ABOUT GLADIATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 54

ABOUT GLADIATEUR.

Most readers of sporting literature know the story told at the expense of a smarty with a penchant for dubiously criticisiner other people's mounts in the hunting field. He asked "Who is that tailor over there on that equine hat-rack." That ! Oh that horse is Why Not, a Grand National Steeplechase .winner, and the rider is Arthur Nightingale, the most famous crosscountry jockey in England. Collapse of the critic. But we never before heard or the great French horse Gladiafceur. sire of Grandmaster, and winner^ of the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, St. Lsper, Grand Prix de Paris and Ascot Cup. being valued at £20. The story is T»Jd by one. Jack Abel, a Norwich "sport," who was not in th© game entirely for amusement. "On one of his visits to Newmarket ho saw Count Le Grange's famous trainer, 'old' Tom Jennings, in the High street, and called out to him: 'Tom, have you got any of them big old 'une of yours that you want to sell for a little money ? Tom did not quite like being addressed in that manner, and was about to give a grumpy reply when a thought came to him, and he said: 'Yes; I have the very thing for you. Come round and see him.' Away they went, and Abel was shown a big, angular-looking bay colt. 'What do you want for him? 'Thirty.' 'Thirty be hanged ! I sha'n't give you more than 20— if I give that. And then he began to apostrophise the horse. ' Well you are an uely brute ! No, lorn, I sha'n't sriv© you 20; you will have to make it 18.' With that he took an his stick to make him stand over. For God « sake don't hit him, or he'll have us all out of th© box pretty quick!' exclaimed Jennings. 'Oh. you ugly brute I'll teach you manners when I get you! No, not IB— ls quid Tom, and not a penny more. lnen, observing a queer took on. th© boy s face, heeaid, in his Norfolk dialect : .'Bpy, what's this?' 'Gladiateur, sir,' sheepishly replied Ihe boy, on which Abei bolted out of the stable and caught the first train back to Norwich, not waiting to do the business he had come to the town to transact. For some time after that there was a certain amount of coolness between Abel and Jennings."