SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



and to Warwick race, 50. Small wonder that 

 owners in those days had to exercise their wits to 

 make things pay ! After being beaten at Ascot in 

 the Fern Hill Stakes, she won a race at Hampton 

 (25 added !), and following a failure at Newmarket 

 in a sweepstakes, I sold her for, I think, 300 sovs. 



But before I parted with her she had told me all 

 I wished to know about Victorious. I galloped the 

 pair on the Friday before the Epsom Summer 

 Meeting, which started on Tuesday, May 24. The 

 trial was between the three V's — Victorious, Vision, 

 and Vixen. As I was driving to The Warren I met 

 David Hughes, the jockey, brother to Mr. Tom 

 Hughes. 



" What are you after, David ? " I called out. " I 

 suppose you've heard I'm going to have a gallop, 

 and you've come to see the spin ? " 



" Nothing of the kind, Mr. Hodgman. I didn't 

 know you had a trial coming off." 



"Jump up," I said, "and we'll have a glass of 

 champagne at The Warren." 



After the drink, I said : " Let's get along, David. 

 I'm going to try the three V's, and I believe one of 

 them, Victorious, is the best horse in England. 

 Now, David," I went on, " I'm going to ask 

 Victorious to give Vision 2 st. What do you 

 think?" 



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