Colonel R. F. Meysey-Thompson 



cadence of the footfalls ; as soon as the sounds appeared to 

 come quicker, when nearly half the race had been run, he con- 

 cluded that the jockeys behind were endeavouring to creep up 

 to him (which Luxford afterwards admitted was indeed the 

 case), so, calling instantly upon Plenipo to do his best, although 

 yet more than half a mile from the winning-post, he turned the 

 race into a short sprint, with the advantage of some twenty 

 yards start. On entering the straight run-in, Plenipo's rider 

 noticed the track was much cut up alongside the inside rails, 

 while a foot-trod, made by workmen passing that way, offered 

 a firm path near the opposite side ; so, to afford his horse every 

 assistance, he gradually diverged thereto. Inch by inch 

 Gladiator gained on the leader, who was running his race out 

 with the greatest gameness, though palpably tiring, so that his 

 rider dare do nothing but sit as still as he possibly could, and 

 conserve the horse's failing strength for a final spurt. Gladiator 

 at length reached the quarters of Plenipo, and then, watched 

 with painful anxiety by the leader's jockey, crept slowly up 

 until his nose was level with Mr. Meysey-Thompson's knee, 

 when the latter, not daring to lose the little advantage he still 

 held, called on Plenipo for the final effort, and the horse, 

 answering gallantly, they held their own to the end, to win 

 by a short head. It was the race of Plenipo's career, highly 

 successful as that was. 



As time went on and his reputation increased, owners 

 everywhere sought to avail themselves of Mr. Meysey- 

 Thompson's services, when he could ride the weight, and 

 capable professional jockeys willingly stood down in order that 

 he might ride. At the Summer Meeting at Granada, 1876, a 

 group of jockeys were sitting at a table at dinner, in the 

 glorious moonlit garden of the hotel, the night before the races, 

 when Don T. Heredia came up, and, mentioning he was in 



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