4B THE LIFE OP A RACEHORSE. 



jumped off together I tried to rush, before my time-keeper ; but 

 with his hands do^vn, and throwing his back ahnost upon 

 my quarters, Spanky pulled me in the rear, and I settled in my 

 stride in about half a length, and slightly to the off side 

 of York's Cardinal. Away we went, the jockey of riper years 

 looking, from time to time, over his shoulder, and, as he did so, 

 continuing to increase the pace until we were tearing over the 

 ground with the fleetness of the wind. Still, hov/ever, I was 

 running well within myself, and gave Spanky quite enough to 

 do to keep me in the assigned position of waiting upon my 

 leader. I was now permitted to creep closer to the front, and 

 as my head lay parallel with the girths of York's Cardinal, his 

 rider both shook and spurred him ; but the effort failed to 

 "shake me off." Neck and neck, head and head, we swept up 

 the hill. Oh ! that Spanky's steady check were eased but for a 

 single moment ! Such was my hot impatient desire as I hung 

 upon his arms, when the slackened rein shot a pleasure through 

 my heart, which we can only feel whose fiery nature it is to 

 love the glorious contention of the race. Forward I drew — ay, 

 a full, clear length, when, as we passed the spot where Sir 

 Digby and John Sellusall had stationed themselves, I was ngain 

 pulled back, and the " trial " was over. Severe, indeed, had it 

 been, and as Snanky threw himself with the professional turn 

 over my near shoulder on to the ground, my reeking sides, dis- 

 tended nostrils, and quickly-heaving flanks testified that two 

 miles of the Warren Kill, commenced with good running, 

 increased to strong, and finished with all v/e have in us, are 

 enough to try the stoutest hearts, and best of wind and limb. 



The treatment immediately following this unquestionable 

 proof of the quality of the steel within me was precisely that 

 which I received after my first sweat. 



If I stood well in the opinion and favour of " our stable " 

 before, I now became its sanguine hope as the anticipated and 

 probable winner of some of those great prizes which the 

 Racing Calendar announced in my list of engagements. Our 

 trainer personally superintended nearly all that was done for 

 me, and seemed jealous of any one being in my box, unless he 



