CHASING AND RACING 41 



black and gold even into a modest " place " ; though 

 he was an amiable creature and a bit of a trick " 

 horse. If bribed with a bit of sugar he would shake 

 hoof with hand when any of my fair friends so desired. 



The Usher and Epsom Embrocation were entire 

 colts. Both, and more especially The Usher, should 

 have been invaluable as blood pony stallions. I am 

 not aware whether either were put to such use, for 

 I quite lost sight of them when my choice little string 

 was dispersed. The Usher was one of the handsomest 

 thoroughbreds, on a miniature scale, that could be 

 imagined ; and then look at his pedigree (as previously 

 stated), by a Derby winner (Kisber) and with another 

 Derby winner (Hermit) as maternal grandsire. What 

 could be nicer ? 



I have not much to say in favour of pony racing 

 as it was carried on in those days ; but at Hurlingham 

 and Ranelagh it was a quite enjoyable sport, indulged 

 in by some of the best sportsmen and riders of the day. 



This is where I first came in contact with dear 

 old " Charlie " Beresford. I had had some sharp grit 

 kicked into my eye during a race and came into the 

 dressing-room in agony. Beresford, the handy man, 

 laid me out on a form, turned up my eyelid with a 

 pencil, and whipped out the painful obstruction. All 

 done in the shake of a duck's tail ! 



The last time I saw his lordship was when fishing 

 Lord Cork's waters on the Pang. It was a blazing 

 day in June and there was nothing doing in the 



