SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



naturally not over-keen about retaining possession, 

 and considered himself in luck's way when a Win- 

 chester horse-dealer, of the name of Tubbs, met him 

 out hunting and asked, '* Will you sell that horse, 

 Tom ? " 



" Yes. I'll take thirty pounds for him." 



" I'll give it you if you'll ride him home to my 

 place." 



Cannon did not dally by the way, taking the pre- 

 caution that he was preceded by an old mare in whose 

 society, and in whose society only, Vici was amenable 

 to reason. Right off Mr. Tubbs drew a cheque for 

 thirty pounds, and Tom went back in satisfied mood. 

 That did not last long, however, for in due course 

 the document was returned bearing the usual bankers' 

 superscription when there is an absence of assets ! 

 What Tubbs did with Vici I cannot say. But to 

 this day Cannon laughs if I ask him about Vici, 

 Tubbs, and his cheque. 



On the horses that ought to have been theirs, but 

 through the curious twists of Fate were not, the 

 majority of owners could teU tales without any 

 straining of the truth. As I have shown, I was 

 distinctly unlucky to miss Galopin, and I was not 

 in Fortune's way with respect to King Lud. Though 

 that son of King Tom won nothing as a three-year- 

 old (he did not run as a two), I had particularly 



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