JUDGES AND JUDGING 129 



overwhelming sense of responsibility, an unshake- 

 able nerve, and absolute freedom from any tendency 

 to excitement. A horse may just win a race by 

 the barest margin, the shortest of short heads, a 

 matter of inches, but on his success tens of thousands 

 of pounds depend, as well as the prestige of victory ; 

 for though a horse that is beaten a very short head 

 at even weights is practically the equal of his 

 conqueror, reputation is based upon absolute victory. 

 A moment's carelessness or confusion and the 

 stream of wealth may be wrongly diverted, the 

 honour snatched from those to whom it belongs 

 and awarded to those who have no claim to it. 

 There are occasions when bystanders, usually I 

 suspect with a strong interest in a certain animal, 

 declare after a close finish that they are sure some 

 horse — the one they have backed — "just got up in 

 the last stride," and that the wrong number has 

 been hoisted ; but angles are extraordinarily de- 

 ceptive, and the judge has no angle to deceive him. 

 Sometimes an owner has stood by my box, and 

 when heads, or possibly even necks, have divided 

 the leaders, has informed me '* Mine's won ! " 

 But, grateful as perhaps I should feel for such kind 

 assistance in the performance of my duties, I do not 

 accept his opinion unless it agrees with my own. 

 I have just referred to the deceptiveness of angles, 



K 



