CHASING AND RACING 225 



the most brilliant mares that ever trod the turf there is 

 no gainsaying. I had backed her for " The Derby " 

 with great confidence, but happened to meet the Prince 

 of Wales in the Club. H.R.H. greeted me with, 

 ** Well, what have you backed ? " When I told him 

 he shook his head. " I think you are wrong ; 

 Gubbins tells me that his horse (Ard Patrick) is sure to 

 win ! " 



Now I had not seen my friend "Jack'* that morning, 

 but we were fellow clubmen of long standing, and he 

 was ever ready to give me " the office." However, I 

 laid ofF on his horse sufficient to cover my investments 

 on Sceptre, and for this " save '' I had to thank the 

 then Heir Apparent. Although I did not get ** the 

 goods '* direct from the owner on this occasion, I had 

 once a straight tip from Jack Gubbins, which brought 

 greatly appreciated grist to my financial mill, though I 

 had to pay top price for it ! 



I was discussing the great game with my genial 

 Irish friend and his bosom pal Ralph Palliser at that 

 now defunct but once popular " pot-house," The 

 Raleigh Club (Peace to its precincts !), shortly before 

 " The Guineas " of 1897, when the former, following 

 the Hibernian habit of answering one question by 

 asking another, in reply to my query as to Galtee 

 Morels chance of winning the first of the classics, asked, 

 ** Would you be backin' Kilcock if he were in the 

 race ? " 



** What, at weight for age ? " I queried. 



Q 



