58 IRiMuo IRecoUcctions ant> Zxwt Stones 



was a great favourite, backers laying 3 to i on him. 

 I made tlie whole of the running, and won very 

 easily indeed by six lengths. On the last day of 

 this same meeting, carrying 10 St., I won the Alex- 

 andra Plate on him over a three-mile course, beating 

 'Outfit,' who, as a maiden, had 7 lb. allowed him, 

 ' Trocadero,' ' Dalesman,' and several other sfood 

 horses. I have always said, and maintain, that 

 ' Blinkhoolie ' was one of the best stayers I ever 

 rode : he was bred for staying, by ' Rataplan ' 

 — ' Queen Mary.' I rode several other successful 

 horses for Mr. Chaplin at that time, 'Volunteer,' 

 'Veda,' 'St. Ronan ' (who ran third in the Two 

 Thousand Guineas), and others, but I am afraid 

 I should be tiring my readers should I narrate all 

 their performances. 



One other race in which I rode, however, is inter- 

 esting, as it illustrates the uncertainty of our national 

 sport. It was the Queen's Plate at Lincoln Autumn 

 Meeting in 1867. There were four runners — 

 'Regalia' (Heartfield), ' Sundeelah ' (J. Snowden), 

 ' Lord Lyon ' (Chaloner), and ' Rama ' (myself). Mr. 

 Chaplin had lost a lot of money at that meeting, 

 and remarked just before the race : 



" Now, to see ' Rama ' beat ' Lord Lyon ' would 

 be a bad finish to a bad week." 



