BRITISH TURF. 333 



they learned that their favourite was not to start 

 on the morrow, but had gone " no one knew 

 whither." 



Whether or not this " backing out" was caused 

 by the horse being amiss, no person could say ; the 

 most complete secresy having been preserved up 

 to the last moment, as to his condition, health, 

 and movements. It is however only fair to state, 

 that in answer to the animadversions of the sport- 

 ing writers of the day, Mr. Batson addressed a 

 letter to the editor of the Morning Post, stating 

 that he had declared the fact of his horse being 

 *' amiss" in the Jockey Club stand at Ascot on 

 Wednesday morning, (the day previous to the 

 race). This, however, can scarcely be called 

 making it public, which was his only correct 

 course. 



So strongly excited was the indignation of the 

 public by this inexplicable conduct, that Craven, 

 in giving an account of this affair in the Old 

 Sporting Magazine, mentions as a fact that '* Mr. 

 Batson's trainer, George Paine, was advised by one 

 of the most respectable of his caUing to leave Ascot 

 early on Thursday, for he did not consider it 

 safe for him to remain there during the day." 



The race for the Ascot Cup terminated as might 

 be expected, Glencoe proving an easy winner by a 

 length, " beating, among eight others. Bran, the 

 conqueror (?) of Plenipotentiary." 



In addition to this splendid performance, Glen- 



