94 IRiMito IRecoUections an^ Uurf Stories 



running ' Vespasian ' again that day, as he had 

 earned a lo-lb. penalty in the Chesterfield Cup, and 

 Sir Charles had another animal in called ' Guy 

 Dayrell,' so I had put on my clothes and was walking 

 in the paddock, when presently someone came 

 running up, telling me Captain Machell was looking 

 for me in the weighing-room to ride. I went to see 

 him as soon as possible, and he said : 



"Are not you ready to weigh ?" 



" You are never going to run ' Vespasian ' again 

 with lo St. 4 lb. on ?" was my reply. 



The Captain answered : " Yes ; and win, too." 



I was soon ready, and not only rode him, but won 

 very easily by three lengths. 



One of the first to congratulate me was my old 

 friend Fordham, and we often talked that particular 

 race over in later days. He admitted I was right 

 about the Craven Stakes running the first day. It 

 was one of those things that happen every now and 

 again racing, and which upset all calculations. On the 

 first day it was a slow-run race, and Fordham waited 

 on Wells and ' Blue Gown,' meaning to come with one 

 run at the finish, with which he was mostly successful ; 

 but ' Vespasian ' was an animal you could not do this 

 with, as he was a horse with a very long stride, and, 

 to use a professional term, wanted " readying," or, as 



