REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 35 



who had been allotted top weight. The race was spoilt 

 by a wretched start, of which Rejected got far the best, 

 stealing fully forty lengths, Legerdemain next, followed 

 by Helen, Diana a long way last. Abdool had been told 

 to wait on Diana, but finding Rejected so far in front, 

 lost his head and bustled his mare to pieces ; half a mile from 

 home Rejected was a couple of hundred yards ahead of the 

 rest ; Diana second, but now Curran sitting very still, and riding 

 beautifully, brought up the English mare, and a few strides 

 from the judge's box, passed Rejected (who shut up like a 

 knife) and won easily by three lengths ; another jubilee for 

 the planters. It was after this race that Mr. McLeod bought 

 Curran's discharge from the ist Fusiliers, and gave him per- 

 manent employment. The Losers' Free Handicap, R.C., was 

 uninteresting, only Annette and Firefly running ; the former 

 won easily. The Hack Handicap was a good race, five start- 

 ed, but Simmy brought Sir Edward Morgan home easily, 

 although carrying top weight. The Consolation Stakes fell 

 to Hero, and this ought to have ended the meeting ; but the 

 fair sex said otherwise, and wanted another ball. Of course 

 they had their way, and of course racing had to be got up to 

 pass the time during the day. The bachelors offered a thirty-two 

 goldmohur purse, a handicap for all horses, which the improv- 

 ing Diana won. The ladies, not to be outdone by the bache- 

 lors, offered a purse for a three-quarter mile race, eleven stone 

 each, Diana and Rejected coming out again, the former ridden 

 by Herewald Wake spoilt her chance by trying to get off the 

 course early in the race, and Mr. Stocks on Rejected, beat Mr. 

 SimsononSir Edward Morgan, and Mr. McDonell on Beppo, 

 and Mr. Lambert on Hero, and Jenab, each won a hack, and 

 pony race, and this ended the meeting of 1855. Rifle shoot- 

 ing competitions had been got up this year to add to the fun, 

 and one of the best shots present was Justin Finch, father 

 of The Jabberwock and poor Jeffery. 



