136 REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 



pagne Stakes, after a magnificent finish with Jimmy McLeod 

 on Snowdrop. For the Chupra Cup there were half a dozen 

 false starts due to Donaldson on Fleur-de-lys not joining his 

 horses, she was a perfect tempered mare, but the little scamp 

 had evidently been on the drink the previous night and was 

 jumpy. When they did get off, he lost fully ten lengths. 

 Widow rushed to the front, Spider soon joined her, but the 

 roarer died away at the distance, and then Fleur-de-lys came 

 like a streak of lightning and almost caught the big mare, 

 who, however, won by a couple of lengths. The Lall Serryah 

 stable and Jafifir were the chief winners. One of the Gymkhana 

 events was a postillion race which Jimmy collared for the 

 fourth year running. Rowland Hudson was an absentee that 

 year, but Messrs. Nicolay, Apperley and Jimmy well kept up 

 the reputation of Chumparun, and in Bob Lockhart Chupra 

 could boast of a cool, good rider. Harry Abbott's riding 

 days were over, for he had come a delicious crowner early in 

 the year at Calcutta, when riding Vantage in a race against 

 Benham, Fisherboy and Dauntless, she broke her leg at the 

 distance when going strong, and falling through the rails, 

 pitched her rider on to a carriage, breaking three or four ribs 

 and making a nice mess of him. After this home rule was 

 brought to bear, and he had to promise to give up race rid- 

 ing for the future. Since then, like that old hero Jeshurun, he 

 has waxed fat. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



YEAR 1881. 



Now in spite of the fillip given to Sonepore racing in 

 1880 by the birth of the Durbangah racing stable, and the 

 numerous additions of the outside owners who sent their horses 

 to Jaintpore, Lall Serryah and Burowley to train, it was 

 curious to notice that while Mozufferpore, much less easy of 

 access and unfashionable for years a.s a. racing centre, was 



