50 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



through, which proved to be workmen's trains 

 with scarcely any workmen in them ! This was 

 on the Monday before the Derby. 



We eventually arrived at Epsom, where there was 

 a huge crowd to meet the favourite. I chartered 

 two policemen, one walking in front of my string, 

 one behind, and I brought up the rear in the car- 

 riage, followed by the crowd. We at length 

 arrived at the Warren, Ben EUam's old place, 

 and quickly got the horses shut up. 



Galtee More was a most charming horse to do 



with. I found him all right at the stable in the 



A visitation evening. At 7.30 he was fed and done 



of rats ^p ^Qj, ^Yie night. At about ten o'clock 

 I thought I'd go and have another peep at him, 

 and see if my men were also there, as they were 

 sleeping with him. To my surprise, when lights 

 were lit, the stable was alive with rats. Galtee 

 More's manger was nearly black with them, and 

 they ran over the grooms — Harry and Ted Pearce — 

 during the night. However, they did not disturb 

 the horses much. Harry was my travelling head 

 man, and a real good trial jockey. He has been in 

 my employ thirty years, a good servant whom I 

 valued much. Ted Pearce always looked after 

 Galtee More. 



Speaking of rats I remember a mare called La 

 Maudite in the late 'sixties, belonging to the present 



