THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 89 



' Many years ago, upon a certain spring meeting 

 on the Plains of Abraham, near Quebec, a flyer from 

 the United States was entered to run for a sweep- 

 stakes of ten dollars each, mile heats. The writer 

 of this, then a youth of eighteen, had the care of two 

 English horses, Wellington and Douro, good names 

 to contend against the Eagle (for so the stranger's 

 horse was called), and received a challenge to run a 

 match, weight for age, although, as the trainer said, 

 *' They were not particular to a pound or two." 

 The distances named were a mile, two miles, and 

 three miles ; the best of the three races to decide 

 the event. As at this period no professional jockeys 

 were allowed to ride for the Garrison Stakes, and 

 as the owner of the bird of Jupiter did not fancy 

 an amateur, the stewards permitted him to draw his 

 horse without paying the forfeit, and I consented to 

 contest against a regular Kentucky jockey for the 

 sum of two hundred dollars, which was soon made up 

 by my brother officers on the staff. Wellington had, 

 unquestionably, the speed of his son, but he could 

 not last so long. Under these circumstances I named 

 Douro, who, though successful on many occasions in 

 Canada, would have only been an average " plater " 

 at home. The terms were drawn out, the money 

 staked, the laws of Newmarket read out as our 

 guide, and public expectation was on the tiptoe. The 

 Eagle was a long leggy animal, drawn as fine as a 

 grey-hound ; his opponent a compact, well-shaped, 



