THE 'leaders' and ' WHEELERS ' 21 



At last, four horses were got together who stood 

 the ordeal of training ; three of these were platers — 

 indeed, had obtained winning brackets, or distinguished 

 themselves otherwise. It appears, by inference, that 

 to prevent the match falling through by the sickness 

 of one or other of the horses on or before the day 

 specified, either five or six horses were kept in 

 training — a wise precaution. 



The four horses who ultimately did battle for Lords 

 March and Eglinton were : — Tawney, a brown, lately 

 the property of a Mr. Greville — this animal was 

 awarded the post of ' near fore ' ; his companion, 

 Roderick Random, who fortunately belied his cog- 

 nomen, was a dark grey, late the property of a Mr. 

 Stanford. These leaders carried about eight stone 

 each ; this included saddles, harness, etc. The ' near 

 wheel ' horse. Chance, a chestnut, which had lately 

 been in the possession of the Duke of Hamilton, a 

 connection of Lord March, possessed the most appro- 

 priate name, perhaps, by which a racehorse can be 

 called. The selection of the fourth, the ' off wheeler,' 

 testifies that even dignitaries of the Church were 

 laid under tribute to aid the match, as this 

 horse, called Little Dan, a grey, was purchased from 

 ' Parson ' Thomson of Beverley, Yorkshire ; though I 

 shall record that his appearing as a comj)etitor on 



