294 IRtMiio IRccoUections anb TTurf Stones 



racing- pace. This was the only way in which you 

 could ride him, by letting him alone, and really 

 chancing it. After the second round, both my 

 horses were selected for first and second places, but 

 'The Doctor ' jumping in the best style, they gave 

 him first, and ' Only a Clod ' second. Whilst the 

 stewards were putting on the ribbons, Mr. Chaplin 

 came up, and clapping the animal I was riding on 

 the neck, said : 



" Well, Custance, I am sorry to see ' The Doctor ' 

 beaten in his old days ; but the brown horse that 

 won is the very best jumper I ever saw." 



I directly told Mr. Chaplin that was my old 

 horse ' The Doctor.' He had misunderstood John 

 Bennett, and imagined that I was sure to be riding 

 my favourite. As soon as Mr. Chaplin found out 

 his mistake, he asked me to let him see me ride him 

 over the water, and, as he had jumped it three times 

 already, I thought it rather throwing a chance away, 

 especially as he was inclined to overreach on the old 

 club-foot. I made this the excuse, and told the 

 Squire I would ride 'The Doctor' out hunting the 

 next day with the Cottesmore, as I knew Mr. Chaplin 

 was staying at Barleythorpe and was going out, to 

 which suggestion he agreed. 



Next day, Friday, the hounds met at Burley-on- 



