SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



Mr. T. Hughes, Avho stood next me, " Tom, I shall 

 win both those races, the one with John Davis and 

 the other with Yestminster." On the following 

 morning I drove from my place in Nightingale Lane, 

 Clapham, to Telscombe. My first stop was at an 

 inn just beyond Croydon, and on the signboard, in 

 gilt letters from a scarlet ground, was 



"JOHN DAYIS." 



I was thinking deeply at the time of the horse of 

 that name, and the incident caused me to pull up 

 and have a drink, telling the landlord the reason of 

 the call. Next morning I saw John Davis do his 

 work, and he went with such dash and resolution 

 that I was delighted. That year there were at the 

 First October Meeting^ two races decided over the 

 Cesarewitch course. One of them Avas won by 

 Mr. Ray's Wildflower, by Wild Dayrell. She won 

 with ridiculous ease, and, the owner being a friend 

 of mine, I borrowed her to try John Davis with. 

 There were several others in the spin, but Wild- 

 flower, as representing recent form, was the chief 

 tell-tale. I put her in with 2 st. less than the old 

 horse, who simply played with her. Indeed, he won 

 with such a deal to spare that T did not see how 

 under 6 st. 12 lb. he could possibly be beaten in the 

 Cesarewitch. The trial, in fact, seemed to be almost 



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