334 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



readers. Beginning life as a stable boy, he was, only 

 a few years before St. Gatien and Harvester's Derby, 

 a "tout," living in a roadside cottage at Newmarket, 

 working in that capacity for the Nottingham division, 

 of whom Mr. John Kobinson (now a man of great 

 wealth) and Mr. " Charlie " Hibbert were the leading 

 men. At length, Joseph Dawson took him into his 

 confidence and employed him as his commissioner. 

 From that connection dated Hammond's rapid rise in 

 the ladder of fortune. His place had been filled before 

 by the once celebrated " Charley " Rayner, whose 

 prosperity was great so long as he was identified with 

 Joseph Dawson at Bedford Lodge. About this time 

 Tom Jennings was establishing a vast stud of racers 

 for Mr. Lefevre. In an unlucky hour Rayner trans- 

 ferred his allegiance from Joseph Dawson to Tom 

 Jennings, and thenceforth his star of good luck waned, 

 whereas John Hammond, who stepped into his shoes 

 at Bedford Lodge, soon accumulated wealth which 

 enabled him to buy streets of property in Newmarket, 

 property that in course of time doubled itself in value. 

 Hammond, always an astute and capable commissioner, 

 then became identified with the Duchess of Montrose 

 and Mr. Crawfurd, and reaped the harvests gathered 

 in by the "scarlet jacket" during the period it was 

 almost unblemished by a reverse, his good fortune 

 culminating when he gave 1000 gs. for that good mare 

 Florence and the Derby contingencies with St. Gatien. 

 In the same week that he bought Florence she won 

 him two good races, and St. Gatien the Derby at the 

 first time of asking. Such, indeed, is a brief outline 

 of one of the romances of the Turf. 



For many years was " Billy " Platt identified with 

 the Osbornes. Frequently he and " Mr. John " rode in 

 the same race for different owners. Many were the 



