Colonel R. F. Meysey-Thompson 



favourite. The latter, thinking he was easily winning, was 

 keeping his horse a neck in front of Diana, who was on the 

 rails, and his attention was so concentrated he never observed 

 the approach of Outlaw until he was alongside, when he 

 became so flustered he got out of balance with his horse. 

 This gave Mr. Meysey-Thompson an opportunity of steadying 

 Outlaw, who had been ridden hard for more than half a mile ; 

 then, watching " Mr. Abington " very closely, as soon as he saw 

 he was getting on terms again with his horse, Mr. Meysey- 

 Thompson got the first run, and won the race by a neck. 



"Which of us won?" asked "Mr. Abington," as they 

 were pulling up their horses. ** Oh, I did," replied Mr. 

 Meysey-Thompson, who had accurately gauged the race, and 

 the next moment the numbers went up, and confirmed his 

 observation. Mrs. Meysey-Thompson had hurried to the 

 entrance-gate of the paddock in order to lead the winner to 

 the weighing-room, and on this being noticed some one 

 shouted, "Three cheers for the trainer," which request was 

 most heartily responded to. When the horses were passing 

 the crowd between the distance-post and the stand the first 

 time — and Outlaw was already well behind — the voice of an 

 excited spectator reached Mr. Meysey-Thompson as he passed, 

 " Go on, Mr. Thompson ; I've backed you." The next time 

 when they passed, and Outlaw, Blue Black, and Diana were 

 closely fighting out the battle, the same voice rose almost to a 

 shriek in its excitement, reiterating the former cry, " Go on, Mr. 

 Thompson ; I've backed you," which rung in his ears for many 

 a long day afterwards. With the broken ribs scarcely mended, 

 and consequent want of condition, it was not to be wondered that 

 such a long punishing finish told severely on the rider, and he 

 nearly collapsed after passing the scales. An amusing episode 

 occurred on the day following at a luncheon party at the house 



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