CHASING AND RACING 43 



and invited Harry Bentley to come with me to Epsom 

 (where my ponies were at that time being trained at 

 Woodcote Lodge) and to ride the champion for a 

 try out with Sarah. 



As it turned out, the little chestnut was no sort of 

 use to the bonnie brown, who, in Bentley 's skilful 

 hands, simply played with her. So after going some 

 six furlongs we made to pull up. Sooner thought 

 of than done, as far as the sportive Sarah was con- 

 cerned. I tried every kind of device, but I could not 

 break the loping gallop into which she had subsided. 

 She had the snaffle (a bit which I have always loathed) 

 firmly wedged in her back grinders. When I let 

 her head loose she dropped it momentarily, but 

 directly I shortened rein, she had it fixed again. I 

 thought to take her on to the Derby course and to let 

 her run herself to a standstill, but I found that the 

 chains were up, so I had to wrench her right round. 

 Back she came, easy enough to steer, but impossible 

 to stop ! I swung her round a coppice on the hill, 

 where she slipped up and sent me a pretty purler, but 

 I was not hurt, though delighted to be separated from 

 the fair Sarah and her irresponsible ways. She had 

 carried me a good three miles and was now in a black 

 sweat. My friend Bentley grew sarcastic. 



* Why, what's up with you, Cockie ? " he sneered. 

 " Fancy you not being able to hold a toy like that ! 

 YouVe been wasting too hard I expect.' ' 



" Oh, all right/ 1 I replied. " Ton have a go and 



