i6 THE TURF 



accurate. The trainer may not improbably have been 

 kept awake half the night wondering whether he dare 

 "go on" with the Derby colt, or the favourite for 

 some big race on which he has invested money he 

 cannot afford to lose. The animal's shortened stride 

 in his gallop yesterday was not to be mistaken, and 

 certainly there was something suspicious about the 

 manner in which he walked away afterwards. Shall 

 he stop him, or chance it ? This worry is increased by 

 perplexity as to whether his most promising two-year- 

 old — so charmingly shaped, with such perfect action — 

 did or did not whistle — or worse — as she passed him. 

 Was it the beginning of a "noise"? The boy "did 

 not hear anything," but he is stupid ; a jockey shall be 

 put up when they next go out, she shall be sent a 

 good gallop, and he will find out the worst. The 

 morning, when it dawns, is dull and dispiriting ; he 

 rides out in the drizzle, gallops the two-year-old, and 

 discovers — a fact too surely confirmed by the jockey — 

 that she does make a noise ; the Derby colt, there 

 can be no further doubt about it, is lame ; and a horse 

 which is well in in a little handicap next week, with 

 nothing to beat, in fact, coughs badly several times. 

 Breakfast is not made more agreeable by the Calendar, 

 which shows that two horses which have been entered 

 in forthcoming handicaps can have no possible chance, 

 two or three belonging to other stables being "thrown 

 in," and by some irritating remarks in the newspaper 

 to the effect that a horse which he ran yesterday, 



