BOYS AT PLAY 



>3yo 



yards from the first hurdles ; the signal to start being the dropping of the 

 judge's white handkerchief after previously ascertaining that we were all 

 ready. 



" Betting " was not particularly brisk on the course, though in my 

 opinion at least, Jack was favourite at even against the field, or perhaps 

 with a point or two in his favour, say 4 to 3 on him ; Gale 2 to i against, 

 Newman 3 to i against ; while " old Carlo "* was certainly at 4 to i 

 against him even if named at all in the betting. 



Jack's powers and confidence at the brook, even though he and 

 " Carlo " had to take it at the worst place and go out of their course both 

 before and after it, made him first favourite, added to which he is already 

 taller than " Carlo," half a stone lighter without any lumber, in fact lithe, 

 gaunt, and accustomed to this style of fencing, all through the past winter. 

 Gale on the other hand, with his active and powerful build and broad 

 hips, and Newman as long, spare and active as a greyhound, and both 

 in good order and longing for the cricket-fields, as well as from former 

 feats of activity, justified the confidence of their backers and would have 

 commanded a higher figure had they not shown a little nervousness and 

 indisposition to face the water. As for "old Carlo" it had transpired 

 that his trainer not expecting him to start had actually given him his corn 

 and beans as usual, and as he had been nominated only in the place of an 

 animal that had been scratched and had manifested decided symptoms of 

 stiffness in his preparatory canter, it was not to be expected that he would 

 find many supporters. 



At the given signal an excellent start was effected, all the horses getting 

 well away in a line, and the judge declaring that they all jumped the five 

 flights of hurdles abreast except perhaps the last flight which Jack cleared 

 slightly in advance. But then occurred a very different scene and order of 

 things. Jack was first over the brook and past the chair, but had crossed 

 "Carlo," though unintentionally, on reaching the brook, whose Jock had 

 taken a pull to steady him at the brook, and thus actually shut him out 

 and prevented him from going at it until he had got over ; but still old 

 "Carlo," to the surprise of the field and delight of his Jock, was second, and 

 these were the only horses placed, for though both Gale and Newman 

 charged the brook gallantly and got safe over, the former had fallen on 

 landing and the latter stumbled over him, and then both walked in having 

 no chance, but as they had cleared the brook the Judge declared that they 

 were not " distanced." 



The judge was saved the necessity of deciding between Jack and 

 " Carlo " by the owner of the latter declaring that being convinced the 

 fouling was unintentional, he would not press the objection. In truth he 

 was in such good humour that a " Blackmore nag," viz.. Jack, had kept 

 up the honour of the parish and the county, and that his own old horse 

 " Carlo," another county nag, had run second instead of being distanced, 

 and would probably run better in the next heat, that he was willing to 

 agree to anything. 



The requisite time having been allowed, viz., about ten minutes, the 

 horses again assembled at the starting-post, each feeling greater confidence 

 than on the former occasion, as all now felt that the course was practicable 

 throughout. 



The result of the first heat had somewhat altered the betting. Jack 

 was even against the Field. Gale, from havdng fallen at the brook had 

 receded to the third place, and Newman, whose mistake at the brook 



Carlow." (Mr. C. R. Vickerman).— Ed. 



