308 REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 



oblige, and they deserved the heartiest thanks of all owners, 

 for there was not one bad start, and every rider allowed that 

 he had the fullest confidence in the gentlemen who so kindly 

 wielded the flags. 



In the Planters' Gazette Cup, in spite of a difficult field 

 of eight unruly ponies, they were got off at the third attempt, 

 Piccalilli rushing to the front, the rest in a cluster, the favor- 

 ite held well in the centre ; at the distance post Young 

 brought Wellington to the front and he cantered in an easy 

 winner by three lengths ; Idalia second. In the Hutwa Cup 

 Wiles, presumably under orders, took Pointsman to the front 

 at a rare pace, but the horse was not fit enough to last out, 

 and he was passed at the corner by Stowaway, but Mr. 

 Edward was waiting quietly behind, and at the quarter mile 

 he drew up to the leader, and from this cantered home an 

 easy winner. Evelyn II made running in the Bettiah Cup, 

 but Squib and Victor soon joined her, Mr. Edward again 

 riding a fine race, and winning on the post all out by a head. 

 Favoritism was equally divided for Jessop's Cup between 

 Greyling, Cocab, Moohahil and Petroleum, but the game little 

 grey of Mr. Francis' simply squandered his field and romped 

 home ten lengths in front of Moohahil, who was steered by 

 Mr. Edward. Ghostie had an almost equally easy win for 

 Messrs. Moran & Co's Cup, though all the others were fancied 

 as good goods. In fact the day's racing was far from bad, and 

 though the fields in the horse races were poor, yet Mr. 

 Edward's finish in the Bettiah Cup was a fine exhibition of 

 horsemanship. Alan struck into Stowaway's heels coming 

 round the corner, and had to be thrown out for the entire 

 meeting. Another bit of hard luck on his owner. 



Prospects for the second day's racing were much marred 

 by the unusually big field for the Durbangah Cup resolving itself 

 into a walk over for Stowaway, as Pointsman's owner elected 

 to start his horse for the Doomraon Cup, three-quarters of 



