272 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE DERBY OF 1848. 



NOTWITHSTANDING the ceaseless vigilance exercised 

 by all to whom the care of watching and guarding 

 Surplice was intrusted after he had been tried, 

 rumours that attempts would be made by fair 

 means or foul to ensure his defeat for the Derby 

 were freely circulated on all sides. Such rumours 

 were naturally to be expected in view of the enor- 

 mous sums of money laid against him during the 

 winter of 1847-48. Under these circumstances his 

 transportation from Goodwood to Epsom became 

 to me a cause of the deepest anxiety, and endless 

 were the suggestions made as to the best method 

 of effecting it in safety. One of these suggestions 

 was, that I should allow the horse to travel to 

 Epsom under the charge of two of my most trusted 

 men, supervised by a policeman, who was to be 

 specially called in for that purpose. This proposi- 

 tion I met with a decided negative. Having 

 undertaken the responsibility of guarding the horse 



