FIRST REAL TOUCH 



Brighton Races, I reminded him of this fact, and he 

 laughed ; it only goes to show that racing may lead 

 us off our real metier. Jem Robinson made a book, 

 and one day he said to some of us that he was laying 

 about the Croydon Hurdle Race. Books were open 

 then quite two months in advance on this event. I 

 had glanced down the list of some of the names from 

 the betting in the Evening Standard, and one name 

 had attracted my fancy, that of Lord Lincoln. How 

 a name can influence green youth ! 



" Well, I don't know," was my remark, assuming 

 a wisdom right beyond my years, " but I fancy Lord 

 Lincoln." 



" A hundred to seven," said Jem. 



Taking a minute, so that I should appear more wise, 

 I replied : " That's a bet " ; I hadn't the remotest idea 

 when the race was run, simply knowing that I had a 

 hundred pounds to seven about a horse named Lord 

 Lincoln for a hurdle race they were betting on and 

 run at Croydon. I told another chap who was as big 

 as me. Our united ages were only thirty-five, but we 

 looked half as much again ; that's what size will do. 

 We had dinner that night at the old Blanchards in 

 Regent Street and drank success to this wonderful 

 wager. I had no doubt that I should win it ; such is 

 the extreme hopefulness of the " lettuce " age. 



" When's the race?" said he. 



" Oh, pretty soon," I replied. We asked the 

 waiter — waiters have always been knowledgeable 

 about racing — when the Croydon Races were. 



And he said : " Next Tuesday, sir." It was not long 

 to wait. On the following Tuesday I recollect buying 

 an afternoon paper and seeing that Lord Lincoln had 

 won the second race of the day ; it was the " Croydon 

 Hurdle Race." Surely I must have won my money. 



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