SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



I have mentioned that once Mr. Hawkins was 

 against me in the Law Courts, and here is the tale. 

 In 1861 I purchased Shillelagh from Lord Strath- 

 more (otherwise "RoUicking Bob") for £50. He 

 was a chestnut colt by Teddington from Thorn, as 

 quiet as a lamb, but as game as a fighting cock. 

 He was then three years old, and I put him in the 

 Autumn Flying Handicap at Worcester, wherein 

 he ran third. The next race was the Shorts Selling 

 Stakes, winner to be sold for 30 sovs. I started him 

 again, and he failed by a neck to Grant, a Flying 

 Dutchman filly, who was sold for 33 gs. Fortunately 

 he was not claimed. At the end of that season I 

 changed my trainer, engaging Ben Land. One day 

 in the spring part of 1862, I said, "Ben, where's 

 ShiUelagh ? " 



" You'll find him round by The Warren wall, his 

 old walking-place." 



I went back to Land with, " Why, I shouldn't 

 have known him. He's picked up wonderfully these 

 past six weeks." 



" Yes, he has. And I think he's a good horse. 

 But he's not quite yet to my liking. An eye-opener 

 in public wouldn't do him any harm." 



So I ran him in the Earl Spencer's Plate, putting 

 up Jack Reeves, who had been standing down for a 

 long time for impudence to the starter, and who 



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