HANDICAPS 107 



tion there has been for long distance races of late 

 years is made evident by the fact that in 1885 the race 

 was void for lack of entries ; and the next year it 

 resulted rather curiously, for the Duke of Beaufort's 

 Winter Cherry, who had only been started to make 

 running for Sir Kenneth (belonging to Lord Harting- 

 ton, now Duke of Devonshire), carried off the prize. 

 An anecdote may here be interpolated to show how 

 Turf "certainties" are upset and how totally unex- 

 pected results occur. The present writer chanced to 

 drive up to the course in a fly with the Duke of 

 Beaufort ; and as we were getting out of the carriage 

 the flyman obviously had something to say. An oppor- 

 tunity being afforded him, he begged to know whether 

 the Duke had any fancy for his mare, which the fly- 

 man, for some mysterious reason, said he thought was 

 sure to win. The Duke overheard the question, and 

 with characteristic kindness said, " No, my man, don't 

 waste your money on her ; she has no chance what- 

 ever." Walking on to the stand he remarked, " I 

 am only just starting my mare to make running for 

 Hartington who has tried Sir Kenneth well and thinks 

 he cannot be beaten. I have backed him and should 

 advise you to do the same." It was never supposed 

 that Winter Cherry could possibly win, the idea being 

 that she would fade out before a couple of miles had 

 been covered. Her jockey was only told to jump off 

 at the best pace he could and come along all the way ; 

 and he did this so effectually that she was never 



