SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



*' Valiant," I answered. 

 " Yes, yes." 



"You got me 2010 to 1000." 



" I did. And now, Hodgman, would you mind 

 telling our friend ' Pavo ' what you called me when 

 I told you I had done nothing for myself? " 



" Well, your Grace, if you want the exact words, I 

 said you were a d d old washerwoman." 



"Yes. And, mind you, Hodgman, you called me 

 by my right name." 



In 1869 I noticed that John Davis was ad- 

 vertised for sale in the "Calendar." He was 

 a brown horse by Voltigeur from Jamaica, and 

 then aged. He had done the Duke of Hamilton 

 capital service, but as the horse was getting 

 on in years he determined to sell. I had seen 

 this said John Davis run in the Northamptonshire 

 Stakes, and from what I then noticed considered 

 him good for racing. I met the Duke one day, 

 and remarked, " Your Grace, I see John Davis is 

 in the sale list." 



" Yes. He goes up." 



" Have you put a reserve on him ? " 



"Yes. Five hundred." 



" I will give you that now." 



" Well, Hodgman, I can't take him out of the sale, 

 you know." 



215 



