OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES 8i 



as lie approached home, his spirits were more ex- 

 hilarated when he heard the mighty roar from the 

 multitude of spectators, and the shouts from the grand 

 stand — " Theodore — Theodore — Theodore wins ! " 

 "Petre — Mr. Petre wins ! " "Jackson — Jackson ! " — 

 "Theodore ! "—"Violet's beat ! "— " Theodore wins ! " 

 In approaching home, however, the Comus filly 

 (Violet) came again, and made another challenge, 

 looking more formidable. Jackson elevated his arm, 

 prepared for the worst, as high as he could reach. 

 He struck Theodore, and he bounded like a buck, 

 and was landed a gallant winner by nearly a length — 

 to the perfect astonishment of all the betting men 

 and of Mr. Petre himself. The immense crowd of 

 spectators honoured Jackson with three loud and 

 enthusiastic cheers as he dismounted and approached 

 the scales to be weighed. The extraordinary victory 

 in this instance presented a most wonderful contrast 

 to the bet of one hundred guineas to a walking-stick.' 

 In this race it will be noted that the horses started 

 at the first attempt, and the jockey who steered the 

 winner managed to make a good start. Had it been 

 otherwise, had there been false starts and returns to 

 the post, and all the worry attendant thereon, possibly 

 the race might have had a different termination. A 

 fair start is a desirable thing, and a 'good start' 

 is a great advantage, which every jockey tries to 

 secure ; in fact, most of the false starts occurring 

 on the English racecourses may be attributed to the 



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