QQ ON AND OFF THE TURF. 



It appears some rasli bookmaker, more in a spirit 

 of bravado than anything else, had offered to lay a 

 thousand pounds to a sov. against Bravo, and 

 ^^Augur'^ had stood in with a friend to the extent of 

 £250 worth to a dollar. 



Bravo had been reported so lame that his starting 

 was regarded as out of the question. A few days 

 before the race Bravo came into the market again, and 

 was well backed. The bookmakers who had been 

 taking liberties with him felt uneasy, and a lot of the 

 money they had laid against him at long odds was 

 hedged at a loss. 



The Melbourne Stakes on the Saturday had pro- 

 duced a terrific race between Abercorn, Melos, and 

 Carbine, who passed the post in that order. 



Abercorn, on that day, was at his best, and I never 

 saw him run a better race. At this particular time he 

 was even better than Carbine, but it must not be 

 forgotten that the son of Musket had one of his fore- 

 hoofs tightly bound up, and was not at his best. 



Before the race for the Stakes, a well-known bank 

 manager came to me and asked me what I thought 

 would win the Derby, and I said it was a good thi^g 

 for Dreadnought ; but as the odds were three to one 

 on, it was like buyiog money. 



He then asked what I thought would win the 

 Stakes, and I said it ought to be a great race between 

 Abercorn and Carbine. lie then ; said he could get 



