THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 319 



would make him a capital hunter, from his great power 

 and size. But who was to be his jockey ? "I will ride 

 him myself," said he ; "I can ride the weight on a light 

 saddle." 



" Surely not," observed Hargrave ; " you never rode a 

 race in your life ; and you are aware that you will have to 

 contend against all the best gentlemen jockeys of the day." 



" There must be a beginning to everything," replied 

 Frank Raby, "as well as an end. It is true I have never 

 ridden a race, but I have seen many ridden, and heard 

 the instructions given to the jockeys, who tried my two 

 Oaks fillies twice, in private ; and also when they came 

 to the post. I know pretty well what a horse can do 

 under such a weight as mine." 



" And have you backed your horse to win ? " resumed 

 Hargrave. 



" Only to a small amount," replied Raby "just enough 

 to give me an additional interest in the race. I have 

 taken 200 to 20 against him from O'Hara the ' leg,' whom 

 you see there on the grey horse, with winkers to his bridle." 



It was at this period that George IV., when Prince of 

 Wales, was a constant attendant of Bibury race-course, 

 being domiciled for the week at the Earl of Sherborne's, 

 whose mansion and park are about four miles distant 

 from the course a beautiful grass drive leading from one 

 to the other. As his Royal Highness had a horse in the 

 stakes, he was anxious to see his competitors, and at 

 length cast his eye upon Nameless, which was the name of 

 our hero's nag. 



" What horse is that ?" demanded the Prince. 



" Nameless, by King Fergus, out of Mary, by Herod," 

 was the answer. 



" He is a fine horse," continued the Prince ; " who rides 

 him ? " 



" His owner, Mr. Raby, our new member, sir," said 

 Colonel Leigh. 



" Oh," said the Prince smilingly ; " we have not much 

 to fear from him ; he is a fine young man, and, I hear, 

 very good across a country, for his years, but, if it comes 

 to a race, he will have a poor chance against Lord Solville, 

 and half a dozen of the old hands that are here to-day." 



We will, however, repeat the communication between 

 our hero and his trainer, an hour before the race, and then, 

 give the result. 



