WliEATLRY';-; CATASTli.)?!!!'. 9 



world, the betting world — even the careless world were as- 

 tounded at the catastrophe ; but whilst the losers " couldn't 

 possibly account for it," the winners did not care to do ■^o, 

 and the unflinching patrons of Riddlesworth, still looked for 

 better thing's. The truth, however, was, that whilst the fa- 

 vourites were cutting one another's throats, they totally forgot 

 that by-standers are apt to see a great deal of the play. The 

 stout little "Whalebone weed," was so ripe on the day, that 

 he held on his best and only pace, from first to last, and 

 though he could not work an atom faster, yet, as his jockey, 

 Wheatley, said, " he could have gone that one pace right 

 away to London T^ 



The race was won and lost; — and galloping expresses sped, 

 and pigeons flew, to spread the unexpected tidings abroad 

 " to all whom it might concern." Amongst all others, and 

 to none more welcome, came the news to Wheatley 's worthy 

 helpmate, who overjoyed at her good husband's luck, forth- 

 with called all her neighbours in to a most famous spread. — 

 The supper passed off with most undeniable eclat. The 

 winner's health was toasted three times thre , with nine times 

 nine ; and only the next morning, came a letter from the 

 lucky husband to the loving wife, to say how he had won the 

 race, and begged off all his bets ! Joe Rogers won his money, 

 in spite of himself. 



The settling day at Tattersall's passed off severely. There 

 was a good deal of paying and a good deal of parrying. 

 Bills, accepted at short and payable at long dates, were, in 

 some instances, given, and several winners ^evQ dismayed at 

 finding their cash account not exactly tally with ihexv paper 

 account. Spaniel, however, as a winner, was, we think, a 

 more harmless horse than Riddlesworth would have proved 

 himself, for the pay-day. When a favourite wins, he gener- 



* " By Jing'o ! " exclaimed a celebrated Sporting- Baronet, when he heard of the untoward 

 event, " What with Lapdog-s and Spaniels, the Derby seems really to be g-oing- to the dog-s !" 



