24 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



greave, Mr. Darley, "The Bird," "Mr. Holdfast," 

 " Captain Dudley," Mr. Saunders, of the Horse Gun- 

 ners, and many other good sportsmen, were met to run 

 their horses and back their fancies. 



" Sweet George," as his friends — and they were many 

 — were wont to call the owner of that matchless pony 

 Sweet William, presided at the lotteries. His frank 

 smile, winning ways, and cheery words preserved har- 

 mony among the elements of discord which were pre- 

 sent. And yet his humorous chaff, while raising a 

 hearty laugh, not unfrequently left a sharp sting in the 

 minds of those whom he wished to scourge. In those 

 days, the owner could make no claim to a quarter of his 

 horse's chance in a lotter)-, though such a request was 

 seldom refused. On one of the lottery nights of that 

 Umballa Meeting, a certain captain insisted that a 

 certain stud colonel, who had bought his horse, should 

 eive him a share of it. As the stud officer refused 

 to "part," the owner threatened that if he did not do 

 so, the horse should not win. The justly exasperated 

 colonel thereupon appealed to the room, and expressed 

 himself to the effect that this threat was the most 

 disgraceful utterance he had ever heard at a lottery 

 table. " Don't mind what he is saying," Captain Joy 



