SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



" He's yours, governor, and I hope he brings you 

 luck." That horse was Victor, destined two years 

 later to win for me my first, and my only, Royal 

 Hunt Cup. 



Victor did not do much that season, running 

 twice, and on neither occasion being placed. As a 

 three-year-old he only ran once, also without dis- 

 tinction. The spring of 1863 was a very dry one, 

 and the ground at Epsom became very hard. I 

 knew of a good stretch of galloping ground at 

 Winchester, though it was then in a dilapidated 

 state. I spent a hundred pounds on its preparation 

 because of its extreme resemblance to the Ascot 

 Mile, and the Royal Hunt Cup was the race I had 

 in view for Victor. He, when the place was com- 

 pleted, took his gallops there, thriving admirably. 

 At the Epsom Summer Meeting I had with Libellous 

 run second to The Drummer Boy, my horse carrying 

 8 st. 12 lb. to the other s 7 st. 7 lb. over six furlongs, 

 with a party of sixteen behind. The next week I 

 despatched Libellous to Winchester to try Victor at 

 7 lb., and my Lincoln purchase just won, by, I think, 

 a neck. This satisfied me, and I sent for Mr. George 

 Herring to meet me at The Warren, when Mr. Tom 

 Hughes was also present. The day was dreadfully 

 hot, and we sat in the shade of the trees, slaking 

 our thirst with a champagne cup. I told them both 



189 M 



