AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 403 



having their whipcord muscles lubricated and getting 

 their pipes cleared before being called into action later 

 on. William I'Anson has a draft of the Highfield 

 team on the course. We learn that " Newcourt is all 

 right this time, but fear Red Ensign." Well, very likely 

 the pair will be fighting it out at the finish. I'Anson is 

 naturally proud of Newcourt, for did he not buy 

 Highborn's son out of a Selling Plate, and has he not 

 transformed him into a handicap horse of good class? 

 " Not one of the good old father's sort, William, is he ? 

 Not a Caller Ou by any means ? " No, we don't get a 

 game piece of stuff like the old mare in a blue moon. 

 " Brother Miles," he of the portly corporation and beam- 

 ing round face, sighs for one like her to add to the 

 lustre of the Blink Bonny stud, and to perpetuate the 

 Queen Mary and Blair Athol strains. Of course you 

 have heard " Brother Miles " dilate on the Queen Mary 

 blood? Get him to begin, and he will give any profes- 

 sional agitator breathing three stones and a " head in the 

 chest " beating in the way of " chin wag " when he drops 

 fairly into his stride. All her descendants as fast as 

 you like; all built on true racing lines, with substance 

 and symmetry, and stay for a week. The Queen Mary 

 blood for ever ! Newcourt, who is due from Malton 

 later in the day, is, we hear, full of pride of health and 

 strength, giving the idea that he is not an unlikely sort 

 to repeat his victory of two years ago for his Scottish 

 owner. 



Turn we now from the trainers and jockeys and 

 horses for a moment to the prophets. Industry, like 

 virtue, brings its own reward. The prophets are none 

 of your sleep -a-bed fraternity ; at least this is true of a 

 few of the old hands one rubs shoulders with here, for 

 like the morning and the spirit of youth they mean to 



