SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



too good to be true, and I resolved on another 

 gallop, this time on Brighton racecourse. Meanwhile 

 I had met Sir John Astley. 



" Hodgy," he said, " I hear you are going to 

 gallop your Cesarewitch horse." 



"Yes, I am, Sir John. Next Friday, over the 

 Brighton racecourse. I have tried him, but I want 

 to test the spin." 



" Will you jDut Provider in for me ? " he asked. 



" Certainly. What weights shall I put on ? " 



" Oh, the handicap weights." 



The result was striking confirmation of the first 

 test, John Davis cantering home from Wildflower, 

 while Provider was beaten 150 yards. I saw Sir 

 John on the first day of the Second October Meeting, 

 and told him what had happened. 



" Much obliged, Hodgy," he said in his cheery 

 way. "But I shall run. You have no chance if you 

 keep them in the stable." On that day Mr. Ray 

 ran Wildflower in the Handicap Plate, decided over 

 the Cesarewitch course. She, carrying 7 st. 2 lb., 

 won by a neck from Mr. Savile's Miss Gratwicke 

 (7 St. 9 lb.) : so evidently the mare was in form. 

 Going on my trial, I made out that John Davis 

 at 6 st. 12 lb. was Wildflower at 4 st., and I thought, 

 " If that isn't a certainty, racing never knew one." 



Fordham, who rode in both trials, begged me to 



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