CHASING AND RACING 29 



but who are constantly looking for crookedness where 

 none exists. 



Shortly after I had the good fortune to become 

 the owner of Catona, Jesse Winfield procured for me 

 a useful filly called Etna. This one was not up sides 

 with the champion, who was in a class by herself ; 

 but she was decidedly useful and would always give 

 a good account of herself when opposed to any but 

 the top-notch flyers at the game. Now Catona and 

 Etna were extraordinarily like one another. Each 

 measured exactly 14.2 and were of the same build and 

 type. The latter was slightly brighter in coat and 

 had a small snip of white on the forehead which 

 Catona lacked ; but seeing them at exercise together 

 it was difficult to tell t'other from which. 



A rather attractive programme had been issued 

 for a meeting at Pontypool. The principal event 

 offered a good chance for Catona to add to her collection 

 of laurels, whilst there was a race for galloways that 

 had not won more than a stipulated aggregate o£ £ s, d, 

 and for which Etna was eligible. So we determined 

 to exploit both mares. The two races were on 

 succeeding days, and after Catona had astonished the 

 natives in her usual effortless manner, she was sent 

 home. The next day Etna duly obliged, and we 

 returned home puffed up with pride, joy, and satis- 

 faction. 



But what was my astonishment when, a few days 

 later, I received an intimation from the Clerk of the 



