TURF. 403 



parried with much greater ease than when 

 assailed by an almost incredible combination 

 of villany, in running a match for the same 

 sum a few years since, upon one of the most 

 populous and fashionable* courses in the 

 kingdom. But having then as before^ the 

 same invariable opinion of the duplicity prac- 

 tised in TRAINING and RIDING, I had never 

 permitted the mare out of my possession, or . 

 from under my own inspection from the hour 

 she was matched to run ; or intended her 

 to be rode by any other person, than a lad 

 of my own, that literally speaking I initiated 

 in stable management, and trained with the 

 mare for the purpose. 



Thus entrenched by prudence, and forti- 

 fied by experience, it was impossible for 

 those concerned against me, either by their 

 numerous emissaries, or industrious adhe- 

 rents, to obtain the requisite intelligence of 

 trials^ sweats^ or, in fact, any necessary in- 

 formation, by which their intentional vil- 

 lany could be promoted with a probability 

 of success. But as adventurers of this com- 



* Ascot. 

 2 D 



