REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 63 



ing season, and the horses in consequence arrived at Sone- 

 pore fat, and it was soon seen, from the way they galloped, 

 that none of them would humble the pride of the mighty 

 Van ; the only one of the lot that was going in good form 

 being Favorite. Colonel Robarts had, besides the above 

 horses, several maidens ; but the only ones doing strong work, 

 and that eventually appeared in public, were Warrior and 

 Hector, the former a Waler, the latter an Arab, and a very 

 pretty one, too, but too small to be a race horse. Next came 

 Mr. Major with his two English mares Mayfair and Vivian 

 (late Rinderpest) and his Waler mare Venture. To these he 

 had added a pair of bobtailed Australian mares, whom he 

 had named Variation and Vexation ; these three were in tip- 

 top condition, thanks to the fine course at Unundpore, on 

 which they had been trained. They were under the charge 

 of John Irving, who deserved great credit for the fine form his 

 horses displayed. Mayfair had cut herself in crossing the 

 river, so it was doubtful whether she would start or not, but 

 Vivian was looking beautiful ; a handsome likeness of her 

 half-brother Vauban, and such a pretty mover, that she was at 

 once installed as first favorite for the St. Leger for all 

 maidens, but a stable accident prevented her starting during 

 the meeting. 



Mr. Blacker's stable then arrived under the care of 

 Wheal, consisting of the English horse Dr. Swishtail, the 

 Arab maiden Bloodsucker, and a Cabuli mare called Lady 

 Elizabeth. " Nothing there to set the Ganges on fire," was 

 the public verdict, and all were sorry that so popular a racing 

 man as Mr. Blacker was not better represented. " But 

 where " asked the public " is the great Van all this time ? " 

 " Not come yet ? " and " Not come yet ? " was the cry, till at 

 last it began to be rumoured that he would not come at all ! 

 " Too good to be true," thought his opponents, and so it was, 

 for on Sunday " Old Bowler," as Auckland was called in the 



