A Timely Improvement.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2104, 17 May 1898, Page 2

A Timely Improvement.

Pkctjimk in all things, Lord Glasgow’s eccentricities were especially noticeable on the Turf. On one occasion at Newmarket his lordship had a quintette of animals engaged, their previous form suggesting, however, that they were, extremely moderate. The irascible earl had, despite this fact, given orders that the horses in question * should be prepared for their liabilities. * And,’ declared the disgusted owner, ‘ unless' they each of them win a race this afternoon, I’ll have them shot.’ Such an unusual announcement very naturally attracted some attention. As the drat of the animals thus conditionally sentenced cantered down the course, not a little chaff was hurled at the jockey, who, however, had the satisfaction of landing his mount first past the post. And, moreover, this was but the forerunner of good things to come. Strangely, enough, the other three runners saved themselves from a premature death by scoring for their long-suffering owner, but on the last of them being called upon to beat Oanezon, whom 20 to 1 was laid, those in possession of the above facts felt rather sorry for the unlucky animal on whom fell this apparently impossible task.

By one of those flukes that occasionally occur, however, the outsider won, and thus c >mpleted a series of victories that were under the circumstances both gratifying and startling.