SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



to run on foot. Stand £10 with me. I'm putting 

 £50 on one. I'll not tell what it is until the race is 

 over. When you see the result you will be perfectly 

 ashamed of your handicap." 



The horse I proposed backing, and did back, was 

 Queen of Cyprus, and obtaining seven 50's I put 

 the Admiral down 70 to 10. The public were mad 

 for Scamp, but Queen of Cyprus won by thirty 

 lengths ! Some days passed before I met the Admiral. 

 He put up both hands in acknowledgment of defeat. 

 " When I go," he said — the gallant old Admiral was 

 then growing feeble — " Hodgman, you must be 

 handicapper." 



" They would not stand me above once," I replied. 



"Ah, but /would!" 



Very often the Admiral and I agreed to the letter 

 with respect to horses' chances, as the following note 

 demonstrates : 



"13 Berkeley Square, 

 ''Jommry 21, 1876. 



" Dear Sir, 



" Many thanks for your ' City ' Handicap. I 

 have commenced at 9 st. 10 lb., and our weights 

 agree throughout. 



" The Lincoln Handicap is very good. My pick 

 would be Volturno, Baumber, Gem of Gems, and 

 Grassendale. 



51 E 



