76 IRiMuo IRccoUcctions m\^ TLxxvt Stories 



proves what I have always said, that no man ought 

 to give an opinion about shoulders until he gets on 

 a horse's back. The best judge in the world may 

 be deceived. I used to make poor old Tom Percival, 

 of the Haycock Inn at Wansford, very cross when 

 I told him this, but he always admitted he used to 

 like to ride them, until he got too fat and heavy, 

 before he expressed an opinion. 



What makes me say ' George Frederick ' was a 

 good horse when he won the Derby is this : On the 

 Tuesday night before the Derby of 1874 I went to 

 see Mr. Cartwrightat Epsom. Mr. Tom Heathcote, 

 Mr. Billy Williamson, and Count Talon were there, 

 and he said : 



" Custance, I think you are sure to win the Derby 

 to-morrow, and you are on ' a monkey.' " 



My answer was : " Thank you, Squire." 



He then remarked: " What weight do you think 

 ' Louise Victoria ' would win the Derby with ?" 

 (She was four years old.) 



I answered : " Nine stone." 



W^hereupon he said in his gruff manner : " She 

 wouldn't win with eight stone seven." 



I asked him if he had had more than these two in 

 the trial, thinking that the "young un " might beat 

 her for speed. His answer was : 



