SOME RACING STABLES AND TRAINERS. 2o 



Mr. W. Gannon owned a horse called Arsenal, a 

 good animal, and Harry Raynor trained it. The horse 

 was much fancied by his owner for the Melbourne Cup, 

 and Mr. Gannon determined to be in the market in 

 time and get the cream of the betting. He accord- 

 ingly instructed a well-known commissioner at that 

 time to take the long odds to a considerable amount 

 for him. Instead of doing what he ought in fairness 

 to have done, the commissioner let another big backer 

 and horse-owner into the secret. The odds were duly 

 accepted, but the long prices were returned to, I will 

 call him Mr. B., and the shorter odds to the owner, 

 Mr, Gannon. Naturally Mr. Gannon was riled at 

 not obtaining a longer price, and he determined to 

 get even with Mr. B. 



Shortly before the Cup was due to be run, Mr. 

 Gannon was staying at Menzies Hotel, in Melbourne, 

 Mr. B. was also there, and the pair were good friends. 

 One evening, at dinner, Mr. Gannon received a tele- 

 gram. He opened it leisurely, not deeming it of much 

 ijnportance, and read it. 



Its contents apparently had an effect on him, for 

 he gave vent to some expressions more powerful than 

 polite. 



" What^s the matter ? ^^ asked Mr. B., who was 

 sitting opposite to him. ^^ Anything wrong with the 

 horse ? '^ 



Mr. Gannon handed the telegram across the table. 



