ROGUES. 401 



Rogues run very much better in a match or in a small field 

 than they do in a crowd. 



" Of this indisputable truth," remarks Captain Jones, " I 

 have had ample proof. It has always been a matter of 

 surprise to me, that trainers do not teach young' horses 

 their lessons in scenes and under circumstances resembling, 

 as much as possible, those under which they have subse- 

 quently to fight their battles, and, oftentimes, to carry 

 their master's fortunes. I am led to this reflection by an 

 old reminiscence of a horse of my own, which I had 

 bought as a two-year-old. He was as well bred as Eclipse, 

 and of real racing shape and make. He had run but once 

 as a two-year-old. I bought him in October for a good 

 round sum, by the advice of a friend of ripe and rare 

 judgment. He wintered well. Wanting to try him along- 

 side another horse early in the year, I put four of them 

 together, and galloped them a mile in their clothing far 

 away from sight or sound. To my delighted amazement, 

 the young one seemed to hold the old horse (one of some 

 pretensions) the whole distance, and was only beaten half a 

 length. If this form were correct, there was nothing beyond 

 my reach for that year, not even the Derby ; as the horses 

 were carrying boys of the same weight, while my old horse, 

 which had won good races before this (and, I may add, since), 

 would have made small work of three-year-olds at even 

 weight. I believed I had a treasure, but to make assurance 

 doubly sure, I determined to try them regularly, with jockeys 

 in boots and breeches, and as close an imitation of the real 

 thing as I could devise. Alas for the result ! The young 

 horse was beaten two hundred yards ! He could not be 

 got to gallop in public, although he was a perfect kill-devil 

 at exercise. 



" I gave him another chance in a good class race with an 

 8 st. 10 Ib. man on his back. The brute led his field to the 



26 



