SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



" 18 Gloster Place, 

 " Brighton. 



" Dear Hodgman, 



" Thanks for your kind letter. In consequence 

 of the number of persons who call to see me — most 

 of them strangers, many of them beggars, parsons,, 

 or professed religious people — I have been obliged 

 to ask my doctor to give strict orders that I must 

 not see any one. Believe me nothing would give 

 me greater satisfaction than to see you or any of 

 my old friends. Therefore it is with great reluctance 

 I am compelled to decline your kindly offered visit. 

 I hope you will not be offended. My limbs are na 

 better. Otherwise I am in good health and spirits. 

 I was pleased to see Jacky's [Mr. Jack Bennett] 

 name among the winners on the Cesarewitch. I 

 hope he had a good turn. I think I may congratulate 

 you upon having had a very successful year, judging 

 from your increased stud. I hope it is so. I am 

 afraid some of my old pals have not been so lucky. 

 Please to remember me to all inquiring friends ; and 

 believe me to remain yours, 



"W. DAVIES." 



There were, of course, with Da vies, as with others, 

 the fat and the lean years. He, for instance, lost 

 nigh a fabulous sum when Voltigeur won the Derby 

 in 1850. Voltigeur was the idol of the sporting 



38 



