SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



public, much as, a few years back, Victor Wild was 

 the cherished horse of London. Teddington's Derby 

 was another bad one for Davies, and so again was 

 that of West Australian (1853), the losses over him 

 being accentuated when Catherine Hayes won the 

 Oaks. Everybody was paid to the uttermost 

 farthing, but the drain had been so heavy that 

 Davies reached Ascot with no more than two 

 hundred "ready" on him. Among the notes he 

 held were the two first " fivers " issued by the Bank 

 of England. To collectors they would have indeed 

 been treasures, but Davies was tired of them. 



"I've had no luck since they were given me. 

 Here, Perry," he said, " will you buy them ? " 



" How much shall I give you. Bill ? " 



" How much ? Why, ten pounds ! That's all I 

 want. And may they bring you better luck than 

 they have brought me." 



The parting with the "curios" was followed by a 

 startling change of luck, and Davies told me at the 

 €nd of the meeting that with the 200 so vs. lie had 

 won 12,000 pounds ! One of the best races of the week 

 for him was the Fourth Triennial Stakes, the last 

 -event of the second day. Herein ran Mr. Gratwicke's 

 Sittingbourne, Lord John Scott's The Ileiver, and 

 Lord Exeter's Filbert and Nutpecker. The last 

 named pair were for betting pui'poses not reckoned 



^9 



