196 REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 



In spite of a liberal prospectus, very few first class walers 

 turned up at Sonepore, the Hyderabad meeting clashing with 

 it, and the Cawnpore fixture following so shortly afterwards, 

 prevented many owners from attending, but a goodly number 

 of countrybreds, ponies, and second class Australians put in 

 an appearance. Eraser, the trainer, brought a big string from 

 Calcutta including the patched up old gelding Sir Greville, Mr. 

 Rowe's Minette, and a few other useful cracks of sorts. 

 Jimmy had a large string, all looking fit and will ; among them 

 his newly-imported colt Knightsbridge, who had improved 

 wonderfully since landing. Ryder was now first jock for Lall 

 'Serryah. Harry Abbott had three beautiful countrybreds 

 Melody, The Toff and Sairey Gamp. Dunn arrived on Thurs- 

 day with Lord William's Shamshad, and everyone thought 

 the Merchants' Cup must be a moral for this handsome grey 

 Arab, but early on Friday morning, the astute Fordham was 

 "seen walking across the course, followed by a carefully clothed 

 pony, who, on closer inspection, turned out to be the invincible 

 Blitz. It was indeed a feather in the Stewards' caps and a 

 fitting reward for the generosity of the Calcutta merchants, 

 t'lat such grand ponies as Blitz, Shamshad and Minette 

 should come to do battle for their cup. The Behar Stakes fell 

 through and the Hutvva Cup, not finding sufficient maidens to 

 fill it, was altered to a f mile scurry, open for all horses. Seven 

 of the handsomest countrybreds in India stripped for General 

 Parrott's Purse, every one of them bred at the Karnaul Stud, 

 and in looks seeming fit to meet any average waler on even 

 terms. The Zillah Stakes brought out five. The Lilliputs, the 

 first race on the card, was appropriated easily by Mr. John's 

 Catseye, with Rowland Hudson in the saddle ; then came the 

 Hutwa Cup, for which both at the lotteries and the lists,. Bon 

 Accord and Sir Greville, were served up hot favorites, but 

 the old bay fidgetted a good deal at the post, it did not seem 

 as if Thompson was fit to ride him ; the lad had scarcely re- 



