30 CHASING AND RACING 



Course that stakes would be withheld since I had had 

 the effrontery to run Catona, on the second day, under 

 a different name, in a race for which she was not 

 eligible to compete ! Of course I was greatly tickled 

 by this *' howler," but there was no end of a pother 

 before I could clear up the stupid blunder ; in fact 

 we had to produce both mares and evidence of Catona's 

 return to stables on the evening of the first day, ere 

 the Stewards caved in, apologized, and paid stakes, 

 plus my " expenses '* ! 



The next item was staged at Portsmouth where 

 a so-called " big " event with ;/^ioo added had been 

 advertised. I was very anxious to have a cut in at 

 this, but alas — Catona had retired from the race- 

 course and my others were hardly good enough. So 

 once more Jesse had instructions to find " the goods." 

 He was not long in doing so, and reported that he had 

 secured a miniature racehorse which had sported 

 Captain Machell's colours under Jockey Club rules, 

 named Kismet, by the Derby winner, Kisber — 

 Angelina by Hermit. He was a perfect picture, 

 but a hot-headed little devil and a determined and 

 hard-mouthed puller. I had no opportunity of riding 

 him at exercise and so getting on pleasant terms with 

 him ; consequently, at the urgent prayers of Winfield 

 and other stable connections, I turned the mount over 

 to Tommy Aldridge, a very efficient understudy. 

 It was a big field, but Tommy soon had its measure 

 and won cleverly by a length. Now, not long prior 



