AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 197 



tremendous influx of visitors soon rendered it crowded. As may naturally be 

 supposed, the favourites were surrounded by a perfect host of admirers or 

 critics, and the attendants of Pero Gomez and Belladrum had great difficulty in 

 even walking their charges about, the prying curiosity of the crowd being so 

 overwhelming that they were fairly hemmed in on all sides. Both animals, 

 however, so far as appearances went, were quite equal to the attention, as each 

 looked the perfection of condition, and exemplified their trainers' skill to the 

 highest degree. Perry Down was another who had a host of followers, and 

 certainly the eulogistic remarks of all good judges were perfectlyjjustifiable, as 

 the son of Ben Webster looked not only in splendid trim, but had the stamp of a 

 Derby winner about him. Duke of Beaufort had evidently done an immense 

 amount of work, while Drummer, perhaps, looked better than ever he did before. 

 Martyrdom, Border Knight, The ^Egean, Alpenstock, Rupert, De Vere, Tasman, 

 Defender, Ladas, Ethus, and Mr. Savile's pair Ryshworth and Neuchatel were 

 passed by almost contemptuously, except by their immediate friends, but, with- 

 out particularising them, all looked in blooming health and fitness. The 

 Middleham fleet were hunted for in every corner, but only to a select few was it 

 known that the trio were being quietly saddled just outside the lower end of the 

 paddock a very judicious arrangement, as Dawson thus protected the favourite 

 from the " mobbing " he would be sure to have been subjected to had he " shown " 

 inside the enclosure to undergo his toilet. As they emerged on the course to 

 take their preliminary canters, Wells on Pero Gomez, Daley on Belladrum, and 

 Osborne on Pretender were received with loud cheering, the two first-named 

 coming in for a perfect ovation. The " breathers " were taken without any 

 especial feature, the style of going of all the prominent favourites being especially 

 admired, Pero Gomez, perhaps, pleasing his friends most. At twenty minutes 

 past three the lot reached the starting post, and when Mr. M 'George took them 

 xuuler his charge the excitement was intense. The first attempt to start them 

 was frustrated by The ^Egean, Thorwaldsen, Drummer, and Defender breaking 

 away, but they soon rejoined their horses, and after a few minutes' delay in 

 getting them in order again, the word was given, and a loud roar of excitement 

 greeted the lowering of the flag. For a few strides The Drummer held a slight 

 lead, but immediately they had fairly settled in their places Neuchatel, forcing 

 the pace to serve his stable companion Ryshworth, took up the running, pursued 

 by Lord Hawthorn, who was obeying a similar mission to ensure the speed for 

 the favourite. Close up with him were Thorwaldsen and Border Knight, at 

 whose quarters lay The Drummer and The ^Egean, succeeding them being 

 De Vere, Ethus, and Duke of Beaufort in a cluster, just in advance of another 

 division consisting of King Cophetua, Ryshworth, Perry Down, Alpenstock, 

 Tenedos, and Defender, Pero Gomez being clear of them, but in advance of 

 Pretender, Rupert, Ladas, Belladrum, and Martyrdom, who were side by side, 

 Tasman bringing up the rear. With the exception that the favourite ran through 

 his horses and joined the leading division, nearly half a mile was traversed with- 

 out any material alteration in their relative positions, the pace being very slow 

 indeed, which enabled all the runners to maintain their places. At the mile-post, 

 however, Hudson sent Lord Hawthorn along, when he found Neuchatel flagging, 

 and the pair were then racing away about a couple of lengths in advance of 

 Pretender, The ^Egean, Ryshworth, Thorwaldsen, Perry Down, The Drummer, 

 Duke of Beaufort, Alpenstock, and Pero Gomez, the feature of the leading rank 



