BRINGING IN THE A^^INNER. 



NOW is the time for excitement : the end has come, and come, moreover, as wo wished 

 it. The colt whose sire and dam we selected, whose early ijaddoek-days, and whose 

 well-being dru-iug the ordeal of training -n-e watched, has passed the post with his 

 head in front, and his nimiber is already displaj'cd on the board. Once let the "All 

 right " be pronounced as liis jockej' weighs in, and his name will be eiu'olled in " Euff " and 

 " Bailey " as the winner of a great race, and those to whose care, experience, and fore- 

 thought his existence is due may glory in him for ever. Perhaps it is the proudest 

 moment of our lives, as, with Martin Starling to clear the way, we take him by the head 

 and lead the winner back to scale. " A tight fit, but I just did him," says the jockey 

 as our hand is laid on the rein, and he, pale and exhausted from the struggle, leans 

 forward to speak to us ; the dull, glazed ej-e, the outstanding veins, distended nostril, 

 and quivering limbs, tell unmistakably that the race has been a severe one, though the 

 absence of the spur-marks that are freely bestowed over the flanks of the second horse bear 

 witness that fine, patieut riding rather than severe punishment has pulled him thi'ough. 

 'Tis a glorious moment, and so think the crowd, who are cheering and shouting round 

 us, until the entrance to the sacred precincts of the enclosure compels them to fall back 

 and gaze at a distance on the idol of the hoiu'. Well may thej' cheer, for nearly all 

 have won ; the horse was the idol of the public, has done well tlu-oughout, goue straight 

 for his engagement, and won it. ISTever, perhaps, was a finer opiJortunitj' for bringing 

 the pail into operation, and thousands of public money would have flowed into it ; but 

 there is yet one thing dearer than wealth, and the honour of winning is a thiug beyond 

 all price. But are there none in the croAvd who are not so jubilant ? Aye, many a one. 

 Cast your eye round and you will see them, backers of the second, who, had he been 

 first past the post, would have realised them a fortune. Yes ; pulled and roped 

 in race after race, entered in trumpery selling stakes, sent to win at small 

 meetings in bad company, the more effectually to blind the public, the money has 

 been quietly got on him at long odds without attracting attention. Then, to 

 make certainty more certain, horses that were dangerous have been bought out of his 

 way, owners squared, trainers and jockies treated with, until there was not a horse with 

 the ghost of a chance left in the race that was not a " safe 'un." But how about the 

 winner : were his claims overlooked ; did he not receive some share of this kind atten- 

 tion ? Undoubtedly ; the party were far too clever to leave anything to chance, and had 

 long ago foimd out that he was a clinker. Whj', then, was he not also made safe y Why, 

 he was safe as the deadest amongst them, and yet he won ; how was that possible ? 

 Listen I his jockey was made safe, but he was changed at the last moment — his services 

 claimed for a horse -with no possible chance, and another put up in his place. No doubt 

 we shall see something about the hardship and ill-luck of his being taken off' the winner 

 to ride such a brute, but rely on it. had he been in the saddle the head would have been 



