day the with the Askwiths, he was brusquely informed that hecourt was crowded. Mr Leeman defended Taylor and owned no part of the horse, that he was employedwas able to prove his ownership of a half-share in the as a servant and as such he was only entitled to ahorse. Taylor was duly acquitted. Performer was then small sum for wages and grooms fees. To clinchput up for auction and knocked down to Taylors bid matters, the Askwiths took the horse and securedof 150 guineas. It seems likely that George Leeman him in a large brick barn, bolting and locking the door.was the actual buyer as at the Great Yorkshire Show Deeply angered, Taylor hurried off to seek the adviceat Bridlington in 1851, Performer was shown in his of his former master, and Mr Singleton sent him toname, taking second place to his son, Sir Charles, see George Leeman, then a rising young lawyer inthen owned by James Taylor.York, who was later to become Member of ParliamentTaylor later took the tenancy of Field House Farm, for the City. Leeman warned Taylor that to break aBarmby Moor, near Pocklington, and from there, lock was to break the law, but that if he could gainduring the season, he set off on Mondays for Sutton-possession of the horse, the Askwiths would have toon-Hull, via Routh and Warne, calling at High Grange BULLETIN 10 163'