TOUCHSTONE— 1834. 99 



When he found himself winning, he seemed perfectly thun- 

 derstruck, and turned his head right and left to see whether 

 the others had not been all swallowed up by an earthquake ; 

 and we doubt not that it was the greatest surprise he ever 

 experienced in his life. Never was such a race as that 

 seen or heard of, and it is difficult to say whether Plenipo.'s 

 ignominious defeat, or Touchstone's unexpected triumph, 

 created the most surprise. He was scarcely in the betting 

 at all, and odds to any amount might have been had against 

 him. The Touchstone party refusing to back their nag on 

 the ground of there being such a horse as Plenipo. in the 

 race. Moreover, Touchstone was amiss, or had been so 

 within a few days, at all events, we know that he appeared 

 dull and stareing in the coat, the day before the race, and 

 was looking any thing but well, and the report of his having 

 been amiss receives additional strength from the fact of his 

 being immediately declared /zo/Zo^^rtr^ fortheDoncaster Cup. 



This race, however, proved Touchstone to be a very 

 superior horse to most of the other Cracks of his day, if 

 there be any truth in public running. Touchstone coming 

 in three lengths a-head for the Leger, after having been 

 amiss — if not amiss on the very day, beating Bran, who 

 beat Shilelagh, who ran second for the Derby, and Shilelagh, 

 it is said, could beat Muley Moloch at even weights. 



On the 30th of September following. Touchstone won a 

 nameless Welch Stake, at Wrexham, 25 sovs. each. — Three 

 subs., beating Mr Mostyn's Vittoria. 



October 14th, he ran third for the Mostyn Stakes, at 

 Holywell Hunt — Intriguer first, Birdlime second, and two 

 others not placed. And on the same day he terminated 

 the season 1834, by walking over for the Chieftain Stakes 

 of 50 Fovs. each, for three yr olds. — Five subs. 



Touchstone commenced the season, 1835, by walking over 

 at Chester, for the Stand Cup, value 100 sovs., the gift of 



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