SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



is beyond me to explain. Mr. Sykes then formed 

 one of a party of three for the Surrey and Middlesex 

 Stakes, distance a couple of miles. And the principal 

 cause of his starting was that, unknown to each 

 other, the connections of Fulbeck and Winkfield had 

 promised Mr. Clark 50 so vs. each to make running 

 for their horse ! The betting ruled even money 

 Winkfield and 6 to 5 Fulbeck, while 10 to 1 was 

 vainly tendered against Mr. Sykes, who was not 

 expected to win, and whose jockey had no idea the 

 horse had ability to win. But when the jockey 

 found himself carried strenuously to the front he 

 certainly did not over-exert himself. The horse, how- 

 ever, took matters very much under his own control, 

 and in the end dead-heated with Fulbeck. That 

 Mr. Sykes should have won easily was apparent to 

 the meanest intellect ; and, red hot with passion, 

 Admiral Rous was quickly at the weighing-room 

 door. 



" This dead-heat," he thundered, "is to be run 

 off, and Fordham shall ride Mr. Sykes." 



That was impossible, as naturally Major Brlng- 

 hurst stood out for Fordham again riding his horse 

 Fulbeck. On that the Admiral went to Preece, 

 Mr. Sykes's jockey, to whom he said, " You, sir, 

 make your way home on that horse as best you can. 

 If you don't win, or I see you don't try to win, mind 



61 



