A RIDDLE 59 



trial took place on May 20, 1869, in the presence of 

 the Baronet and Porter, with, of course — for no 

 secret was made of the transaction — many outlying 

 but uninvited spectators in watchful attendance. It 

 was as follows : 



ONE MILE AND A HALF 



Lictor, 4 yrs., 7 st. 1 lb. . . . . .1 



Morna, 3 yrs., 7 st. 8 lb. . . . .2 



Blue Gown, 4 yrs., 9 st. 1 1 lb. . . .3 



Pero Gomez, 3 yrs., 8 st. 9 lb. . . .4 



Won by two lengths ; ten lengths between second and 

 third ; and four lengths between third and fourth. 



Wells rode Blue Gown and Jem Adams Pero 

 Gomez, two stable boys being upon the others. 

 Neither Sir Joseph Hawley nor Porter could read 

 the riddle of that astounding trial, and the jockeys 

 could give them no clue to its solution. Nothing 

 which occurred subsequently helped to clear up the 

 mystery, and to this day it is impenetrable. May 20 

 was too near the date of the Derby (which took 

 place on the 26th) to afford a chance of re-trying 

 Morna and Pero Gomez ; therefore the usual pre- 

 parations were advanced for sending them to Epsom, 

 although it was a forlorn hope. It was possible 

 that the trial had been all wrong — trials occasionally 

 are ; but, at any rate, the Kingsclere outlook wore a 

 gloomy aspect. Pretender, ridden by John Osborne, 

 defeated Pero Gomez by a head, the betting being 

 1 1 to 8 against the winner and 1 1 to 2 against Sir 

 Joseph Hawley's colt. It was so close a finish that 



