The Druid's Lodge Confederacy

Take a syndicate of five gentlemen gamblers: a stud owner, a Royal vet, two City financiers and a Master of Foxhounds. Look near Stonehenge for the spot to build an isolated yard. Recruit a brilliant young Irish trainer. Enforce secrecy by locking up the stable lads and censoring their post. Find trusted agents to place the stable’s bets. Be patient, and the rewards will come. Here’s the story of the Confederates of Druid’s Lodge: the men who made racing pay.

Paul Mathieu became hooked on racing in his teens. He has visited every racecourse in Britain, many in Ireland and France, and others from Mauritius to Peru, leaving his money behind at most of them. He was one of the early-morning team who supplied the commentary for Wogan's Winner on Radio Two. For many years he was a point-to-point correspondent for The Sporting Life. His other racing book is The Masters of Manton.