202 MR. SWINDELL 



He stood, as is customary in many stables, in a set of 

 woollen bandages. When they requested that these 

 might be removed, they were assured by the trainer it 

 was quite unnecessary and contrary to his practice ; and 

 for fear of upsetting the horse, he begged they would not 

 think of his doing anything so unwise. Mr. Swindell, 

 however, said the owner would not rest content unless 

 he saw, at least, the bandages taken off his fore-legs, and 

 he peremptorily requested this to be done at once when 

 the mystery was solved. The trainer had then to relate 

 that the horse had met with a severe accident whilst at 

 exercise, and nearly severed the main tendons by coming 

 in contact with some sharp cutting instrument, which of 

 course rendered him useless for the season, if he would 

 be ever fit to race again. He, however, by way of ex- 

 planation, said he thought but little of it, and hoped it 

 would soon be well ; but in reply to further inquiries, he 

 could give no satisfactory reason why the horse had gone 

 back in the market after all the money they had backed 

 him for. The horse never ran, it is needless to say ; and 



with the rest of Mr. A 's horses was at once removed 



and placed under the charge of a better man. The cause 

 of his withdrawal from the Chester Cup was explained, 

 but discredited, and attributed to the dishonest motives 

 of the owner and his friends, on whose shoulders the 

 blame rested, whilst the real miscreants escaped with 

 impunity. I may add, that the few horses that Mr. 

 Swindell had at the place were removed at the same 

 time ; and the trainer lost, as he deserved to do, two 

 good patrons. 



Coolness in all circumstances was one of Mr. Swindell's 

 marked characteristics. He was seldom put out of 

 temper under any disappointment. The only time I 

 remember his being moved in this way was at the result 



