SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



^tf the King were always anxious to bet with him, 

 for if at times he dealt them a shrewd blow, they in 

 turn had their hauls, and never had to wait a 

 moment for their money. The first big thing the 

 Duke did for me was at the Shrewsbury Races, on 

 Thursday, November 16, 1866. I had a horse 

 called Valiant running in the Hawkstone Welter, 

 sxnd, thinking his chance an extraordinarily good 

 *)ne, determined to risk a thousand. Had I gone to 

 the bookmakers myself I should have in all likelihood 

 liad to lay odds to get on such a substantial sum, 

 So I saw his Grace early in the day, and said, " I 

 want you to put a thousand on Valiant." 



" Oh, I can't, Hodgman. I really can't. I'm 

 short of money." 



" You misunderstand me," I answered. " I want 

 jou to put a thousand on for me. Mind, it's a good 

 thing, and you ought to back it for yourself. But I 

 don't want you to bet till the last moment. Please 

 stand by the steps in the Ring, and keep an eye on 

 me. When I take my hat off, begin. If you can't 

 get the thousand on, do what you can." 



The bookmakers time after time approached the 

 Duke to know if he fancied anything. But he turned 

 a deaf ear to their requests until I gave him the 

 signal, which was not before Fordham, who rode, 

 was well on the way to the post. Then the Duke 



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