WHAT PRETTY POLLY WAS 



went to Boulogne and back to see how things really 

 were. In the afternoon Pretty Polly and her travel- 

 ling companion, a common bit of a thing, but with 

 whom she was always happy, were taken out on the 

 Sandgate Road^ — that lower track at the bottom of 

 the Leas through the gate leading to Sandgate — and 

 had a nice three-mile walk in her clothing. The mare 

 was as jaunty as possible, but the passers-by little 

 knew the celebrity who was promenading like an 

 ordinary saddle hack; but she was a great lady, and 

 just as well behaved. We saw her back to the box at 

 Peden's stables at Folkestone, the same box which had 

 once sheltered Gladiateur, who was the French horse 

 to win the Derby before Durbar. It was brilliant 

 sunshine when Polly crossed the next day, but that 

 infernal swell had not subsided. Whether it was that, 

 or what it was. Presto II. got away from her, and 

 when it is said that Zinfandel, good horse as he was, 

 could not get near the mare, I am afraid that the 

 form must be taken as true and that Presto II. put in 

 a freak performance on terrible going. 



The only other defeat she had was in the Gold Cup of 

 1906. I hate laying odds on, but the day's exjDenses had 

 to be won by laying five to two to a bit on her. " What 

 have you backed ? " said a near friend of Mr Sol Joel's. 

 " AVhy, I have laid the odds on, of course," I replied. 

 " I think you're wrong," he said ; ''for Danny says he 

 is sure to win on Bachelor's Button." So straight 

 away I covered the stake, getting seven to one about 

 Maher's mount. Pretty Polly was, at the time, I 

 don't say suffering, but was disfigured by a navicular 

 wart and it was unsightly. The mare, in addition, 

 appeared slightly lethargic. There was a curious 

 stillness about everything ; this may be a post- 

 impression, but I do not think so. She came round 



198 



