Mr. J. M. Richardson's Writings Collated 



A Memorable " Black Week." 



There has been at Ascot many a " Black Week," to use 

 the punters' term, and perhaps there never was a worse 

 example than the year when poor Fred Archer was in the 

 zenith of his fame — I fancy, but am not quite sure, that it was 

 1875 — when those who systematically backed the "Tinman," 

 burnt their fingers for once to a terrible extent. - 



One sportsman in particular, Colonel Burnaby by name, 

 a near relative, I believe, of the author of "A Ride to Khiva," 

 had a most heartbreaking experience. Though not given to 

 betting as a rule, he decided to back Fred Archer's mounts 

 steadily all through the meeting, and a shocking bad specu- 

 lation it proved, for the usually invincible jockey could not win 

 a race to save his life. Suffice it to say, that the end of the 

 week saw the gallant Colonel on the wrong side of the hedge 

 to the tune of upwards of .£30,000. 



In vain the bookmakers, in their admiration of his pluck, 

 begged and entreated the Colonel to take his own time about 

 settling. Every shilling was forthcoming on the Monday, and 

 the Ring then knew they had seen the last of Colonel 

 Burnaby. 



FOX-HUNTING 



By JOHN MAUNSELL RICHARDSON 



{Reproduced by permission oj the proprietors oj ""The Daily Telegraph") 



" Hounds stout, horses healthy, 

 Earths well stopped, and foxes plenty." 



I have always held the opinion that better or sounder 

 advice for a master of foxhounds to take to heart and do his 

 best to act up to has never been given, or in so few words, as 

 that contained in the old-time toast quoted above. 



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