SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



" Oh ! I should rather have liked to have bought 

 him." 



" Well, George, as for that matter if he doesn't 

 reach his reserve I'll make a present of him to you." 



I attended Tattersall's for the sale, and said to 

 Ml'. Richard Tattersall, "There's a horse, Otho, to 

 be sold. If he fails to command his reserve, fifty, put 

 him aside. He will be mine. Mr. Perry has given 

 me him on that condition." I added, " If any one 

 bids fifty I shall go on. So keep your eye on me." 



Nobody bid fifty : so he became mine. I won a 

 race with him in the spring of 1862, and in July I 

 met Mr. Perry at NeAvmarket. He was passing our 

 carriage, and called out : «■- 



"Well, Hodgman, do you want any more 

 matches ? " 



I returned, " Yes ; and, if you like, with the little 

 horse, Otho, you gave me. I'll back him against 

 your Tubal Cain, at 7 lb., for 200 aside, on the last 

 six furlongs of the Rowley Mile." 



The match was concluded there and then. Half 

 an hour later Mr. Perry returned. " Hodge," he 

 said, " I'll give you a ' pony ' if you will make the 

 distance five furlongs." 



" No ; I made it six furlongs because though yours 

 is much the better horse, at 7 lb., he is a roarer, and 

 mine stays." 



195 



