RACING TO THE ST LEGER 



had an extraordinary experience. " T.," myself, the 

 chauffeur and an extra hand were in the big racing car, 

 and after passing through Lincoln we had a burst tyre. 

 As we were going against time it was an awkward 

 moment, made still more gloomy when the chauffeur 

 confessed to Lord Torrington that he had forgotten 

 the " jack." How was the heavy car to be lifted up 

 and a new tyre put on ? By the most singular chance, 

 there was some building going on near by, and within 

 fifty yards there were bricks and heavy balks of timber. 

 It was a work of no time to get a sufficiency of these to 

 raise up the car and begin operations. After helping, 

 I took out my note-book and wrote my article in 

 snatches, describing the incidents of the journey and 

 the doubt whether I should reach the course to see 

 Swynford win the big race. Minute after minute went 

 by, but at last the three of us were speeding along the 

 road. What a race to get there ! Any more tyre 

 trouble would have done us in. I believe we left in 

 the wake the police making notes, but at all events 

 we were in time to have a look at the horses in the 

 paddock prior to the great race, 



Lemberg I shall always consider a very unlucky 

 horse not to get through and win ; he was boxed on the 

 rails, while Swynford always had a clear run, conse- 

 quently the Derby winner could only get third. Fred 

 Pratt will always think that Bronzino was as unlucky 

 as anything, and that he ought to have won. As it was, 

 he was beaten by only a very narrow margin, and 

 cantered in for the Doncaster Cup on the Friday. I 

 went on to Newmarket on Friday evening, thence to 

 jLondon and Brussels on a short vacation. 

 I I could see when in Brussels that the best thing, in 

 fact the only way of matters being adjusted with regard 

 to the horses, was for the matter to be arranged 

 u 305 



