CHASING AND RACING 27 



jump forward nervously. ** Look out," I cried, 

 ** this mare will kick you into the middle of next 

 week if you crowd on her 1 " 



" Here, come over on the outside, Captain Cox," 

 called the starter. I lost no time in obeying the order. 



" If there is a false start," I told him, '' this mare 

 will get away with me." 



**A11 right, I'll see to that. Now! Are you 

 ready ? Then — Go ! " 



Catona was on her toes and off like a swallow, 

 I made a bee line for the first turn, got there with a 

 lead of a good two lengths, and stayed to win by just 

 as far as I chose. In the dressing-room, after weighing 

 in, I determined to let one, at least, of the conspirators 

 know that I was cognisant of their amiable intentions. 



" What about putting me over the rails ? '' I 

 asked. 



" Nothin' doin' old Sport ! My tit couldn't go 

 fast enough to bite your mare's tail, much less give 

 me a chance to barge in on her flank." 



Then I went to George Gurney to see how our 

 book had planned out. He showed me. 



Some venturesome gambler had taken 5-1 in 

 half-crowns about a pony called *' Royal Oak '* 

 numbered amongst the " also ran." 



The rest of the column was i?/a^k ! 



Thus do : 



" The best laid schemes of mice and men 

 Gang aft agley I " 



