SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



The bargain was then and there made, the lease 

 of the horse being made out to the Honourable 

 Francis Lawley. The deal was no bad one for 

 Hargreaves, as on the Egham form the five-year-old 

 looked indeed bad to beat in the forthcoming 

 Cesarewitch, a 3 -lb. penalty only raising his burden 

 to 6 st. 8 lb. In truth, the race was a certainty for 

 him if he did not again go amiss. 



Everybody, however, fortunately, did not think so, 

 and particularly adverse to him, and keen on the 

 chance of their own horse, were the friends of Mr. 

 Tom Parr's Robgill. One of his staunchest sup- 

 porters was that fine, dashing bettor, Major 

 Brabazon (Colonel Higgins). He ridiculed the idea 

 that Robgill could lose, and freely supported his 

 opinion with his money. I met him about ten on 

 the morning of the race, in front of the Newmarket 

 Subscription Rooms. 



" Well, Major," I said, " Mr. Sykes will start a 

 better favourite than Robgill for a hundred." 



" I'll bet that," was his response. 



" Tubby," Morris said, " I'll follow Hodgy. I'll bet 

 you a hundred." 



" Done," answered the Major. 



On the course, after the horses had gone to the 

 post. Major Brabazon came to our coach and shouted, 

 *' Robgill beats anything for a thousand ! " 



