378 TRAINING GROOM CONVERSING 



kept closer to the old horse than I remember any 

 of their year ever to have done before ; and, what 

 is more, I think the old one is as fresh and as well 

 as he ever was, for the length he usually comes." 

 "Well, Tom, (says the trainer), we must keep that 

 to ourselves. You are the only three boys in the 

 stable that can have any idea of what the two 

 colts we have been talking about may be likely 

 to do, for, as you are aware, not one of the other 

 boys has ever been on or near the ground when 

 we have wanted to do any thing of any consequence 

 with them. Do not, on any account, say a word 

 to the other boys in our own stable, or to any one 

 out of it, about the colts. If you three keep 

 your own counsels, we may do some good for the 

 stable ; and if any of you like to stand the chance 

 of losing a small stake to the winning of a large 

 one, you may, as our master will let you stand 

 your money on his book. And, that you may 

 have no occasion to be making bets with the boys 

 of other stables, only tell me, in a day or two, 

 what you can afford to stake, and I will take care 

 to get it done for you. Why I have taken this 

 opportunity of talking to you just now is, as you 

 know we shall soon move off with the horses 

 to Newmarket, had I not cautioned you as I have 



