WITH 'HONEST JOHN' DAY 7 



he, allowed by the elders his own way in the matter, 

 entered into a sort of independent service with 

 Saunders for master, on a plain and simple verbal 

 agreement. This arrangement continued for about 

 twelve months, and may be described as John 

 Porter's apprenticeship. Among the good horses 

 which were then in the stable were Goldfinder, 

 (Palmer's horse), Hobbie Noble, and Doubt. At 

 the termination of the period named the subject of 

 this narrative was attracted by an advertisement in 

 the ' Racing Calendar,' to the effect that J. B. Day 

 (' Honest John') had a vacancy in his stable for a 

 light-weight. He promptly replied to this, to him, 

 alluring ' wanted,' and having given an account of 

 his experience and qualifications, was immediately 

 engaged. The contracting parties conferred to- 

 gether at Michel Grove, the youth drew out his own 

 indentures in proper legal form, and the two 

 signatures were appended to the document. The 

 term of service was three years. At that time 

 1 Honest John ' trained for Mr. Padwick,and the stud, 

 which was somewhat extensive, included Lascelles, 

 Trickness, Scythian (who won the Chester Cup), 

 and Rataplan. John often rode Rataplan, and his 

 remembrance of Stockwell's famous brother is that 

 of a big coachy chestnut, in disposition docile and 

 lazy, and ' rather flat in his heels.' Then there was 

 Nabob, a black horse, high on the leg, and the 

 renowned Virago. Of this mare Porter retains a 

 vivid recollection, and with abundant cause. She 

 was his special charge, and it might almost have 



