166 



ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



got my place money. But rarely I have more 

 than two sovereigns on a race not often. I used 

 to bet a little more at that time than later. Of 

 course, as I say, I used to put on a little bit extra 

 for hedging, perhaps. Really, it was the people 

 round about me, that wanted their humble five 

 shillings or half-crowns on anything that we had 

 going to a meeting, that made me put money on 

 sometimes. I used to do it to make even money. 

 So far as it personally concerned me, their 

 commissions caused a great deal of trouble. 



" Harking back to Romping Girl, she passed 

 from Lord Westmorland on to Sir Reginald 

 Graham, and finally went into Mr. Chaplin's 

 stud. She bred a few that raced a bit, but 

 nothing very great." 



Caller Ou, after winning two Northumberland Plates 

 in succession, just failed in her third essay to concede 

 no less than 37 Ibs. to Mr. Mackenzie's three-year-old 

 Brown Bread, a useful horse from Tupgill at the time, 

 sent to Newcastle for the '65 " Pitman's Derby.'* 

 Ridden by Chaloner, the " awd meer," who was the idol 

 of the sturdy pitmen of the " North countrie," took up 

 the running at the distance, being left with Brown 

 Bread to fight out the issue with Mr. Mackenzie's colt, 

 on whom Carroll had the mount. 



" Haste, Caller Ou, thy prestige keep, 



Tynesiders' shouts arise, 

 As with a rapid, lengthy sweep 

 Brown Bread doth surely creep 

 From t' awd meer this day to reap 



The honour and the prize." 



So sang the local song writer in honour of Caller 

 Ou. Gamely did she struggle under the "green and 

 straw" of old Will I'Anson, thousands of voices pro- 



