20 REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE\ 



Mr. Charles, who was better known by his nick-name of Josto 

 the King of Spaars, and was in propria persona Mr. J. John- 

 stone, an ancestor of the present popular Calcutta sportsman 

 of the same name, was the only other winner to any extent. 



CHAPTER VI, 

 YEARS 1850-51. 



For 1850, we again find Mr. Hewett in charge, but adver- 

 tising only a five days' meeting, and in spite of the fiasco 

 of 1849, the ist of June entries were promising, a few 

 new owners, too, figuring in the list, Messrs. Mortlock 

 who was Edward Studd, Monghyr, and Cartwright, but the 

 old opponents Messrs. Holdfast, Charles, and Fitzpatrick 

 showed up strongly, the two former entering half a 

 dozen each in the Civilians' Cup. Mr. Charles' string in 

 charge of Joy had been training at Chupra, Barnes had Mr. 

 Holdfast's lot at Mozufferpore, the course was then situated 

 at Secunderapore, but was being rapidly cut away by the 

 river. Stubbs was working Mr. Fitzpatrick's stable at Banki- 

 pore, Mr. Wallace had his exercising at Monghyr, and a 

 few were using the perfect galloping track at Pusa. Sone- 

 pore had in those days one advantage over its present state, it 

 had a fine lot of permanent mud built loose boxes, which were 

 freely made use of in the hot weather by local owners and train- 

 ers. The most that can be said for the opening day is, that it 

 was a little better than that of 1849 f ur stripped for the Derby, 

 all new to fame, and belonging to rival owners. Mr. Holdfast's 

 good luck once more stood him in stead, and Do-the-Boys 

 carried his colors cleverly to the front. He followed this up 

 by winning the Colonials with Van Diemen, the Durbangah 

 Cup with the gallant country-bred Pretender^ best of his class 

 ever seen our course the mile sweepstakes with Do-the-Boys, 

 beating the crack grey Don Juan, and finished the morning 

 by pulling out Van Dieman again and winning the Syed's 



