REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 121 



When the handicaps were read out, it was seen that in 

 the Chumparun Stakes Talkaway was asked to concede 

 Shamrock twenty-one pounds, although they had not met 

 since the Behar Stakes, for which the weights were Talk- 

 away list. 2lbs., Shamrock lost, nibs., i.e., a difference of 

 five pounds. Of course she was scratched. To have been in. 

 harmony with their decision of disqualification, the Stewards 

 should have handicapped the gelding as the better horse at the 

 previous weights ; but with delicious inconsistency they stulti- 

 fied themselves painfully. Yet once more did the uncertainty 

 of the turf show itself, for ignoring Echo's performance in the 

 selling race, they allotted him the nice weight of 8st. ylbs. and 

 the old horse, with Tingey to steer him, squandered his field. 

 North Star pulled off the Lilliputian Stakes. Mr. D. B. Allen 

 made a good thing by Echo, for both on this and the previous 

 day, he backed him, chiefly because Harry Abbott wouldn't. 

 Captain Humphey on Nimrod beat Spider, Lady Aid and Red 

 Gauntlet in the Welter. On the fourth day a hurdle race was 

 improvised, Exeter and Gameboy only started ; it was a farce, 

 due to the stupidly small hurdles, through which Exeter gal- 

 loped, and his turn of foot enabled him to beat Gameboy, who 

 fenced honestly. Fieldfare won the Civilians' Cup from Thisby 

 and Snowdrop, Merry Lass beat Fraulein and Widow in the 

 Chupra Stakes, none of the heavy-weights accepting. Talk- 

 away in the handicap for the Champagne Stakes was now 

 asked to concede 2st. ylbs. to Shamrock, presumably because 

 her owner had declined to meet the gelding at ist. ylbs. in the 

 Chumparun Stakes. She was again scratched, and her owner 

 once more riled. Shamrock got home, Echo second; Glengarry 

 beaten off. Harry Abbott's Black Diamond, the only acceptor 

 for the Galloway Handicap, walked over. So ended a not al- 

 together pleasant race meeting. Many of the up-country 

 sportsmen, disgusted with the weather and want of accommoda- 

 tion, left after the second day's racing, notably Maharajah 



