90 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



tliorougli-bred horse, in splendid condition, fit, as 

 mj groom said, to run for a man's life. The morn- 

 ing arrived — one of those bright lovely mornings 

 that are to be met with ou the sunny banks of the St. 

 Lawrence, when the great orb shines brilliantly forth, 

 when scarce a ripple is to be seen on the surface of 

 the fast-flowing waters, when the sky is blue and 

 cloudless, the sward green and refreshed by the 

 heavy morning dew. An enormous crowd was assem- 

 bled, for the horse had been sent purposely to '' flog 

 the Britishers." There might be seen the " 'cute 

 hand " from New York, the " knowing one " from 

 Albany, the " wide-awake " dealer from Boston ; nor 

 were the sharp fellows confined down to the United 

 States, for we could boast of some who, as the saying 

 goes, " knew a thing or two " — Montreal livery- 

 stable keepers, Quebec blacklegs, grooms, and 

 keepers. Among the distinguished classes were the 

 Governor-General — for the seat of government at 

 that time was at Quebec — his family, staff, civilians, 

 and officers of the garrison. The betting was nearly 

 equal, although occasionally a wild partisan offered 

 odds on his favourite, which he felt sure could win. 

 The race, which was looked upon as the event of the 

 day, was to come off immediately after the Garrison 

 Stakes, for which I rode, and won on Wellington — an 

 omen, I thought, of good success. The bell then 

 rang for saddUng : I weighed to ride 10 st. 7 lb., and 

 Douro, in a neat suit of clothes, was led uj) by a 



