MORE RACING 177 



keep up wiih his op[)onent, he overreached his 

 noriiicil action and consequently j^ot overtired. 

 For this reason the General used to run his horses 

 in blinkers. In this country when a horse wearing 

 blinkers shows improved form, the improvement 

 may be accounted for by this theory. 



Some years ago, when hunting with the Cotswold, 

 my mount was one belonging to the late Mr Bob 

 Chapman, the famous Cheltenham horse-dealer. 

 On this day, when the field was on one of the hills 

 overlooking the town, a dense mist fell and became 

 so thick that it was impossible to see the head of 

 one's horse. There was nothinor for it but to make 

 our way home. General Beresford and I were 

 together, and I remember saying: "This is one of 

 Bob Chapman's horses — he is sure to know his 

 way home." So when we started I left my mount 

 to himself; the General, carefully guiding his horse, 

 followed. After a rather uncomfortable descent I 

 looked back, to find my friend was not there. 

 Never doubting that he had found a better way 

 than myself, I proceeded home. Next day we 

 heard that the General's horse had fallen into a 

 pit or quarry, with the result that the General had 

 sustained a bad fracture of the leg. I was doubly 

 distressed to hear this news, as it seemed to me 

 that as he did not arrive at the bottom of the hill 

 with me I ouL>ht to have trone in search of him. 



M 



