9 8 KINGSCLERE 



approval — the trainer of Paradox is disposed to say 

 very little. It is, however, part of 'a plain, un- 

 varnished tale ' that Paradox was uninterruptedly 

 doing regular ' Cambridgeshire ' work, and was 

 never better or fitter to run than he was during the 

 latter part of his preparation for the last great 

 handicap of the season. The earliest intimation 

 which the trainer had of the scratching of Paradox 

 he received from Mr. Cloete himself. That gentle- 

 man, w T ho had been absent in Mexico, called at 

 Weatherby's office immediately on his arrival in 

 London, scratched the horse, and journeyed by the 

 next ensuing train to Kingsclere, where he informed 

 Porter of what he had done. In plain, emphatic, 

 and forcible terms the trainer pointed out the grave 

 mistake which Mr. Cloete had made. The horse 

 had been backed by other patrons of the stable ; he 

 was a public favourite — although all along there had 

 been plenty of ' laying money ' in the market — and 

 he was well and fit to run. The explanation which 

 Mr. Cloete gave in reply to this straightforward 

 remonstrance was to the effect that he had not seen 

 the weights until he reached New York. There 

 and then he formed the opinion that the horse had 

 no chance. Porter ceased to train for Mr. Cloete 

 at the end of that season, and the horses were sent 

 to Marsh. Paradox died at Mr. Cloete' s stud-farm 

 of inflammation of the bowels. A horse that was 

 last in the trial on April 30, 1885, mav be referred 

 to by way of rounding off the narrative. Metal, the 

 animal in question, was afterwards sold to go to 

 India, where he won the Viceroy's Cup. 



