CHASING AND RACING 221 



whether he could, or could not, stay the Derby course. 

 The contingency is certainly open to argument if not 

 to doubt. 



But Ormonde figures in the next of my " specials." 

 Having won the Derby, he went to Ascot and carried 

 off The Hardwicke Stakes with 8 stone 8 Ibs. up, and 

 the following year, although by that time a confirmed 

 roarer, he again contested the race, in which he threw 

 down the gauntlet to his great rival Minting, the 

 popular idol Bendigo, and an animal of Noel Fenwick's, 

 called Phil. 



On this occasion Tom Cannon, senr., had the 

 handling of the Duke of Westminster's champion, 

 whilst Johnny Osborne was " up " on Minting. Here, 

 again, after a cursory glance at Bendigo, for the sake of 

 Auld Lang Syne, my attention was riveted on the two 

 giants. From the Swinley corner it was a case of six 

 of one and half a dozen of the other. The excitement 

 was intense ! First a subdued murmur, then a distinct 

 hum, and finally a roar came from the crowd, as it was 

 seen that neither horse could get away from the other ; 

 and so they ran from the distance, locked together, to 

 the accompaniment of frantic shouts and gesticulations. 

 I was, happily, so placed that I could anticipate the 

 judges* verdict, but I dare venture to assert that half 

 the crowd thought that the two zeros * would be 

 hoisted side by side. 



Now, when it is considered that the Hardwicke is 

 * Signifying a dead heat. 



