CHAPTER XIV 



Racing in 1870 Contemporaries at Balliol H. H. Asquith 

 Lord Randolph's First Election The Master Life in Col- 

 lege On the River Boxing with Tom Evans Billiards 

 and the Proctor Morrison's Fours "Billy" Fairer Sup- 

 planted by Lord Elgin Hunting preferred to Rowing 

 Hack-hunters Charlie Symonds Tollitt Birmingham Dog 

 Show preferred to " Smalls "Bob Colling, the Elder- 

 Concerning his Wedding 



THAT summer of 1870 passed pleasantly enough, 

 and there was real delight in seeing the white- 

 faced bay two-year-old, Tullibardine, by Blair 

 Athol, win easily at York August Meeting. The bookmakers 

 and crowd generally put the accent on the last syllable 

 of his name, as in the verb, to dine. He was the property 

 of Mathew Dawson and, at that time, a colt of much 

 promise, but he did not train on. A few years later I 

 recognised him in a hansom in Pall Mall, and had a ride 

 behind him. At that same York Meeting I saw Bothwell 

 win one of the two-year-old races. He was a low, lengthy, 

 level, bay colt, with plenty of quality, except for his plain 

 head. He was a really good one, too, and beat Sterling 

 fairly and squarely for the 2000 Guineas the following 

 year, with King of the Forest an indifferent third ; but, 

 after that, Bothwell went wrong in his wind and did no 

 more good. 



In those times there used to be sales of horses on 

 Knavesmire before the races, and sometimes sales of dogs. 

 At one such sale I bought for 2 a Clumber spaniel named 

 Dash, who was not only a champion in his work but 

 proved to be a sure prize-winner wherever he was shown. 

 Why his original owner, Major Stapylton, sold him was 

 always a mystery. 



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