304 CONCLUSION. 



match was made to be run at Newmarket, when the one horse 

 died and the other was unfit to run, and stratagem was used 

 on either side. When in the end the match was declared off, a 

 Httle pleasantry was indulged in, the one sportsman declaring 

 his horse was scarcely able to walk out of the stable, whilst 

 the other retorted that his was dead and buried in it. On 

 another occasion, a jockey was bribed not to win, and telling 

 his employer, was recommended to take the bribe, which he 

 did ; and the owner himself rode the horse and won. Again, 



a gentleman who shall be nameless, matched his horse 



for ;^200 a side against that of a baronet, now deceased. The 

 baronet had, as it afterwards appeared, no intention of running, 

 and merely sent his horse, in order to frighten his oppo- 

 nent. But the latter, whose horse in reality was too ill to 

 leave the stable, substituted another for it, and sent the 

 impostor to the spot (Newmarket), with strict injunctions to 

 his trainer to give all inquirers an evasive answer. The 

 baronet, by the aid of his trusty touts, learned of the arrival 

 of the false horse, and believing it, on the same trustworthy 

 evidence, to be the real Simon Pure, paid forfeit. This was 

 no doubt sailing rather near the wind ; yet the baronet had 

 tried to frighten his opponent with " false fire," and clever 

 tactician though he was, was perhaps deservedly outwitted 

 by one more wily than himself 



There is a savour of "Munchausen" in these stories, it 

 may be thought ; yet they have a substratum of truth which 

 few of the marvellous conceptions that appear in books on 

 racing matters can boast. And they must suffice. 



In my treatment of the various subjects it has been my 

 desire to introduce only those things that are relevant to it ; 

 although perforce some matters will appear of more interest 

 and greater importance than others to racing men. The 



