SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



14 "2, and though her legs are good they're no thicker 

 than a stout walking stick." 



" Never mind your objections. Can I have 

 her ? " 



"Yes, take her now." 



Her first alliance w^as with Skirmisher, I think ; 

 and, anyway, in due course she threw Blueskin, 

 Sealskin, Moleskin — and other " skins" — all animals 

 about 16 hands, powerful of bone; in fact, the very 

 opposites of their dam. 



Reverting to Mr. Ned Smith and my bad luck 

 with the horses I bought of him, I may mention that 

 I gave him 600 guineas for Rupert, who turned out 

 a perfect brute ; and I know not, nor do I care, what 

 became of him ; and yet when I offered to buy one 

 that indubitably would have paid me well, Mr. Ned 

 Smith would not — I rather fancy he could not — sell. 

 The reference is to Tame Deer, whom I borrowed to 

 try Rocket with for the Cesarewitch of 1858. Also 

 in the gallop were Sweet William and Queens- 

 town, these — with Rocket — being partnership horses 

 between Mr. George Lambert and myself, though I 

 let Mr. Edward Green have half of my share. The 

 trial took place a week, before the Cesarewitch, on 

 the Lewes Racecourse, Fordham riding Rocket, 

 Custance Queenstown, Covey Tame Deer, and Jim 

 Goater Sweet William. It was a very foggy morn- 



121 I 



