SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



" What for ? " I queried. 



" Well, Bloss, the trainer of Hermit, wished to 

 give the horse a good pipe opener, and he asked me 

 whose place yours was. I told him, and he said, 

 * What sort of a man is he ? Would he object to 

 me having a gallop ? It's the very place I want.' I 

 said I didn't think you would object, and, anyway, I 

 added that I would chance it." 



" Oh, that's all right, Reeves. And how did 

 Hermit go ? " 



" Splendidly ! I led him, or, rather, tried to lead 

 him, on Molly Carew, but he galloped clean away, 

 and pulled up thoroughly sound. I was so pleased 

 I went straight to London, and took 2000 to 30. You 

 had better do the same. I think he's sure to win." 



At first I said I would, but I let the matter drop, 

 and only won upon him through my book. I am 

 aware that my friend Custance states in his 

 " Reminiscences " that Hermit had not had a canter 

 for nine days till he was sent a mile on the Tuesday 

 morning — the day before the Derby. But Custance 

 at the time of the Saturday spin was, on his own 

 statement, at Chantilly ; hence he could not be 

 expected to know, and as he was not riding Hermit, 

 but The Rake, Bloss would hardly tell him. 



" We have changed all that since then," said the 



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