24 ON AND OFF THE TURF. 



here, as every man mentioned more than deserves all 

 that I write about him. 



Leaving Mr. Allsop's and crossing the road, we 

 come to the stables occupied by Mr. H. Raynor, a 

 trainer, like Mr. Monaghan, of the old school. Harry 

 Raynor's face is familiar at all the principal race 

 meetings. He has not what may be called a charming 

 countenance, nor is he much of a lady-killer, but he 

 knows his business thoroughly. He generally appears 

 in the paddock on race days in a slouch hat, and 

 almost invariably carries an umbrella. He looks more 

 like an old bush hand than one of the cutest trainers 

 at Randvvick. 



Many a good thing has Harry Raynor been in during 

 his time. He trained for the late Mr. W. Gannon up to 

 the time of his death. At one time Mr. Gannon acted 

 as starter to the A. J. C, and he was well known as 

 the host of Petty's Hotel in Sydney. A stout, florid- 

 looking man, with a good deal of the cut of an old 

 English farmer about him. Some curious yarns are 

 told about Mr. Gannon and his trainer, and one in 

 particular tickled me immensely. It shows how the 

 biter was bitten in this case with a vengeance. 



Strange to say the story was related to me by a 

 well-known squatter and horse-breeder, as we returned 

 from a trip to Hobart in the SS. " Oonah," with 

 that prince of skippers, Captain Featherstono, in 

 command. 



