SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



the Derby track so that he may save a thousand a 

 year." 



After careful inspection, the Admiral coincided 

 with me to the letter, and he requested the Messrs. 

 Weatherby to write to Mr. Dorling, instructing him 

 that on no consideration was he to interfere with 

 the Derby track. 



On the completion of our talk about Mr. Dorling^ 

 the Admiral remarked : " Wait a minute, Hodgman, 

 I'll fetch you my handicaps." Mrs. Rous, at the time 

 very poorly, was in bed in the adjoining apartment, 

 the rooms being merely separated by folding doors. 

 When he went for his handicap papers she called 

 out (and of course I heard every word, much as I 

 rattled the fire) : " What are you doing there ? " 



" Oh, I'm only going to show Hodgman my handi- 

 caps." 



" Now, didn't you promise Westmorland and 

 Sturt that you wouldn't show them to any one ? 

 and now, of all men, you're going to show them 

 to Hodgman. He's sure to do you ! " 



When the Admiral returned it was with, " Take 

 no notice. She's not herself." 



In the spring of 1877 — the year of his lamented 

 death — the Admiral asked me to put him £5 on 

 Scamp for the Northamptonshire Stakes. I said, 

 " Admiral, Scamp has as much chance as you have 



50 



