IQ4 REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 



that Bob Lockhart, when he made his effort, brought down the 

 tent, and tears into the eyes of all his audience with laughter. 

 But the honors of the occasion were evidently given to that 

 promising young debutant, Harry Russell, whose famous 

 speech in returning thanks for the ladies will be longremember- 

 ed by all who heard it. Called upon after dinner to champion 

 the same great cause, he replied in terms of equal eloquence 

 and ability, and it was difficult to decide of the two speeches 

 which was the superior. Chupra is always very hard to beat 

 and its coming men were very well forward that year. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



VKAR 1888. 



Prospects looked decent for 1888 as Jimmy had sent 

 down instructions to Teddy Weekes at Melbourne to buy him a 

 really good horse, and the selection was a fine young bay 

 gelding called Knightsbridge. He had also Torchlight, now 

 Baby Canning's property, and Rowland's Harlequin, a rattling 

 good waler pony called Wagunyah and another called Catseye. 

 Harry's stable had lost Mr. Mullick's string; the sporting 

 young Bengali had died and his horses had to go to Calcutta 

 to be sold. Harry offered ten thousand for them, but the offer 

 was rejected. Ere the eventual sale, Edith died of apoplexy in 

 Calcutta, Miss King sold for twelve hundred to a sportsman 

 who never took delivery, Piecegoods went for seven hundred 

 Sir Greville broke down and only fetched five or six hundred, 

 Keswick about the same. Major Prior's string, however, 

 replaced Mr. Mullick's, and Mr. Apcar's horses summered that 

 year at Jaintpore, as well as Mr. Gasper's, the latter now racing 

 in partnership with Mr. Apcar, though, save Splendor, none of 

 the string ever ran again at any of the Behar meetings. That 

 beauty Bellona had died from kidney disease. The Stewards 

 were out as early as May with a liberal programme. The 

 Stewards for the year were Messrs. H, W. Gordon, Robertson 



