200 CHASING AND RACING 



in a very prominent position. Ballroom finished about 

 seventh. Subsequently I asked Corfield what he 

 thought of his mount, and whether he could not, by a 

 little extra pressure, have gained the place for which I 

 had backed my colt, and which I had urged the jockey 

 to do his utmost to secure. 



** He's a very nice little fellow, Captain," replied 

 that worthy. " I could not have got a place, even if 

 I had knocked him about, and that would have been 

 a pity; but if I were you I would put him in the 

 overnight seller. I will ride him again for you. He 

 may do better next time.** 



I demurred, because I felt sure that some of those 

 that had been well in front of Ballroom would be re- 

 entered ; and so indeed it turned out. But Corfield 

 was so insistent that I was persuaded to fall in with 

 his views. Sure enough, when it came to the race on 

 the morrow, the names of the gees which had finished 

 2nd, 3rd, and 5th were amongst those hoisted in the 

 frame ; so I was thoroughly surprised when Corfield 

 took me aside and urged me to support Ballroom with 

 my maximum — in vulgar parlance to ** put my shirt on 

 him.*' 



*' But,** said I, " there are at least three in the race 

 that were a street in front of him yesterday.*' 



** That may be,** replied the jockey, *' but your 

 little fellow ran rather green ; now that his eyes are 

 open he is sure to do better.** 



There was something in the argument, but '* not 



