TURF REMINISCENCES

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 226, 10 January 1885, Page 9

TURF REMINISCENCES

By " Cosmo."

-CIRCUMSTANCES ALTEE CASES,

I HAD returned to London from a meeting lield upon that classic meadow, where that great palladium of English history, Magna Charta, was signed, and called at Blanchard's for dinner previous to returning home by the evening express. Looking round the room I caught the eye of an old Berkshire trainer, who beckoned, and courteously asked me to join him at dinner, an .offer which lat once accepted. "We discussed the running of the day and various racing matters, and then the old gentleman asked me if I had any important engagement for the following week. I replied that I had not. "Well," said he, "then come liome with me to-night. To-morrow you can see the horses do their work on the downs; Sunday will be a quiet day, and on Monday the "Boys" are going with old Aquebus ,and others for the two meetings in your beloved county, famous for its junkets and ■cream. The weather is lovely [it was August]. You will enjoy yourself, and will be certain to make expenses." I agreed, ; and an hour later we were on the Great Western, bound for Didcot, where we were met by the waggonette, and a drive of forty minutes brought us to my friend's establishment. Six o'clock next morning I was in the .stable-yard, and the old gentleman and myself got into a gig drawn by a stout cob ,of fourteen hands, and away to the downs. My friend at that time had upwards of fifty horses in training, and some thirty or more of them were on the downs that morning, and a very pretty site it is to see a long string of horses do their work. We also had 'some trials of those engaged in the ensuing •week. At eight o'clock we drove back to ■"breakfast, to which we did ample justice. Lighting a pipe I ,had a pleasant lounge .round the boxes, watching the boys dress /their tits after the morning's work. Sunday only walking exercise was done, .and the boys employed in the stable had to go to church, and a very numerous portion they were, certainly more than a moiety. Monday morning up again at six, and the four tits we were going to take were started off to walk the* seven miles to the station. At seven we started, so as to be in time to .see the horses put in the boxes, and at eight o'clock we were on our way for Exeter. .."We arrived all safely. The races were then held at; Haldon, six miles away, and ■we were successful in winning two races for two -year- olds, and the Handicap with old , Arquebus. At the conclusion of the meeting "'. we went, in the same county, to that cele.brated seaport that just.- Received the news -of the- sailing of the Spanish Armada, and -when the news ' that gallant old Drake was playing at bowls and insisted upon finishing his game ; his statue now marks the spot. The racecourse was situated a little way from the town and at the foot of a. hill, the course itself being perfectly flat. It was always a very pleasant meeting, and * was patronised by some *old racing men, who sent down their selling-platers and perhaps some old slave who had got a bit too slow to run in the smarter fields that contested nearer racing centres. Years before it had been a favorite resort of old Tom Mark's, who had two of three times pulled off the chief race with old Wirepuller, and whom he sold to buy out of a selling race little Spicebox, who won one of the early big hari&icaps,& and in the autumn the St. Leger, and so laid the foundation of a very good, fortune. But, unfortunately, though old Tom had many other good successes, he had not been able to keep his money; and, .at the time I am speaking of, poor old Tom was in vef y low water. At this time he had his horses trained and ridden by a young fellow. named^Horton, and they had brought

down a four-year-old, Wellsbourne — a colt that had shewn some form, and much too good for the company that was likely to run. In the Handicap, first day, Wellsbourne had top weight, and old Marr asked nic to put twenty pounds on for him, at the same time handing me four five-pound notes. The ring was not composed of very large layers, the principal of them being Eudge, of Bristol, and they were betting ready money. I asked Rudge the price of Wellsbourne, and he offered me seven to four, and, not getting, a better offer, I put another twenty pounds to Marr's and. took seventy to forty. The race was run, and Wellsbourne was easily beaten by a locally owned filly called Lady Alice, and who's win was a very popular one. On the second day, Wellsbourne was in again, but had to meet Lady Alice on three pounds worse terms, and old Marr did not wish to run his horse, but Horton persuaded him to do so, as there was nothing to be saved by scratching him. I asked Marr if he should back him. He said, "How can I? He was beaten so easily yesterday; besides, he has to give three pounds more weight to-day." I walked into the weighing room, when one of the men who hang about race meeting, doing odd jobs for anyone, came to me, and said-^" Horton wants to speak to you." I went out, saw Horton, and he asked me to back Wellsbourne for twenty pounds. I said — " What chance can he have; I backed him for the Governor yesterday, and he was beaten easily." He replied — "The Governor be bio wed; I had nothing on yesterday, and I want twenty pounds on to-day. If you won't put it on for me, someone else will ;" so I consented to do it. lie gave me four five pound notes, and I again sought out Mr Eudge. I asked — ' ' How much will you lay Wellsbourne ?' ' He eyed me over then, beckoned me on one side, and asked me who the bet was for. I said — "What does that matter to you?" " Well," he said, " is it for Horton ? because if it is, and you will go out of the ring and leave the market to me, I will lay you seventy to forty." I told him " twenty pounds was for Horton, the rest for nryself." He said "^All right." I handed him Horton's twenty pounds, and then perceived that one of the notes was the same that had been given to me the day before by old Marr, and which. I had handed to Eudge. It is needless to say Wellsbourne won in a canter, and I handed to Horton after he had weighed in fifty-five pounds. Poor old Marr died two years afterwards without a shilling to blese himself/with. Horton now trains upon the ground that was once the property of old Marr, and his chief employer is a moneylending lawyer connected with the turf, and the running of whose horses often exercises the attention of the Jockey Club, but, beyond a caution, they have up to the present been fortunate enough to escape disqualification.