SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



I own his improvement was great, but I was very 

 sceptical of him holding a winning chance, as instead 

 of three the horse needed twelve months. I met 

 Swindell afterwards, and he said, " Why, they're 

 a-backing your horse." 



" I have a hundred each way, and shall have no 

 more. I don't think he will win. I can't make 

 out how Green has got him so fit. He must have 

 rushed him. Fred," I said, " you will win this 

 handicap with Tomahawk. He's a good horse." 



" If you think so you can back him. I have some 

 money on myself. I think as you do." 



I took fourteen ponies about Tomahawk oif Bill 

 Mundy, and he won from Oxford Mixture, with 

 Shy lock third, and The Curate fourth, missing a 

 place by a neck. I afterwards sold The Curate 

 to Fred Swindell for a thousand pounds, and 

 he won several races with him, though no big 

 handicap. 



Tomahawk's year was the first time that a 

 thousand pounds were added to the Lincolnshire 

 Handicap ; and the man to whom the credit is due 

 for the further endowment of the stake was Mr. 

 Harry Steel. He came to me in 1873, after Vest- 

 minster (not then my horse) had won, and said, 

 " Hodgman, don't you think that this handicap 

 ought to have a thousand added ? The others are 



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