SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



Tras a brilliant and forcible writer — was not disturbed 

 by the solemn conclusion, and only laughed when 

 next spring I at the Epsom Meeting ran a colt, by 

 Autocrat from Vera, under the name of " Argus the 

 Exile." He was a very bad horse, but curiously he 

 managed a dead heat with one called " The Welcher " ! 

 Tliis only emphasised the humour of the situation. 

 To the best of my recollection Mr. Willes never 

 apologised. 



Although, as I have said, I rarely won upon a 

 Derby, I did secure a little on Hermit in 1867. 

 Had I not been prejudiced against the son of New- 

 minster and Seclusion, I might have gone for a 

 splendid stake at a moderate outlay. I knew, as 

 did the rest of the world, that he had broken a 

 blood-vessel. But I knew also that of which the 

 world was ignorant, that to outward seeming he was 

 thoroughly restored. Still, there is with a horse of 

 blood-vessel breaking propensities always a danger 

 of repetition when the steam is turned on ; and, as 

 I say, I was prejudiced. How I came to know that 

 Hermit was all I'ight was through Mr. John Reeves, 

 a very clever trainer at Epsom. He met me on the 

 Saturday before Derby Day, and said, " Oh, Mr. 

 Hodgman, I took the liberty of opening yoTU' gate 

 and letting down your chains this morning." 



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