76 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



Newlands, about a mile and a half away, and here, 

 Mr. Randall's ^ ^ any rate, the buildings are sufficiently 

 nigger spacious and with good ventilation, 

 but it must cost this young trainer no small effort 

 to dissipate the lethargy which seems to hang 

 over the locality. Left to themselves for a few 

 moments while the master was in his house, the 

 boys of various ages were sleeping around the 

 yard, together with various weird-looking dogs. 

 A forbidding-looking nigger was on guard, and 

 eyed us askance as if we were after no good ; 

 but soon Mr. Randall appeared, and every one 

 was sharpened up. His stable may be reckoned 

 as one of the most fashionable at present in South 

 Africa, and the principal inmate of it is our old 

 friend Chesney, who, after many vicissitudes by 

 sea and land, has at last found himself in luck's 

 way. This good-looking chestnut, brother to 

 Malum A, had won the Metropolitan Merchants' 

 Handicap, the principal event at the S.A.T.C. 

 Meeting, on the 26th ult. He was weighted so as 

 to stop him if possible, having to carry no less 

 than 10 St. 7 lb., with The Gown, a previous winner, 

 handicapped at 6 st. ; Green Sea, the hitherto 

 best, 9 St. 5 lb. ; Irresistible, 7 st. 5 lb., etc., etc. ; 

 and this is what the Racing Calendar of January 16 

 says of him : ' Only five runners turned out for 

 the £5C0 Metropolitan Handicap. Chesney was 



