3 6o KLNJGSCLERE 



THE BURLESQUE OF THE TRAINING REPORTS IN 

 THE ' SPORTING GAZETTE ' 



The first and longest, and possibly the best, of those 

 amusing ' reports ' purports to come from Russley. Those 

 racing men who remember the Derby of 1866 will be able 

 to read between the lines. It was Lord Lyon's year, but 

 Student had been a strong winter favourite. 



1 MONDAY. — We are now enjoying the ethereal mildness 

 of spring, and the contrast between this week and last is 

 wonderful. Still, the " crack " does very little work, and 

 Student can no longer be considered to be in the statu 

 pupillaris. I fancied I heard or saw him cough repeatedly 

 this morning, as he ducked his head like horses do when 

 they cough, and was so full of vigour that he nearly pulled 

 his boy out of the saddle each time. You are perhaps not 

 aware that we touts cannot get within three-quarters of a 

 mile of Mr. Dawson's house, but as the Baydon road, 

 where we take up our position, is much higher ground, we 

 catch a whisper now and then of what is going on conveyed 

 by the balmy breeze when the wind is in the right quarter, 

 which is not often. There is generally something in the 

 wind when Mr. Merry comes down, so we are always in 

 the qui wive ; and to assist us in our prying and dis- 

 creditable work, I have purchased one of the latest 

 improvements in ear trumpets, which enables me to catch 

 all the conversation between Mr. Merry and his trainer, 

 when at Russley (more especially if they are down at the 

 farm-house where the hospital is, and some of the yearlings 

 are kept), and blow it to the public through your columns. 



1 TUESDAY. — There was such a fog we could see nothing ; 

 but of course can tell you what work the horses did all 

 the same. The Gong was constantly going ; and we heard 

 Student cough seventeen times, sneeze thirteen, and neigh 

 eleven times, so it is all up with him, I fear. I don't know 

 what Mr. Dawson's idea of ritualism maybe, but he always 

 gallops The Primate and Beelzebub together, and they 

 hold their own against each other. 



'Wednesday. — Another dense fog enveloped the 

 downs, and it being quite impossible to see or hear anything 

 I and Bill Jenkins thought we might be able to get into the 

 little plantation at the corner of the large field where the 

 straw bed is, The only living creature we came across 



