'IfDcrmirs' S)crbp 69 



calling me before them, that Mr. Chaplin's letter 

 to Mr. Pryor constituted a release, giving the latter 

 the right. x\s both horses had broken a blood- 

 vessel they, however, thought Mr. Pryor ought 

 to waive it. That he would not do ; so I had the 

 mortification of riding ' The Rake,' and finding my 

 horse dead beaten coming round Tattenham Corner. 

 At that point I saw ' Hermit ' pulling Daley out of 

 the saddle, and I thought to myself at the time, " How 

 I should like to change mounts !" as he had literally 

 won in a canter half a mile from home. It was 

 currently reported at the time that I had lost money 

 over ' Hermit's ' Derby. This rumour was most 

 incorrect, as the only bet I had on that Derby was 

 twenty ponies to one about ' Hermit' after I had 

 won the Hurstbourne Stakes at Stockbridge on him 

 as a two-year-old. This Mr. Chaplin insisted upon 

 me having on, as he had the money in hand through 

 having my usual two or three sovereigns with 

 him, and being fortunate. This was the most money 

 I ever had on a horse in my life. After ' Hermit ' 

 had broken a blood-vessel I gave it up as lost, and 

 never thought of hedging ; so, instead of losing 

 money over the Derby, I had the satisfaction of 

 receiving ^500 from the Squire. I have no doubt 

 he would corroborate my statement. 



