OWNERS AND OWNING 6i 



and how little real and serviceable information my 

 careful studies had yielded. 



At Newmarket and at Doncaster afterwards I 

 bought nine, which averaged a little over 600 

 guineas. I gave them names — Messrs. Weatherby 

 told me I could not have two of these, both of which 

 I had thought particularly happy ones — registered 

 my colours, paid a cheque into Old Burlington 

 Street to start my account, and awaited results. 



It was at Kempton a month or so after 

 Doncaster that, a selling race having been run, my 

 trainer found me in the paddock and told me that 

 the winner was just the sort of horse I wanted. 

 Perhaps a little superciliously, I assured him that I 

 did not want it at all — I had no desire to win 

 selling races, and indeed my aspirations were 

 high. I would enter for the great events, would 

 run at Ascot, Goodwood — Newmarket, of course 

 — and at other leading meetings, not altogether 

 scorning the principal handicaps, but competing 

 almost exclusively in races which have some 

 " class " about them. My trainer, however, ex- 

 plained that I ought to have something to lead 

 the young ones in their work and to try with 

 next spring ; and, recognising the necessity, which 

 had not previously occurred to me, I bought the 

 winner for 440 guineas. 



