1 84 CHASING AND RACING 



day, provided that it could be so arranged. His reply 

 was that if I would double the stakes he was quite 

 willing, which was in itself a startling proof of his 

 confidence in his ability to put " paid " to my account. 

 Of course I jumped at the offer ; so the stage was clear 

 for the performance. I had made a pretty shrewd 

 guess at the tactics which my rival had decided on. 

 I knew he would try to cut me down for speed in the 

 early stages of running, and then strive to keep his 

 advantage before Blankney's longer stride could tell 

 effectively. 



But I did not calculate on his allowing me to take 

 the lead at the start. However, this is what he did. 

 He lay behind me for a couple of furlongs, and then 

 tried to " rush " me in the dip. But it was no good. 

 With 10 stone 7 Ibs. on the back of each, Blankney could 

 go faster than his smaller and less lusty rival, so he 

 passed the post a very clever winner by half a length 

 (exactly the same distance as separated them when they 

 had previously met, with professional jockeys up), 

 never having been headed from start to finish. So 

 much for Macuncas 1 



