170 THE RACING WORLD 



out, three out of the four he has backed run second, 

 third, and fourth ; but in the very last stride 

 Harpoon gets up and beats Blue Ridge the shortest 

 short head that ever was seen. Until the number 

 is exhibited most people believe that Blue Ridge 

 has won, but the judge knows better. Up goes 

 Harpoon's number, and down goes Puntington's 



He is ^95 out on the day, and what makes it 

 worse still is that he feels he ought not to have 

 betted at all on the last race, having had no 

 reason to fancy anything and having been led 

 astray by winds of doctrine all blowing from 

 doubtful quarters. There are only two races to 

 get home on, moreover. An invincible two-year- 

 old, with odds of 100 to 12 on him, no good to 

 Puntington, beats two rags who are out for second 

 money, and to get a bit of a line if possible, which 

 it is not ; and there is another horse sure to be a 

 hot favourite for the last race. The price will 

 be cruelly short, he is aware, but an even 100 will 

 just leave him a fiver to the good. When the 

 numbers go up there are only four runners, and 

 " I'll take 2 to I !" is the cry, one vociferous layer 

 trying to drown the voices of his brethren by 

 offers to take 5 to 2. What people call the 

 *' Getting Home Stakes " looks expensive ! Before 



