A GREAT YEAR 



had to be performed we used to put a Chifney bit in 

 his mouth to keep him under control. A single rein 

 was attached to the under portion of the bit, and the 

 man ' doing ' him held the rein in his hand. When 

 dressing a part of the body that was not sensitive, the 

 attendant would throw the rein over the horse's back. 

 I have always thought that one day shortly before the 

 Two Thousand the man allowed the rein to hang loose 

 on the ground, and that Friar's Balsam, stepping on 

 it, pulled it taut with a jerk and so injured his jaw. 

 The remarkable thing is that the horse had not, prior 

 to the race, by refusing his food or in some other way, 

 given an indication that there was anything the matter 

 with his mouth. 



" The wretched abscess pulled Friar's Balsam down 

 sadly, and it was not until the autumn that I had him 

 fit enough to race again. He competed for the Lanca- 

 shire Plate of j£ 1 1,000 at Manchester in September, 

 but was unplaced behind Seabreeze and Ayrshire, 

 both of whom he defeated so easily the previous year. 

 Three weeks later, however, he was himself again, 

 and caused a sensation by winning the Champion 

 Stakes at Newmarket ; for odds of 100 to 60 had been 

 laid on Minting, who was beaten half a length by the 

 son of Hermit." 



For the Lancashire Plate Seabreeze was favourite 

 at 5 to 2, Ayrshire following at 5 to 1, and third to 

 them was the French colt Le Sancy, who peopled the 



164 



