CHAPTER XI 



as an owner 



By Finch Mason 



Soon after the numbers had gone up for the Grand National of 

 1876, a little group, in which a horse took pride of place, made 

 its appearance on the course and at once attracted a good 

 deal of attention. 



No need for one to consult the card to know the name of 

 the candidate ; the fact that it was ridden by the late Earl of 

 Minto, then Lord Melgund, better known to the racing world 

 as Mr. " Roily " (his old Eton name), the recognized jockey of 

 the famous Limber stable ; that Maunsell Richardson — a little 

 stouter, perhaps, than in the Disturbance and Reugny days — to 

 whom it belonged, was at his head, and that the veteran jockey* 

 Tom Chal loner, who bred the horse, was trotting by his side, 

 at once proclaimed the fact that it was Zero, who for some time 

 past had been one of the most fancied candidates in the race. 



A bright bay, Zero, with his docked tail and hogged mane, 

 was an old-fashioned looking customer, and although his 

 splendid shoulders drew attention to his rather light appearance 

 behind the saddle, there was a business look about him, combined 

 with the knowledge that he hailed from the popular Limber 

 stable, just then in great form, which doubtless secured him 

 many additional backers. 



Mr. "Roily," too, who, since his friend the "Cat" had 



in 



